I read an article today about "self-directed" learning. I hadn't heard this term used since a few years back when I was exploring the Robinson Curriculum. I never did try the Robinson Curriculum, but we had been through a couple of stages in our homeschooling journey - from Sonlight to a mixture of more traditional curricula. Even with the more traditional curricula, though, I have told our 5th grader to find the correct answer in the lesson she just read. She also uses a Switched on Schoolhouse course in health, which is basically self-directed as well.
Our second grader uses mostly traditional curricula, but is the type of child who wants very little help. She usually gets correct answers on any worksheets she has to complete. Sometimes I feel it's a waste of time giving her the work to do. She doesn't seem to be bored and likes to do the work, so I'm okay with it for now, but I do feel guilty sometimes for not lecturing like a regular teacher would in a classroom. I have trouble remembering that homeschooling is not the same as regular schooling, and we do not necessarily have to do things the same way. I'm sure even schools take advantage of a few CD-ROMs every once in a while.
It's an interesting article. I still do not think a CD-ROM is a replacement for a real book that you can hold and turn the pages. I think when you vary your day by using CD-ROMs or board games or an educational DVD, it can enrich the learning experience for your children and make your day a lot more pleasant.
Still, I feel a twinge of guilt, plopping them down in front of a computer, telling them what lessons to do and then walking away. I wonder if there's a such thing as "CD-ROM guilt" in the homeschooling world?
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