On the third Tuesday of each month we post a quick roundup of some recent academic publications and news about homeschooling, offered for your interest. These are typically university research papers, and they may have a positive, negative, or neutral outlook on home education. The title links generally point to the full text of each publication, which is often a printable pdf file. In some cases, a paid subscription may be required to read the whole article. The article abstracts or introductions below are quoted in full whenever possible, without editing.
Here’s a special news item for the month: Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has established a special “Homeschool Hub” for academic and public-policy-related research into homeschooling. Here’s their description of the project:
In the United States, there is a lack of understanding about the number of students and families who homeschool and its impact on the countryβs education system. Misconceptions are driven by a lack of access to the information needed for high-quality research.
The Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policyβs Homeschool Hub, funded in part by EdChoice, bridges this gap and provides users with easy access to current homeschool information and downloadable data for all fifty states plus the District of Columbia. Our goal is to remove barriers to rigorous research, increase transparency, and expand awareness to encourage evidence-driven policy.
The Homeschool Hub is not an advocacy project. It is a reliable, evidence-based source for factual and unbiased information about homeschooling and related education models in the United States. Data come from federal and state sources and academic institutions. We link to primary sources for policy and data, and all information has been carefully reviewed by experienced academic researchers.
Pay a visit their new website and have a look around.
We have three regular research items this month, on homeschooling vs. unschooling; homeschooling in Indonesia; and homeschool internship programs:
(1) From Homeschooling to Unschooling: A Comparison of Academic AchievementΒ β M. BreenΒ (2023)
Abstract: Within the homeschooling community, there are many options for educational methods that a family might choose. Unschooling, which is an approach to education that emphasizes self-directed learning and does not follow a set curriculum, is often viewed as inferior to a traditional pre-determined curriculum.
The purpose of this research was to determine whether students who come from families who use traditional curricula to educate their children have drastically different assessment scores from the students in families where they follow their own interests and learn from those activities.
This study uses a mixed-methods approach. There are qualitative results based on case studies on six families, and quantitative results based on the assessment scores achieved by their students.
The research suggests that students from unschooling families scored similarly to those students whose families adhere to a set curriculum rather than engaging purely in self-led learning.
As educators and families plan methodologies to serve students best, this study gives insight into the viability of unschooling in situations where students do not resonate with a specific set curriculum.
(2) Relationship of Parents’ Educational Capability, Availability of Learning Materials, & Availability of a Learning Environment, with Homeschooling Learning SuccessΒ β R.Β Isnawati, L.Β Purwito, & M.Β Ishaq (2023)
Abstract: The research provides in-depth insights into the factors influencing the success of the learning process in the context of homeschooling in Denpasar. Here are some key points that can be drawn from the findings of this research: Parental educational capability has a positive and significant impact on the success of homeschooling. Factors such as a lack of commitment, time, technological proficiency, motivation, and responsiveness to the child’s learning problems can affect parental educational capability. The availability of learning materials has a positive effect on the success of homeschooling. Aspects such as the suitability of materials to the child’s interests and talents, material flexibility, ease of provision by parents, the child’s interest in the material, learning facilities from various sources, and community support affect the availability of learning materials. The availability of a conducive learning environment also contributes positively to the success of the homeschooling process. Aspects such as positive family interactions, trust in the child’s interests and talents, good relationships with the child’s learning environment (tutors, homeschooling institutions, tutors, and community friends), and socializing with various communities support the creation of a good learning environment. The success of homeschooling is influenced by learning objectives, curriculum and teaching strategies, the teaching and learning process, and learning achievements that include the ability to have a diploma, portfolio, certificates from tutoring, and behavioral changes. Recommendations: Parents of homeschooling children are advised to pay more attention to fundamental aspects before deciding on homeschooling. If facing difficulties, it is recommended to seek assistance from learning communities or apply for scholarships from social foundations to ensure the successful implementation of homeschooling for the child. This research can serve as a foundation for parents, educators, and relevant stakeholders to enhance the quality of homeschooling in Denpasar by considering the identified factors.
(3) Homeschool Internship Program for Studentsβ Interpersonal Communication Development: A Descriptive StudyΒ β M.P. Sary et al. (2024)
Abstract: This study examined how the senior high school internship program at ABhome helped students develop their interpersonal communication skills. It employed a descriptive-qualitative method. An internship is a course requirement that gives students the opportunity to obtain practical experience at institutions or businesses to supplement their academic studies and to develop their knowledge, abilities, and attitudes. However, despite the critical necessity for the early development of interpersonal communication skills, this practice is only common at the university level in the Indonesian educational system. Interestingly, the internship program is applicable at the high school level in the homeschooling system. It employed a descriptive-qualitative method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with eighteen students who had participated in an internship program. The interpersonal communication between students and mentors extends beyond internship-related discussions, encompassing casual conversations about various topics. The communication between students and mentors is effective for five reasons. Mentors are open to receiving input and delivering information, empathising with students, exhibiting a positive attitude, promoting respect, and demonstrating equal communication. The finding highlighted that the interpersonal communication between ABhome students and their mentors during the internship program effectively fosters qualities such as openness, empathy, supportiveness, and positivity.
What interesting homeschool news and academic research have you come across this Orion Term?Β π
β‘β Explore more: If you’d like to investigate the academic literature on homeschooling more extensively, the best place to start is Google Scholar, the special academic search engine from Google. Just enter a search term or phrase of interest (“homeschool,” “unschooling,” “classical homeschooling,” “deschooling,” etc.), and Google Scholar will return a list of research publications that mention your topic. In addition, for research prior to 2020 in particular, see the comprehensive bibliographic essay by KunzmanΒ & Gaither (2020), “Homeschooling: An Updated Comprehensive Survey of the Research.” π
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β‘β Join us! The aim of the River Houses project is to create a network of friendly local homeschool support groupsΒ β local chapters that we call βHouses.β Our first at-large chapter, Headwaters House, is now forming and is open to homeschoolers everywhere. Find out how to become one of our founding members on the Headwaters House membership page.Β π‘