While homeschooling is a well-known educational technique in India, unschooling is slowly becoming a more popular method around the world. Unschooling has been popular since the 1970s when educator John Holt promoted it as an alternative to public schooling. Even after four decades, however, unschooling is virtually unknown. Both deschooling and unschooling are related concepts for homeschooling, but they have different meanings.
Continue reading to know more about unschooling and how is it different from homeschooling.
What is Unschooling?
Unschooling allows a youngster to devote as much time as they need to a particular academic subject or hobby. This is in stark contrast to school schedules, which only provide the youngster with a limited amount of time to ponder a subject before moving on to the next. Because it is unconventional, the youngster has the freedom to learn it by trying new things, watching videos, reading books, talking to someone who knows a lot about it or using any other resource. Children take the initiative in determining what they want to learn and how they want to learn it. It is less structured than homeschooling.
Unschooling can be anything the student wants it to be. Both unconventional approaches to learning are, to some extent, driven by the individual child; unschooling takes this to its logical conclusion. Books, videos, hands-on activities, games, experiments, and internships are used to encourage children to pursue their interests, such as dinosaurs, fashion, or farming. In the 1970s, the trend of homeschooling children began to gain traction. John Holt is regarded as the “Father of Unschooling” and credited with coining the term.
Example of Unschooling
Let’s look at an unschooling example for your better understanding: Cooking is the best way for children to learn simple addition and subtraction. Determining how many cups or tablespoons are required helps the child learn more advanced concepts such as fractions. Cooking is a fun way to learn science principles such as chemical reactions and the properties of liquids, gases, and solids. With an unschooling approach, the child will learn concepts naturally.
Difference between Homeschooling & Unschooling
Homeschooling is the process of taking control of your child’s education and facilitating learning in the home. Unschooling and deschooling are both subsets of the broader term “homeschooling.” Unschooling is regarded as a homeschooling method or educational philosophy in which a child is allowed to direct their learning. Deschooling is the duration of depressurization allowing your child the transition from a traditional public school setting to homeschooling. A day in the life of an Unschooler is whatever the student wants it to be. “Choice and control are in the hands of the learner.” Unschooling is built on the assumption that children are naturally curious and will pursue their interests in their unique way.
Unschoolers take their cues from their passions and learn as needed, free from the constraints and burdens of traditional education. Parents serve as teachers in the classroom when their children are homeschooled. They plan lessons, assign homework, and grade assignments following state and national standards.
How will Birla Brainiacs help?
If you are confident that your child can direct her learning (with your guidance), then unschooling may be the answer. Unschooling is a distinct approach to education that is not for everyone. Consider what form of education you want for your child’s education if you are looking for alternatives to the traditional school system. Homeschooling is likely a better option if you are more comfortable with structure, homework, grades, tests, and other traditional methods.
We, at Birla Brainiacs, aim at educating children even in remote areas with the help of technology to support young talent to pursue their dreams. We believe in upgrading with time and technology. Not only that, but we also promote all three types of learning methods as Kinesthetic, Auditory and Visual. We believe that learning, playing and extracurricular activities go hand in hand, and it is really important to strike a balance between them. Birla Brainiacs is one of the top-notch online learning apps. Check out the homeschooling program and get in touch with us and we’ll arrange a time to give you a call and walk you through the process.