I am delighted to share with  you an inexpensive yet highly effective learning tool.  Dry-erase boards have been around for years, and business people use them all the time in meetings, to manage to-do lists, or as bulletin boards.   Although dry erase boards are not exactly ‘emerging technology’,  they are very useful tools for homeschool learners.  We actually prefer what I call the ‘personal’ size, an 8.5 x 11-sized board for lap top usage and sharing.  Actually, we find personal-sized dry erase boards even more effective than paper for sharing ideas, concepts, and diagrams because they’re easy to use in an informal learning environment.

Homeschoolers might not even realize that learning is happening because the board makes the knowledge sharing process so natural (easy to write on while sitting on the living room couch, easy to erase off, easy to hold, easy to hand off, and lightweight but rigid).  It’s a more tactile experience than pencil and paper, making it more appealing for those who hate to write.  The boards usually always have a little holder for the dry erase marker, too, making small dry erase boards even more convenient for non-traditional learning environments.  The best thing about personal-sized dry erase boards is that they are so inexpensive.  Target sells a small board for just a few dollars.  And if you consider how much money you can save on paper by using the board instead, the net cost might be close to zero!

Here are some fun ideas for using personal-sized dry erase boards in your homeschool

• VISUAL AID.  Use as reference by recording step-by-step instructions (visual aid)
• CONVENIENT PAPER SUBSTITUTE.  Use as visual aid in educational video production – student writes short concept that you can then photograph for use in videos
• QUIZZES.  Use for quick, informal quizzing interface to gauge understanding — ask homeschooler to illustrate a concept recently learned
• INTRODUCE A NEW TOPIC.  Use for illustrating science, math or technology concepts when introducing new topics– then hand off to student to illustrate the concept himself
• JUST FOR FUN. Use it as a reward — free play on the board — homeschooler can write, draw, doodle, or play games (whatever he/she wants)
• INFORMAL LEARNING.  Use it when you need an excuse to get away from the desk/table.  Sometimes, learning new concepts calls for a change of scenery to inspire the mind.  Relax outside in the grass when there is a nice breeze (you won’t have to worry about losing your pencil or your paper blowing away) and just talk about a topic.  Use the board to support the discussion with simple, graphical examples.