Technological and traditional curriculum meets all homeschool needs at annual conference.
Pete Kiene traveled from Leavenworth looking for technology-based learning options to help his wife balance teaching time with "mommy" time.
"I just want to allow my wife greater flexibility to act in the role of a mom instead of being overburdened (as an educator)," said Kiene, whose three children are homeschooled.
This year's Teaching Parents Association Homeschool Conference, through exhibitors and workshops, offers many high-tech options for parents.
The annual conference, now in its 16th year, continues to attract families such as Kiene's looking for inspiration, information and fellowship alongside others in the homeschooling community. It continues today at Century II.
The association serves the estimated 1,200 to 1,500 homeschooling families in the Wichita area and expects to attract more than 3,000 people to the conference this year, said Jim Farthing, president of the Wichita-based group. The event has attracted more people each year it has been held, echoing national growth in homeschooling.
More than 100 vendors set up booths in Expo Hall, most of them selling curriculum, both traditional and high tech.
Among the vendors was Shawn Morris, administrative coordinator for the Wichita eSchool, who spent the morning explaining the public school district's online program.
"We've really got something here (locally) that everybody's pretty much intrigued with nationally," Morris said.
Students can enroll in an online course or one class and learn from prepared lessons. If the parents hit a snag or have questions, a certified teacher can be contacted through e-mail.
Private companies, too, have developed online and other computer programs.
One is "K12," a hands-on, multimedia offering from William Bennett, former secretary of education during the Reagan administration. Friday night, Bennett gave a keynote address for the conference.
"K12" features cartoonlike characters, booming sound effects and an entertaining lesson format that's much like video games kids are used to.
Another high-tech option that parents can see is satellite learning as presented by Dave Eoute with the HomeSat program from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C.
HomeSat allows teachers' lessons to be broadcast via satellite to students nationwide, who can participate by computer or television. Parents can tape lessons and use them when needed.
With the proper equipment, students can take part in lectures through voice interaction or by keypad.
One concern about some of the state-of-the art options is price. Bennett's curriculum, for example, will cost an estimated $5,000 if bought for all the years. So far, "K12" has only been fully developed through the second grade.
But Kiene, the Leavenworth parent, noted that many parents can use the curriculum for more than one child and over a number of years.
Another concern is how to measure a student's performance.
"We encourage folks to use some type of outside evaluation," Farthing said, noting the Iowa Basics Test used by the Teaching Parents Association. "If only to get an outside, objective evaluation."
The main objective of the conference is to help parents see all the choices that are available.
"We use the whole world as a classroom, it's just a matter of finding the resources and fitting them to your needs," Farthing said.
The opportunity to choose what her children learn is what drew Linnea Nichelson of Manhattan to the conference and to homeschooling in the first place.
"We just feel we meet the needs best because we know them," Nichelson said.