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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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  • 30 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 14 min
  • English

Episodes 30

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  • 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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