Homeschool Your Teenager

It’s August and that means it’s once again time for the Thirty Day Challenge.

This program is completely free of charge and they teach anyone who takes the class a lot about browsers, setting them up, internet tools to help you do research quickly, how to set up your first blog, and finally, how to make your first $1 online. It’s a month-long basic business course that is free and would be worth paying for, but they never charge for it.

To me, making the dollar is not as important as learning the process to make that dollar. The tools taught are free and extremely useful for anything you want to do online. From research, RSS aggregation and writing to marketing, using social media the right way, and audio and video podcasting, TDC is the place to be in August every year.

The challenge began today. Sign up if you haven’t got an account, then start doing the lessons. If you have taken the challenge before, use the same account. It’s still active. It’s worth perusing each year after you take it the first time because they update the tools and techniques that make things faster, easier and better.

It’s a fabulous homeschool project about business and the internet. I recommend it for kids 10 and over. It does take some time committment each day (about an hour or two).

I took it the first time in 2007 and took it again in 2008, and now my sites are making at least $100 a month. Sometimes more, but almost always at least $100. And I owe it mostly to TDC!

Technorati Tags: business education, homeschool project, internet business training, projects, Thirty Day Challenge

written by Sherri \\ tags: business education, homeschool project, internet business training, projects, Thirty Day Challenge

Where did the internet come from? Here is an 8 min., concise video of the origins of the internet we use today. It all began in 1957, 52 years ago.

I remember the days of card readers (man, were those boxes of cards heavy to carry around) and mainframe computers, and learning languages like FORTRAN and COBOL. Now we use HTML, PHP and CSS.

Actually, we don’t have to use programming languages. Developers use them to create applications with graphical user interfaces and intuitive logic so we the users can pull up a “write” window on a WordPress blog and start typing. When we’re done, we press “publish” and we have a new blog post with pictures, sound, and video if we choose, and everything is managed for us.

We don’t have to understand the programming language to operate a simple blog. Most of us learn enough about them to add extra functionality to our blogs, but it isn’t required. As time has gone on, the need to know how to edit the programming templates is less frequent as developers write WordPress plugins instead of making us cut and paste code.

What are your thoughts on the origins of the internet? Where do you think it will be in the next 50 years? As dependent on the internet as I am today, I can only imagine it getting smarter and more integrated into our daily lives. Perhaps one day it will be a part of our physical bodies.

Technorati Tags: internet in the future, internet origin

written by Sherri \\ tags: internet in the future, internet origin

What educational TV channels would a teen possibly like from which they might learn something? I have a list that my son watches and discusses. I also list some other channels we don’t normally watch but that your teen may like.

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, it’s time to get it because all the Discovery Network of channels are on cable or satellite. History and its network of channels are also only on cable or satellite.

Science Channel

• Sci Q Sundays – with Dr. Michio Kaku
• Brink
• Ecopolis
• How It’s Made
• How Do They Do It?
• Survivorman
• Colossal Construction
• Deconstructed
• Weird Connections
• Beyond Tomorrow

History Channel

There are several channels associated with The History Channel: A&E, Military History, History Education, History International, and Biography

• Modern Marvels – show on engineering and technology of the past and present
• Cities of the Underworld
• Armageddon Week
• Seven Deadly Sins
• The Universe
• Extreme Trains
• UFO Hunters
• Ancient Discoveries
• Shows about particular periods in the past
• Shows about the wars of the world from ancient times to Iraq and Afghanistan
• Shows about history of the Bible and other religions

Discovery Channel

• MythBusters
• How Stuff Works
• Survivorman (if you don’t get The Science Channel)
• Dirty Jobs
• How It’s Made (if you don’t get The Science Channel)
• Man Vs. Wild
• Destroyed in Seconds

Military Channel

• Future Weapons
• Weaponology
• Puzzles

Other Discovery Network Channels

• Turbo
• TLC
• ID: Investigation Discovery
• Discovery Health
• Animal Planet
• Planet Green
• HD Theater

MSNBC

• The Rachel Maddow Show

Rachel speaks our teens’ language and delivers the news with dry wit and lots of humor while making wicked smart arguments and observations, and asking the deeper questions about the world and current events with a decidedly liberal tilt, but no spin.

Rachel isn’t a typical newscaster or anchor. She’s young, only 35, and has a Ph.D. in political science from Oxford University in England. She was a Rhodes Scholar and received the John Gardener Fellowship upon receiving her undergraduate degree in public policy from Stanford University.

She has impeccable integrity and always corrects any mistakes she makes, no matter how minor, apologizes when she is wrong, and makes sure there is complete and total disclosure about any conflicts of interest involving a guest on the show, and of her own. She occasionally talks about Clear Channel radio, and makes sure to disclose that her show on Air America Radio is broadcast on some Clear Channel stations before she gives any opinions about Clear Channel, for example.

She insists upon civil debate and does not tolerate argument melt-downs, impolite behavior or name calling of any kind. She’s an excellent role model on how to have a heated, yet very civil debate or discussion.

My son started watching this show on his own. I watch and one day he started getting off the computer and watching this show for an hour.

Your teen may prefer other networks, other shows, and other anchors. But have them find something that they don’t like to miss so they learn to keep up with current events and can discuss and debate issues effectively and civilly. No Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity or Bill O’Reilly as role models. They don’t debate anything. They preach their opinions and there is no room for discussion or disagreement with them. They are also extremely rude to their guests and audience participants. To make a more civil and just world, we need to learn to debate without rudeness and disdain for our opponents. The debate needs to be heated, but the people themselves need to get along and stick to the subject without personal attacks or condescension.

Don’t forget to check your local library for DVDs of shows on specific topics to check out and watch. Also, many news shows are available via podcast free of charge through the show’s website or on iTunes.

Technorati Tags: Educational TV, Educational TV Channel Suggestions, News show suggestions, Show list

written by Sherri \\ tags: Educational TV, Educational TV Channel Suggestions, News show suggestions, Show list