Technology enables home-schoolers to broaden their world.  Used safely and responsibly, technology can be a great asset to any home-schooling family.  My daughter takes harp lessons via Skype.  My children do research on the internet.  My son, Jake, has his own blog about horses, his love.  It is called Cross Creek Horsemanship.  I purposely try to use technology as an aide in our education, which is why I was excited to let my children make a video.

Jake was the most excited about learning how to make a video.  Therefore, it was only natural that he made the first video.  He wanted to do something that he could use for his blog.  He decided to do a how-to video.  Jake did a method demonstration on cleaning horse hooves.  He did a great job, and most importantly he learned a lot.  His video is below.

I was very fortunate to have my mom visit for a few weeks.  While she was here, my mom devoted a whole day to helping and teaching Jake how to make and produce a video.  It is not a small task, but it is doable even for an eight-year old.

In the Texas Homesteader Wheat-Free Cookbook, I have a wonderful gluten-free pie crust recipe.  Working with gluten-free dough is much different than with a traditional wheat crust.  Typically, the dough is more wet and harder to spread.  Clayton has agreed to film me demonstrating how to roll out a gluten-free pie crust.  He will then be responsible for editing the video, producing it, etc.

Video making can play a fun and exciting role in your schooling.  Allow your child to choose what he/she wants to do.  They can write a script, design and construct sets and/or costumes, and act.  He/She can choose to do an informative video like Jake.  It can be an activity for the whole family.  One can direct while the others are filmed.  The possibilities are really endless.

Don’t forget you can then upload to YouTube.  This is not a requirement, of course.  Some might have issues with YouTube, but Jake loves to see how many people have viewed his work.  It is fun for him to see the number grow.  Depending on the video you make, you can always produce a DVD and give them away as gifts.  Check out My Creativity Blog for more creative ideas.

The DeHaven Family. Jake and Kyla. Clayton, Lara, Andrew, Lane, and Isaac.

I want to first say how much your prayers mean to my family.  I am happy to report that Andrew is on the mend.  This incident has been extremely stressful for all the members of my family, especially Andrew.  I posted a picture of us as a visual reminder for whom you are praying.

Tuesday we went to our second doctor’s appointment in San Antonio.  The doctors were pleased with the wound’s progress.  The skin graft has taken and skin is starting to grow back.  We could not be more excited!  However, there is still a huge risk of infection.  Andrew is not out of the woods yet.

All of your comments, phone calls, and e-mails have really lifted my spirits through this trying time.  I cannot properly express the depth of my gratitude and appreciation for you.  It amazes me how technology can bring people together who would otherwise never have any interaction with one another.  It is amazing that so many people we have never personally met care enough to add us to their prayers.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  And, I hope to be writing again soon.

If I ever turned on the television in the late afternoon, I noticed that Oprah was interviewing guests and having discussions with audience members from the comfort of their own home via Skype.  I was amazed at the quality of picture and the sound of Skype.  Was it just her internet connection and high tech devices? Or could I also enjoy such a high quality video call?  I had to find out.

Meanwhile, my daughter’s harp teacher decide to quit teaching music lessons and enjoy her retirement.  So now we were without a harp teacher again.  We lost her first and favorite teacher to marriage as her husband is an officer in the Marine Corp.  They live the stereotypical military life filled with endless moves across the country.

If you have ever tried to find a harp teacher, then you know how difficult it is especially out in a rural area.  Harpists are not a dime a dozen.  However, our quitting teacher mentioned that she could not believe how many music teachers were now offering lessons via Skype.

Skype?  Skype?  Could it really work?  Before I went hiring anyone else, I had to ask our original teacher if she would consider giving Skype a try.  She readily agreed!  We were both so excited!

Kyla with her harp teacher years ago. Now they are reconnecting with Skype.

Now every Wednesday we make video call at the appointed time and Kyla gets her harp instruction from the East coast.  Our teacher has even moved since we started lessons again, but it did not affect our ability to connect.

All you need is a PC, microphone, webcam, internet connection, and to have downloaded Skype for free.  You use the Skype directory to locate your family and friends.  You simply add them to your contact list and can call them for free.  You can also text them, too.

Once you have your contact list set up and the other person accepts you on their list, Skype tells you who from your contact list is online just in case you want to chat.  My brother, my mother, and I stay in touch with video calls using Skype.  It is a great way for my mom to get to see and speak to all of her grandchildren and vice versa.  It doesn’t make you feel so isolated and far away from each other even on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Best of all, Kyla is playing the harp again with her favorite teacher.  She is greatly encouraged and inspired by her.  It was all made possible by technology and the software application of Skype.  Face to face lessons are better I am sure, but Skype lessons are the next best thing.

As a homeschooling family, I hope to find more uses for Skype.  If you already use it for something else, please let me know.  I would love to enrich our life with other possibilities.