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Homeschooling with Technology

Meryl van der Merwe

On Homeschooling with Technology, former programmer and veteran homeschool mom Meryl van der Merwe helps families use tech with confidence and wisdom — the best apps and online tools, AI for planning and learning (used safely), and practical tips that fit real homeschool days. No jargon, no overwhelm. Listen to an episode below and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for a fresh tip each week.

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  • 20 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 12 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S1 · E386
    Wednesday · 26 min

    How to prepare teens for their first social media accounts

    386: How to prepare teens for their first social media accounts Giving a teen their first social media account can feel a little like handing them the keys to a car. We wouldn’t expect a brand-new driver to figure everything out without preparation, and social media deserves the same kind of intentional teaching. In this episode, I’m joined by Stephanie Simoes of Critikid for a conversation about what teens need to understand before they start using social media. We discuss six important areas parents should consider: Platform safety – Understanding the specific risks and safety settings of the platforms your teen wants to use. Readiness and maturity – Thinking about whether your teen is ready to handle comparison, social pressure, and other challenges that come with social media. How social media platforms work – Helping teens understand algorithms, engagement, attention, and why platforms are designed to keep them scrolling. Online safety – Teaching teens about scams, privacy, location sharing, digital footprints, and unsafe contact with strangers. Critical thinking and media literacy – Recognizing logical fallacies, evaluating claims, checking sources, and identifying misleading statistics and graphs. What to do when something feels wrong – Making sure teens know when and how to involve a trusted adult. We also talk about practical ways parents can prepare their teens, including modeling healthy social media habits, discussing questionable posts together, and creating a social media agreement before giving them an account. Resources Mentioned Kids Safe GPT A tool parents can use to learn about potential safety concerns related to apps, platforms, games, and other online activities. https://smarterx.ai/kid-safe-gpt How Social Media Platforms Work – Reel https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZVUXadtdJL/ Interview with Fareedah on Online Safety https://critikid.com/online-safety Be Internet Awesome – Google Free resources for families covering online safety and digital citizenship, including family guides, activities, and the Interland game. https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/families Social Media TestDrive Interactive simulations that allow students to practice making decisions in realistic social media situations. Topics include digital footprints, privacy, breaking news, online identities, advertising, and healthy social media habits. https://socialmediatestdrive.org/ Critikid Social Media Simulator A safe, simulated social media feed that helps children and teens identify problems such as emotional manipulation, unsupported claims, unsafe trends, clickbait, misleading data, scams, and privacy risks. https://critikid.com/courses/social-media-simulator Critikid Media Literacy Resources Lessons and worksheets that help students develop critical thinking and media literacy skills. https://critikid.com/worksheets/media-literacy Or buy both together in the Media Literacy Bundle: https://critikid.com/bundles/media-literacy-bundle Free media literacy resources: https://critikid.com/resources (scroll to bottom) Critical Thinking in a Digital Age A half-credit course for students in grades 7 and up created by Critikid and FundaFunda Academy. https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/product/critical-thinking-for-the-digital-age/ FundaFunda Academy Computer Applications This course teaches students practical computer skills while also covering digital literacy, online safety, scams, strong passwords, and responsible technology use. https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/product/computer-fundamentals/ One Important Takeaway Teens need practice navigating social media before they are expected to manage it independently. Talk through examples with them, teach them what warning signs to watch for, and make sure they know they can come to you when something online makes them uncomfortable. If you know a family with a teen who is getting close to opening a first social media account, share this episode with them. Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies. Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode The post How to prepare teens for their first social media accounts appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E385
    August 19 · 17 min

    Is AI Helping Your Teen Learn—or Doing the Learning for Them?

    385: Is AI Helping Your Teen Learn—or Doing the Learning for Them? AI can be an incredibly useful learning tool for teens—but only when they use it in ways that support their own thinking and skill development. In this episode, I share a framework parents can use to help teens decide when AI is appropriate for schoolwork. The key question teens need to ask is: Will using AI help me learn something, or will it help me avoid learning it? We look at situations where teens should not use AI, including: Writing assignments designed to develop their own thinking and writing skills Questions asking for their personal knowledge or opinions Math, science, coding, or other problems they haven’t genuinely attempted first Avoiding assigned reading Submitting answers or language they don’t understand Allowing AI to make decisions for them Any assignment where the teacher has prohibited AI use I also share productive ways teens can use AI. It can re-explain a difficult concept, generate extra practice questions, provide feedback on a draft without rewriting it, help brainstorm ideas, identify gaps in understanding, practice for an interview or oral exam, and suggest search terms or resources for research. Finally, I give teens four questions they can ask themselves before using AI for schoolwork: Am I allowed to use AI? What am I losing by using AI? What am I gaining by using AI? Will I be able to explain the final result? These questions can help homeschool parents move the conversation beyond simply telling teens whether AI is “good” or “bad” and teach them to make thoughtful decisions about how they use it. Resources Mentioned AI for Teens class at FundaFunda Academy Students learn how AI works, explore useful AI tools, and learn how to use AI while preserving their own thinking, ideas, and creativity. NotebookLM An AI tool that can help students engage with material in different ways, including alternative explanations and learning formats. Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies. Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode The post Is AI Helping Your Teen Learn—or Doing the Learning for Them? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E384
    August 12 · 15 min

    A Student’s Perspective on Essential Tech Skills for High School

    384: A Student’s Perspective on Essential Tech Skills for High School In this episode, Meryl talks with high school senior Ada Anderson about the technology skills she has found most useful throughout her high school years.Ada shares the tools she uses regularly for school, scholarships, personal projects, and staying organized. She also talks about some of the tech skills students are often expected to know even though no one has actually taught them how to use them well. In this episode, we discuss: The tech tools Ada uses most often, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Canva How she learned her technology skills through trial and error and formal classes Why learning these skills before high school can make later classes easier How often high school classes require students to create presentations, posters, and videos Why knowing more than the basics of Google Sheets can be especially valuable Why learning how to figure out unfamiliar technology may be as important as learning individual tools How Ada uses Google Sheets to organize scholarship applications How Canva and video creation skills can be useful when applying for scholarships Tech skills that high school students are often assumed to know but may never have been taught One important takeaway from Ada’s experience is that students benefit from learning technology skills before they urgently need them. By the time they reach high school, they may be expected to collaborate in Google Docs, analyze information in spreadsheets, make presentations, create videos, and learn unfamiliar digital tools independently. Resources mentioned FundaFunda Academy Computer Applications – This full-year course introduces students to a wide range of practical technology skills. Students can choose the instructor-graded asynchronous version with weekly deadlines and opportunities for online collaboration, or a self-paced, parent-graded version that families can reuse with multiple children.The course is available for students from 7th grade up and is designed to help students become comfortable learning and using new technology independently. Free High School Tracker – This Google Sheet helps families keep track of information students may need later for college and scholarship applications, including courses, GPA, activities, and volunteer hours. Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies. Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode The post A Student’s Perspective on Essential Tech Skills for High School appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E383
    August 5 · length unknown

    AI Through a Teen’s Eyes with Sofia Alvarez

    383: AI Through a Teen’s Eyes with Sofia Alvarez de la Hoz In this episode, Meryl talks with Sophia Alvarez de la Hoz, a former student in Meryl’s AI for Teens class. Sophia shares what she knew about AI before taking the course, what surprised her, and how her understanding changed as she learned about topics such as large language models, AI ethics, red teaming, and responsible use. Sophia also explains how she currently uses AI tools for schoolwork and personal projects. She discusses using NotebookLM to study and an AI image generator to develop the design for her eighth-grade graduation cap. The conversation addresses an important question for homeschool families: How can students use AI for support without allowing it to do the thinking for them? Sophia shares practical strategies, including asking AI to explain a concept without revealing the answer and recognizing when the tool is completing too much of the learning process. Other topics discussed include: Why using AI to cheat ultimately harms the student The risk of becoming overly dependent on AI How AI may affect future careers The importance of understanding how AI works Future AI tools that could assist people with disabilities Why teens need a balanced understanding of AI The skills students should develop as AI becomes more common Sophia’s central message is that AI is a tool whose value depends greatly on how it is used. Students need opportunities to understand its capabilities, limitations, risks, and ethical implications so they can make informed decisions. Resources Mentioned AI for Teens class from FundaFunda Academy: AI for Teens is a one-semester, half-credit elective designed for students in grades 7–12. NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google.com/ Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies. Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode The post AI Through a Teen’s Eyes with Sofia Alvarez appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S3 · E381
    July 22 · 6 min

    Summer Tech Challenge 8: Create a Video Recommendation

    381: Summer Tech Challenge 8: Create a Video Recommendation Video creation is becoming an essential skill for today’s students. In this episode, homeschool families are challenged to create a short recommendation video using Canva. Whether you’ve never edited a video before or you’re ready to build your skills, this challenge provides a simple way to get started while creating something useful to share with others. Students / parents can recommend anything they enjoyed this summer—from books and games to museums, podcasts, travel destinations, or homeschool resources. In this episode Why video creation is a valuable college and career skill Why Canva is an excellent beginner-friendly video editor How to create a 30–60 second recommendation video Ideas for topics to recommend Ways to use images, stock photos, AI-generated images, and video clips Adding text or recording a voiceover How AI tools like ChatGPT can help when you get stuck How to enter the Summer Tech Challenge Summer Tech Challenge Prompt Create a 30–60 second recommendation video about something you enjoyed this summer. Ideas include: A favorite book A board or card game A museum A vacation destination A podcast A homeschool resource Anything else you’d recommend to others Use Canva to combine images, video clips, text, and/or a voiceover into a short video. Mentioned in this episode Canva for video creation ChatGPT for troubleshooting while creating videos FundaFunda Academy Computer Applications course (self-paced and teacher-graded options) Entering the Summer Challenge Share what you did in the challenge on one of the FundaFunda Education Instagram or Facebook posts or in one of these Facebook groups: Homeschooling with Technology Homeschooling Middle School Homeschooling College-Bound Teens If you are not on social media, email your entry to meryl@fundafunda.com, and it can be shared on your behalf. Each week, one participant will win a FundaFunda Academy unit study of their choice worth $20. Everyone who participates during the summer will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $50 gift card. Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies. Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode The post Summer Tech Challenge 8: Create a Video Recommendation appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E380
    July 15 · 9 min

    Summer Tech Challenge 7: Create a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Story

    380: Summer Tech Challenge 7: Create a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Story In this week’s Summer Tech Challenge, learn how to turn Google Slides into an interactive choose-your-own-adventure story. This activity combines creativity, planning, writing, and technology while giving students a fun way to present what they’ve learned. In this episode Why choose-your-own-adventure stories are such engaging learning projects How this activity builds research, planning, and creative writing skills Real classroom examples from FundaFunda Academy courses Why Google Slides is an excellent tool for interactive storytelling How to map out your story before building it Creating hyperlinks between slides to allow readers to make choices Summer Tech Challenge #7 Create a summer-themed choose-your-own-adventure story using Google Slides. Your story could include: A family vacation A trip to the beach A day at the pool Camping adventures Any original summer adventure you can imagine Tips for Success Plan the story on paper before opening Google Slides. Create all of your slides first. Use hyperlinks to connect choices to different slides. Add images after the story structure is complete. Remember that not every slide needs to offer a choice—some simply move the story forward. Resources Mentioned Google Slides YouTube tutorial on creating choose-your-own-adventure stories with Google Slides Entering the Summer Challenge Share what you did in the challenge on one of the FundaFunda Education Instagram or Facebook posts or in one of these Facebook groups: Homeschooling with Technology Homeschooling Middle School Homeschooling College-Bound Teens If you are not on social media, email your entry to meryl@fundafunda.com, and it can be shared on your behalf. Each week, one participant will win a FundaFunda Academy unit study of their choice worth $20. Everyone who participates during the summer will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $50 gift card. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Summer Tech Challenge 7: Create a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Story appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E379
    July 8 · 8 min

    Summer Tech Challenge 6: Create a Custom Map

    379: Summer Tech Challenge 6: Create a Custom Map Did you know you can create your own interactive Google map? In this episode, you will learn about Google My Maps, a free Google tool that allows you to create personalized maps with locations, notes, photos, videos, colors, layers, and routes. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, documenting your travels, or creating a homeschool project, custom maps are a fun and practical way to organize information visually. As part of the Summer Tech Challenge series, this week’s challenge is to create a Google My Map on any topic that interests you. Ideas for Using Google My Maps Travel Plan an upcoming vacation Organize attractions, restaurants, hotels, hiking trails, and museums Document a completed trip with photos and notes Create an interactive travel journal to share with others Homeschool Projects Literary maps following the locations in a novel History maps showing important events and battles Geography projects Family heritage and immigration maps College visit planning Local homeschool field trip guides National park tracking This Week’s Challenge Create a custom Google My Map on any topic that interests you. Ideas include: A dream vacation A recent trip A book you’re reading Historical events Family history College visits National parks Local educational attractions Any topic that can be represented on a map Resources Google My Maps: https://www.google.com/mymaps Google My Maps Help Center: https://support.google.com/mymaps Youtube tutorial: https://youtu.be/NaShzdhOf5M?si=kX1w0IEWU7UrLhMx Entering the Summer Challenge Share what you did in the challenge on one of the FundaFunda Education Instagram or Facebook posts or in one of these Facebook groups: Homeschooling with Technology Homeschooling Middle School Homeschooling College-Bound Teens If you are not on social media, email your entry to meryl@fundafunda.com, and it can be shared on your behalf. Each week, one participant will win a FundaFunda Academy unit study of their choice worth $20. Everyone who participates during the summer will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $50 gift card. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Summer Tech Challenge 6: Create a Custom Map appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E378
    July 1 · 7 min

    Summer Tech Challenge # 5: Design Your Summer

    378: Summer Tech Challenge #5 – Design Your Summer with Padlet Summer is the perfect time to experiment with new technology without the pressure of a full school schedule. In this fifth installment of the Summer Tech Challenge, Meryl introduces one of her favorite educational tools: Padlet. Whether you want to plan summer adventures, organize projects, create a travel journal, or build a digital portfolio, Padlet offers an easy and flexible way to collect ideas, photos, videos, documents, and more in one place. This week’s challenge is simple: create a Padlet and discover how it could become one of your favorite tools for homeschooling. In this episode Why summer is a great time to explore new technology What Padlet is and why it’s one of Meryl’s favorite educational tools How Padlet works as a collaborative digital bulletin board Ideas for creating a summer activity brainstorming board Using Kanban boards to organize projects and tasks Creating a visual travel journal or photo collection Using Padlet as a digital student portfolio How to get started with Padlet’s templates, Gallery, and Learn section Tips for collaborating with family members or homeschool groups This Week’s Challenge Create a free Padlet and use it to document or plan part of your summer. Some ideas include: Brainstorm summer activities Organize a family project Create a vacation photo board Track books you’ve read Build a simple digital portfolio Plan goals or hobbies for the rest of the summer Then share a screenshot or describe what you created on one of FundaFunda Academy’s social media posts about this episode for a chance to win. Giveaway Each week, one participant will be randomly selected to win a FundaFunda Academy Unit Study of their choice. At the end of the Summer Tech Challenge, one grand prize winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Resources Mentioned Padlet – https://padlet.com Padlet Learn – https://padlet.com/learn Padlet Gallery – https://padlet.com/gallery Entering the Summer Challenge Share what you did in the challenge on one of the FundaFunda Education Instagram or Facebook posts or in one of these Facebook groups: Homeschooling with Technology Homeschooling Middle School Homeschooling College-Bound Teens If you are not on social media, email your entry to meryl@fundafunda.com and it can be shared on your behalf. Each week, one participant will win a FundaFunda Academy unit study of their choice worth $20. Everyone who participates during the summer will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $50 gift card. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Summer Tech Challenge # 5: Design Your Summer appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E377
    June 24 · 7 min

    Summer Tech Challenge # 4: Create a Summer Tracker

    377: Summer Tech Challenge 4: Create a Summer Tracker with Google Sheets In the fourth installment of the Summer Tech Challenge, Meryl encourages homeschool parents and teens to explore one of the most useful productivity tools available: Google Sheets. Many students today have limited experience with spreadsheets, yet they are an invaluable tool for organizing information, tracking data, budgeting, planning projects, and creating charts. In this episode, Meryl challenges listeners to learn the basics of Google Sheets and then use it to track something meaningful during the summer. Whether you’re completely new to spreadsheets or already have some experience, this challenge can be adapted to your skill level. In This Episode Why spreadsheet skills are valuable for homeschoolers and parents How Google Sheets can be used beyond calculations and formulas Easy ways to organize information using spreadsheets Ideas for summer tracking projects Using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to learn spreadsheet skills How to participate in the Summer Tech Challenge Summer Tracker Ideas Create a Google Sheet to track: Books read during the summer Family reading challenges Travel expenses and vacation budgets Summer activities and outings Homeschool planning for the coming year Savings goals Gift and holiday spending Personal projects and goals Helpful Resources => The high school activity tracker mentioned in this episode – it will force you to make a copy you can then edit and fill out. This Week’s Challenge Complete the challenge and share your project for a chance to win prizes. You can: Share a description of your spreadsheet Post a screenshot Share a template you’ve created Entering the Summer Challenge Share what you did in the challenge on one of the FundaFunda Education Instagram or Facebook posts or in one of these Facebook groups: Homeschooling with Technology Homeschooling Middle School Homeschooling College-Bound Teens If you are not on social media, email your entry to meryl@fundafunda.com and it can be shared on your behalf. Each week, one participant will win a FundaFunda Academy unit study of their choice worth $20. Everyone who participates during the summer will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $50 gift card. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Summer Tech Challenge # 4: Create a Summer Tracker appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E376
    June 17 · 6 min

    Summer Tech Challenge #3: Explore Google Arts and Culture

    376: Summer Tech Challenge 3: Explore Google Arts and Culture This week’s challenge is simple: explore Google Arts & Culture and discover something new. Whether you enjoy art, history, geography, museums, or interactive games, Google Arts & Culture offers countless opportunities for learning and exploration. From virtual museum tours to historical exhibits, famous artworks, cultural landmarks, and educational games, there is something for every age and interest. In This Episode Exploring virtual museum tours from around the world Discovering historical sites, artwork, and cultural treasures Using Google Arts & Culture to enrich homeschool lessons Finding resources for history, art, geography, and more Exploring educational games and interactive experiences Resources Mentioned Google Arts & Culture This Week’s Challenge Visit Google Arts & Culture. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Explore a museum, historical site, artwork, game, or cultural experience. Consider how you might use it in your homeschool. Share what you discovered on social media or by email for a chance to win a FundaFunda Academy unit study. Entering the Summer Challenge Share your favorite Google Arts and Culture Activity on one of the FundaFunda Education Instagram or Facebook posts or in one of these Facebook groups: Homeschooling with Technology Homeschooling Middle School Homeschooling College-Bound Teens If you are not on social media, email your quiz link to meryl@fundafunda.com and it can be shared on your behalf. Each week, one participant will win a FundaFunda Academy unit study of their choice worth $20. Everyone who participates during the summer will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $50 gift card. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Summer Tech Challenge #3: Explore Google Arts and Culture appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E375
    June 10 · length unknown

    Summer Tech Challenge #2 : Create a Trivia Game

    375: Summer Tech Challenge #2 – Create a Trivia Game This week’s summer challenge is to create a trivia game. Students can choose any topic, educational or just for fun, and create a quiz with 10–20 questions. The quiz should use multiple choice, matching, or another format where players select answers on-screen. Episode 83 covers some tools not mentioned in this episode. Creating quizzes helps students review material in an active way while also building tech skills. Students can make quizzes for friends, siblings, or family members, or families can create one together. Suggested Tools Google Forms: https://docs.google.com/forms/ Kahoot: https://create.kahoot.it/ Blooket: https://www.blooket.com/ Sporcle: https://www.sporcle.com/create/ Canva Code: https://www.canva.com/ai-code-generator/ ClassTools (Pac-Man Quiz Generator): https://www.classtools.net/ Padlet Arcade: https://padlet.com/arcade Helpful Tutorials How to Create a Blooket Question Set: https://help.blooket.com/hc/en-us/articles/16289513807383-How-to-Create-a-Blooket-Question-Set How to Create a Kahoot: https://kahoot.com/blog/2021/01/28/how-to-create-kahoot-tips-teachers/ Students may use AI to help generate questions, but they should carefully check all answers for accuracy and test the game before sharing it. Canva Game Creator Contest Students in grades 6–12 can also enter the Canva Game Creator Contest: https://www.fundafundaacademy.com/product/game-creation-contest/ Entering the Summer Challenge Once your quiz is complete, share the link on one of the FundaFunda Education Instagram or Facebook posts or in one of these Facebook groups: Homeschooling with Technology Homeschooling Middle School Homeschooling College-Bound Teens If you are not on social media, email your quiz link to meryl@fundafunda.com and it can be shared on your behalf. Each week, one participant will win a FundaFunda Academy unit study of their choice worth $20. Everyone who participates during the summer will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $50 gift card. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Summer Tech Challenge #2 : Create a Trivia Game appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E374
    June 3 · 11 min

    Summer Tech Challenge #1: AI Trip Planning

    374: Summer Tech Challenge #1: AI Trip Planning This summer, Homeschooling with Technology is launching a fun nine-week Summer Tech Challenge designed to help homeschool families explore technology together. Each Wednesday in June and July, you’ll receive a short challenge focused on building practical tech skills through hands-on activities. The first challenge explores AI-powered trip planning. Families will use multiple AI tools to create and compare travel itineraries while developing research, critical thinking, evaluation, geography, and digital literacy skills. The Challenge Step 1: Choose a Trip Theme Select a travel theme that interests your family, such as: Tennessee history road trip Civil War sites National Parks Adventure STEM attractions tour Budget family getaway International dream vacation Food-focused travel experience Step 2: Use at Least Three AI Tools Possible tools include: ChatGPT Gemini Perplexity Claude Copilot Google Maps AI features Create a detailed prompt that includes: Destination or theme Length of trip Number of travelers Ages of children Budget Starting location Example: “Plan a three-day Tennessee history-themed family trip for a family of four with two teens and a budget under $600 starting in Nashville.” Step 3: Verify the Results Check: Travel times and distances Attraction operating status Admission prices Route feasibility Accuracy of recommendations Also conduct your own Google search to see whether you can discover attractions or ideas the AI tools missed. Step 4: Compare the Results Discuss: Which AI created the best itinerary? Which provided the most unique recommendations? Which stayed closest to budget? Which made mistakes or hallucinated information? Which best matched your chosen theme? Did your own research uncover better options? How to Enter Share something you learned from the challenge, such as: Your favorite recommendation Which AI tool performed best A surprising discovery A screenshot of your results Submit entries by: Commenting on the related Instagram or Facebook post Posting your own social media post and tagging @FundaFundaEducation Posting in one of the Facebook groups: Homeschooling with Technology Homeschooling Middle School Homeschooling College-Bound Teens Emailing meryl@fundafunda.com if you do not use social media to share it for you. Prizes Weekly Prize One winner each week receives a FundaFunda Academy unit study of their choice. Grand Prize One participant will win a $50 Amazon gift card at the end of the summer. Resources Sponsor: FundaFunda Academy Instagram: @fundafundaeducation Facebook: FundaFundaEducation Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Summer Tech Challenge #1: AI Trip Planning appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E373
    May 27 · 11 min

    Game-based Learning with Boddle

    373: Game-based Learning with Boddle In this episode, Meryl interviews sixth-grader Penny Laine Buschle about her experience using Boddle Learning, a free game-based learning platform for students in Kindergarten through sixth grade. Rather than reviewing the platform only from an adult perspective, Meryl invited Penny Laine to spend time actually playing and learning inside Boddle so listeners could hear directly from a student using it. Topics covered in this episode include: How Boddle works for parents and teachers Setting up a classroom and assigning subjects The three subject areas available: Math, Science, and English Language Arts Adjusting assignments by grade level Tracking student progress with built-in reports and graphs Avatar customization and rewards systems The different types of games available How quizzes and gameplay work together Why Boddle may be especially useful during summer break Penny Laine’s favorite game and what she learned while playing Topics Penny Lane explored included: Moon phases Plant cells Human body systems Meryl also shares details about: A free June and July educational activity calendar from FundaFunda Academy The upcoming summer podcast challenge with prizes and giveaways If you use any of these ideas, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most! Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Game-based Learning with Boddle appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S3 · E372
    May 20 · 11 min

    4 Digital Tasks Before Summer Break

    372: 4 Digital Tasks Before Summer Break: Homeschool Digital Organization Tips Before summer break begins, take time to organize the digital side of your homeschool life. In this episode, Meryl shares four important homeschool digital organization tasks that can save time, reduce stress, and help you keep better records for high school, college applications, and family memories. Learn how to track activities and volunteer hours, organize student work, digitize physical projects, and create shared summer calendars that keep the whole family coordinated. Topics Covered 1. Create a Master Activities Spreadsheet Keep track of: Volunteer hours Camps and training programs Contests and competitions Awards and achievements Extracurricular activities Books read independently 2. Organize Student Digital Work Use tools like: Google Drive Shared folders 3. Digitize Physical Projects and Handwritten Work Ideas include: Photographing projects Uploading files into digital portfolios Using tools such as: Padlet Seesaw 4. Set Up a Shared Summer Calendar Use a shared digital calendar to coordinate: Camps Sleepovers Appointments Sports practices Family transportation College student schedules Shared calendars can help reduce confusion and make summer logistics much easier for the whole family. Summer Podcast Challenge Series Announcement This summer, the podcast will feature short weekly tech challenges designed for homeschool families. Each challenge will: Take approximately 30–60 minutes Introduce useful digital tools or skills Include a way to participate online Listeners can share completed projects on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win: A FundaFunda Academy unit study each week A grand prize $50 Amazon gift card at the end of summer If you use any of these ideas, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most! Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post 4 Digital Tasks Before Summer Break appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E371
    May 13 · 9 min

    Turning Summer Walks Into Learning Experiences

    371: Turning Summer Walks Into Learning Experiences In this episode, Meryl shares how educational summer walks can become meaningful learning experiences for homeschoolers using simple apps and technology tools. 1. Identify Birds with Merlin Bird ID Meryl discusses using Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to identify birds while walking. The app can identify birds both by appearance and by sound. Topics discussed: Identifying birds from photos Recording and identifying bird calls in real time How AI improves bird sound recognition Contributing recordings to help improve identification accuracy 2. Identify Nature and Participate in Citizen Science Quick Identification Google Lens for identifying plants, insects, bushes, and objects directly from a phone camera Citizen Science for Younger Children Seek by iNaturalist Kid-friendly quests and badges Easy identification of plants, fungi, insects, and animals Citizen Science for Older Students iNaturalist Community-focused biodiversity tracking Recording observations in different environments Learning ecology, habitats, and biomes through real-world exploration 3. Stargazing with Stellarium Mobile Stellarium Mobile is a tool for identifying objects in the night sky during evening walks. Features include: Identifying stars and planets Viewing constellations Tracking satellites and the International Space Station Point-and-identify functionality using your phone 4. Create a Digital Nature Journal Collect observations, photos, and notes from walks into a digital journal or family project. Tools mentioned: Padlet Canva Google Sites Ideas for journals: Upload photos Record locations Note how items were identified Write reflections and observations 5. Add Fun and Find Trails Add a layer of fun by turning walks into Scavenger Hunts. ShowsponsorFundaFunda Academy offers a free printable nature scavenger hunt bingo activity for younger children. AllTrails helps families: Find nearby hiking trails Check difficulty levels Read reviews from other hikers Plan routes appropriate for the whole family If you use any of these ideas, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most! Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Turning Summer Walks Into Learning Experiences appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E370
    May 6 · 13 min

    Teaching Tech Skills Through Family Travel

    370: Teaching Tech Skills Through Family Travel Have you ever thought about turning family travel into a tech skills classroom? In this episode, Meryl shares practical ways to assign your teens real planning tasks before and during a trip — tasks that build digital literacy alongside life skills. Ideas covered in this episode: 1. Pitch the Vacation Have each child research a destination and pitch it to the family using a slideshow (Canva, Google Slides). Slides should be visual, not text-heavy — they present, not read. 2. Research Activities with AI Have kids search with Google first, then repeat with ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and compare results. Discuss why results differ, how to check accuracy, and how specific prompts (age range, cost, location) narrow results better than a keyword search. 3. Plan with Real Booking Sites Walk them through Google Flights vs. Kayak vs. airline sites. Teach them to look for hidden costs — baggage fees, seat selection, taxes. For hotels, have them consider breakfast, transit access, and proximity to your main activities. Discuss when a hotel makes more sense than Airbnb/Vrbo. 4. Budget Tracking with a Spreadsheet Set the budget yourself, then hand the tracking to them. Each day they log food, activities, souvenirs. Teach SUM and basic formulas. They’ll figure out fast what going over budget means for tomorrow. 5. Mapping and Route Planning Use Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps to plan daily driving distances and stops in advance. In the car, let them find gas stations, bathrooms, and lunch spots in real time. Give them the responsibility — and trust their answer. 6. Documenting the Trip Options range from simple (phone photos, daily journal) to polished (Canva scrapbook, Google Slides photo diary, Padlet board for sharing with family). For a longer trip outside summer, consider having them travel blog using Google Sites or Strikingly — combines writing, photography, and digital publishing into a credit-worthy project. Links and resources mentioned: Canva — canva.com Google Slides Google Flights, Kayak Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini Padlet — padlet.com Google Sites — sites.google.com Strikingly — strikingly.com Instagram: @fundafundaeducation If you use any of these ideas, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most! Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Teaching Tech Skills Through Family Travel appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E369
    April 22 · 12 min

    Ways Grandparents and Kids Can Connect Online

    369: Ways Grandparents and Kids Can Connect Online Staying connected across the miles doesn’t have to mean just phone calls. In this episode, Meryl shares five practical ways grandchildren and grandparents can build real relationships digitally — with the bonus that several of these also sneak in genuine learning. 1. Reading together over video Alternate reading pages or chapters. Add simple discussion questions to keep engagement. Works well for younger and middle school students. Tools: FaceTime, Zoom 2. Shared digital board Post photos, short updates, or schoolwork. Grandparents comment and ask questions asynchronously. Tool: Padlet ep 260 – Unlocking the Power of Padlet 3. Playing online games together Asynchronous or synchronous options Examples: Words With Friends Skribbl.io Drawsaurus Catan 4. Watch together Watch a short show, documentary, or YouTube video simultaneously. Use built-in screen sharing or watch-party tools. Pause occasionally to discuss. Tools: Zoom 5. Collaborative storytelling Start a shared story and take turns adding sections. Can be written or voice-recorded for younger kids. Tool: Google Docs Links mentioned: Episode 260: Unlocking the Power of Padlet FundaFunda Academy Monthly Contests May Contest: Vibe Coding with Canva (grades 6–12, $10 entry includes a $20 AI unit study) Writing Fun class If you use any of these ideas, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most! Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Ways Grandparents and Kids Can Connect Online appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E368
    April 15 · 16 min

    AI Tips You Can Use This Week

    368: AI Tips You Can Use This Week In this episode, Meryl shares a practical mix of AI tips you can implement right away. What’s covered: 1. Ask Maps (Google Maps) Google Maps has a new AI feature called Ask Maps, currently rolling out. Instead of browsing categories, you can ask specific questions — gluten-free fast food nearby, a park within five minutes of a highway exit, a restaurant halfway between you and a friend. It understands your direction of travel and filters results accordingly. 2. Prompting — Where to Start If you’re new to AI tools and don’t know where to begin, start with purpose-built tools like Brisk (Chrome extension) or Magic School AI rather than jumping straight into ChatGPT or Claude. Both are designed for teachers but useful for homeschoolers, and they’ll give you a feel for what’s possible. Once you’re comfortable, you’ll likely want to move to the LLMs directly for more precise control. 3. Prompting — Leveling Up Be specific: give the AI a role, describe your outcome, set constraints (time, materials, age range, format). Then try this: tell it everything you can think of, and ask it what additional questions it needs answered. Letting the AI interview you often produces far better results than any prompt you’d write alone. → Grab the free list of 20 homeschool-specific prompts 4. Use One LLM to Prompt Another Before going into Gamma, Canva’s AI tools, NotebookLM, or any other AI-powered tool, go into ChatGPT or Claude first and ask it to write you the ideal prompt. Give it context, let it ask follow-up questions, then drop the finished prompt into your target tool. This works for custom Gems, vibe coding, slides — almost anything. 5. Connect Your LLM to Other Apps Both Claude and ChatGPT let you connect third-party tools like Canva and Gamma. Look for Connectors in Claude’s settings or the equivalent in ChatGPT. 6. Customize Your LLM’s Tone and Behavior Stop letting your AI flatter you. In ChatGPT, go to Settings → Personalization to adjust tone (Meryl chose “efficient,” turned down warmth and enthusiasm) and add custom instructions. In Claude, go to Settings → General and add your preferences. Resources mentioned: Brisk Magic School AI Gamma Free prompts: 20 ChatGPT prompts for homeschool parents If you use any of these resources, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most! Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post AI Tips You Can Use This Week appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

  • S1 · E367
    April 8 · 15 min

    Exploring Space: Interactive Tools for Your Homeschool

    367: Exploring Space: Interactive Tools for Your Homeschool The Artemis 2 mission has four astronauts circling the moon right now, and it’s a perfect time to bring space exploration into your homeschool. In this episode, learn about free (and nearly free) tools organized into four categories: learn and explore, games and interactives, simulations, and citizen science. Track the Artemis Mission (timely links) NASA’s website (www.nasa.gov/trackartemis) The NASA app (www.nasa.gov/nasa-app) Learn & Explore Eyes on the Solar System, Asteroids, Earth & Exoplanets — interactive 3D exploration Moon Trek — explore the lunar surface with layered data (do the tutorial) Stellarium Web — shows your night sky based on your location Crash Course Astronomy on YouTube — great for middle and high school Khan Academy: Cosmology and Astronomy — pick and choose topics Games & Interactives NASA Interactives — includes Name That Nebula, NASA Kids Club, Hooray for SLS (read-aloud book for younger kids), and more Simulations PhET Simulations — gravity, Kepler’s laws, black body spectrum, and more The Concord Consortium — filter by Space for science simulations Citizen Science Zooniverse — help real scientists classify data; space projects include: Magnetosphere Sheath Classifications Cold Ion Population Sunspot counting (historic photos) Gravity Wave Zoo, Redshift Wrangler, Active Asteroids, Planet Hunters, Disk Detective, and more Sponsor: FundaFunda Academy Astronomy Bundle Searching the Solar System — overview of astronomy, space math, the sun & moon, inner and outer planets; videos, games, interactives, and a final project per module Searching the Night Sky — astronomical history, stargazing tools, constellations, deep sky objects Individual units $20 each; bundle $34 Limited-time offer: $10 (no code needed) through the end of the Artemis 2 mission (April 10) Aimed at grades 4–8 If you use any of these resources, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most! Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes! The post Exploring Space: Interactive Tools for Your Homeschool appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

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