Rachel Thomas Unpacks Homeschooling: A Deep Dive into Screen Time, Apps, and Data Ethics

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODETeach Your Kids: Website | LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Substack | FacebookManisha: LinkedIn | X | Instagram | FacebookRachel Thomas: Fast.ai | LinkedIn | X | FacebookJoin our premium community with expert support and adviceTeach Your Kids Blog Posts50 Educational Apps Your Kids Will LoveRachel ThomasFast.aiBlog PostsMy family’s unlikely homeschooling journeyMy family’s unlikely homeschooling journey - Hacker News threadBooksErin Hunter: Warrior booksMindset: The New Psychology of Success - Carol S. Dweck, PhDArticlesThe Plan to Stop Every Respiratory Virus at OnceChess players perform worse when air quality is poor – and other high-skilled workers could be affected tooInvesting in indoor air quality improvements in schools will reduce COVID transmission and help students learnPublicationsClonally expanded B cells in multiple sclerosis bind EBV EBNA1 and GlialCAMAI/Coding ResourcesPractical Deep Learning for CodersScratch | ScratchJrCourses/WorkshopsThere's No Such Thing as Not a Math Person with Rachel Thomas, P.H.DLearning Apps/PlatformsArt for Kids Hub - YouTubeLearn Chess with DragonBoxMiscellaneousMastery Learning HourThis site contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Time Codes00:00:00 — Manisha introduces the episode and her guest, Rachel Thomas, highlighting her impressive background in AI, data ethics, and education.00:01:32 — Rachel shares her initial hesitation and surprise at the idea of homeschooling.00:03:00 — A fresh perspective on how homeschooling can differ from traditional schooling.00:05:00 — Omicron's influence on the family's return to homeschooling.00:09:36 — Family dynamics during the pandemic: Screen time becomes relational.00:15:37 — Discussion on tech gadgets that empower learners.00:17:40 — The evolution of educational apps, from Dragonbox Algebra to Slice Fractions.00:21:25 — Outdoor vs. Indoor activities: A balanced approach.00:28:20 — The importance of personalized education.00:33:16 — Deep learning's day-to-day applications explored.00:41:40 — Addressing the plague of poor math teaching.00:47:48 — The psychological risks of perfectionism in traditional schooling.00:52:00 — Breaking down the viral myth: viruses vs. healthy bacteria.00:59:00 — Homeschooling: It's not just for the "cognitive elite."01:05:35 — Manisha wraps up the episode by discussing the availability of free resources and grants for families. She emphasizes the importance of making education accessible to all. This podcast is made possible through a generous grant from the Vela Education FundVELA Education Fund is catalyzing a vibrant alternative education ecosystem. VELA provides trust-based funding to entrepreneurs, fosters community-building and knowledge-sharing, and increases visibility through storytelling that promotes cultural awareness and acceptance of the out-of-system space. Today, VELA serves the largest community of out-of-system education entrepreneurs in the country, with over 2,000 community members. About half of VELA’s community members operate small learning environments, and the other half are ecosystem and community builders offering direct services and support across the out-of-system space. Learn more at velaedfund.org.