A comprehensive analysis of differences between homeschooling and traditional schooling:
The best in traditional school:
The traditional school is the most familiar to the masses and a good option for many students. Schools provide infrastructure, facilities, general guidance, schedule and structured learning environment for the learning. The processes of registration, examination, and getting transcripts are simple.
What is missing in traditional schools:
The elements of flexibility, freedom, being heard, and personalized lesson planning are missing in the traditional school setting. The prospect of human errors and the opportunities for generous corrections do not exist very much. A failed test or being absent from an exam can unnecessarily lead to repeating grades. The missed or failed exam can be written in the subsequent days or weeks. Despite that, the system is evidently obsessed with punishing students severely. Such factors consequently pushes them to walk out.
The regard for mental health and overall well-being is complicated for scaling-up employability. Fresh food, proper sleep, and frequent body movement are basic necessities that are being easily denied in a neglectful manner.
Every learner has her or his own capacity and speed to grasp new concepts. The gifted and fast learners are forced to sit longer and are denied the opportunity to utilize their saved time. The learners who understand the material at a slower pace are often punished, yelled at, and shamed. This kind of behavior and rules are not helping anyone.
The best in homeschooling:
Homeschooling brings many solutions with its non-conformist approach and curiosity-fueled practices outside the box. The spontaneous fascination with wisdom and intellectual crafts is quite good for those who are paving their own routes. The chances of being broad-minded and of being an observer with a fresh spin on discoveries are also better. The originality can be maintained with focus on the unique abilities and strengths. There is also more scope to work on weaknesses with a specialized expert like a mentor or tutor. The time is also not wasted on monotonous chores like writing underlined lines from the textbook in the notebook.
The integration of technology and the internet in open and distance learning adds to the interactiveness of teaching methodology by presenting visual learning, digital tracking of progress, and identifying the gaps in learning yet to be bridged. The bureaucracy, the workplaces, and the hospitals have changed a lot recently, and in order to stay relevant, the realm of academia should also welcome the brilliance of innovative methodologies. The recognition of transcripts is another major concern, but they are widely accepted when issued by an official body or Board of Education whenever needed.
There can be more time to study which is difficult for the learner and can utilize the time saved from subjects which are relatively easier. The freedom of having snacks more frequently is another perk for which hunger is not something that should be tolerated.
Having more family time can strengthen the bond and involvement of parents with their children. The balance between academia and other extracurricular activities can also be maintained which can provide space for the learner to gain mastery in the given areas.
What is missing in homeschooling?
The group dynamic is missing in independent learning and social acceptance can also be another factor of consideration. Society can find it unusual for a school-aged child to not rush early in the morning and thus uninformed assumptions can appear. In the case of studying with an accredited body through distance learning, the lack of communication can make clarification of doubts difficult if that is present. Lack of knowledge of options hinder the recordkeeping or even starting to take the new step.
The advantages of peer-to-peer learning like motivating and guiding each other are missing. Summing up, having guidance of mentors, socialization, opportunities for networking and well-equipped laboratories are also missing which can make study of hard sciences difficult to understand.
How Ribbons, Bangalore can facilitate the essentials
There can be learner centric and curiosity driven learning that goes beyond the traditional setups. Hands-on projects in a variety of interest areas with real-world applications in a group are an amalgamation of all that’s required and recommended.
A mentor can be there for the learners to supplement their imaginative endeavors rather than controlling them.
We need to design a system which can take the best from both the worlds so that children can find the calling and passion.
| Traditional schooling | Home Schooling | |
| Learner Driven | Low | High |
| Autonomy | Low | High |
| Social Interaction | High | Low |
| Teacher Support | High | Low |
| Fixed Schedule | High | Low |
| Structure curriculum | High | Low |
| Family Time | Low | High |
| Pressure on Parents | Low | High |
| Homework/Exam/Grades | High | Low |
| Peer to Peer learning | High | Low |
| Real world exposure | Low | Low |
| Whole child focus | Low | Low |
| Active Self direction | Low | High |
| Anytime Anywhere learning | Low | High |
| Connection & Community | High | Low |
| Customization | Low | High |
| Relevance of content | Low | Low |