Many times, parents can view the time teens spend on technology as a negative. And, to some extent, it can be. However, technology is the future, and I enjoy turning the negative into a positive.
The networking of Facebook can outweigh the dangers when used carefully, and an obsession with video games can be turned into a high-paying profession when dedication and software development come into play. With homeschooling, you have the flexibility to weave together a high school level course with your teen’s passions and learning styles.
A course credit is approximately 120 hours long. If your teen finds a passion in a few of these ideas, time spent will soon exceed the minimum requirement!
Coding
From apps to computer games to video games to websites–for a teen addicted to gaming, coding may be the way to go. As gaming becomes more digital, coding is becoming a valuable skill in today’s workforce. Hours of blood, sweat, and tears are put into each video game or app. From programming, to animation, to storyline, there are endless opportunities for people wanting to go into the (growing) gaming field.
In addition, website development is also a growing field. From tiny blogs to major social networking sites like Facebook, programming and software development is key. Potential careers can range from freelancing to working for a company’s development team. Currently, I am learning HTML code and working my way to CSS, which make up most basic blogs.
For starters, CodeAcademy has been my favorite resource for learning how to code. The best part? It’s free!
Some valuable code languages it offers:
- HTML and CSS (build a website)
- JavaScript (build an interactive website)
- Ruby on Rails (build an app)
- Python
- jQuery
For Apple app developers, Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference is something to look forward to.
Design
Have a photographer? Invest in Photoshop. Photoshop is a valuable skill in the business world that goes beyond simply trimming fat on a model. Photoshop enhances photos, and of course, can alter them. From changing the color of a sign, to enhancing a model’s natural beauty, Photoshop is a must for photographers, or anything in an aesthetic field, such as fashion or design. Adobe offers Photoshop and Lightroom for $9.99 a month, and usage is unlimited.
For artists, Adobe Illustrator is unbeatable. From creating 3D vector animations to 2D people sketches, the possibilities are endless with this top professional program.
Adobe is also quite homeschool-friendly (they offer many educational discounts), and the company provides many free tutorials when you sign up.
- Adobe PhotoShop
- Adobe Illustrator
Writers and Editors
For your tech-savvy writers, I would highly recommend learning InDesign. InDesign is a layout software used in the professional world. It is perfect for creating brochures, or laying out a novel.
- Adobe InDesign
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With today’s technology, the possibilities of future technology are endless. It is changing lives, not simply creating more versions of Candy Crush. Prosthetic limbs are now more affordable with 3D printers, long distance relationships are possible as people can video chat from 5,000 miles away. Things that didn’t seem possible a decade ago are now a reality.
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