The Role of Homeschooling as an Alternative Solution for Flexible Education in Creating a Comfortable and Enjoyable Learning Environment

Definition of Homeschooling
Homeschooling, derived from the words “home” and “schooling,” means home schooling or independent schooling. Homeschooling is a flexible and informal educational model where the provision of materials for children is tailored to their needs, interests, and talents. The presence of homeschooling has made it easier for millennial parents to access school materials. Based on the National Education System Law No. 20 of 2003, homeschooling has become a legal non-formal education system that meets the educational needs of each child. Homeschooling can be an option for parents to continuously monitor their children’s academic development with more flexible and conducive time for children. Furthermore, homeschooling can also be an alternative educational learning solution that can create comfortable and enjoyable learning conditions for children because the learning system can be individualized or private..

Homeschooling as a new learning habit builder in the student development process
Every parent, without exception, desires the best education for their children. Since early 2020, after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, homeschooling has become a solution to improve the quality of children’s education during the pandemic. Therefore, during the pandemic, homeschooling can be an appropriate solution for parents and children to receive good and high-quality learning at home. Alternative education with a homeschooling model not only fosters a desire to learn flexibly in children but also fosters moral character in them. By entrusting the learning process as a child’s right to education, it will encourage children to learn discipline and responsibility for all learning activities. The role of homeschooling in forming new learning habits for students is as follows:

1. Determine the needs of each student
In fulfilling every learning material provided to students, it is appropriate for teachers and parents to collaborate in determining the goals and needs of each student. Furthermore, it also determines the alignment of students’ interests and talents to support their abilities and learning styles, their likes and dislikes, and how to guide each student so they can understand each learning material without pressure and always make each student comfortable learning.

2. Utilizing an understanding of children’s emotional intelligence to support the child’s growth and development process.
All the material contained in homeschooling is not only based on books, but as a teacher, you must be able to understand the psychological factors and emotional intelligence of children. Every child has a different character and emotional intelligence. As parents and teachers, it is appropriate to understand the characteristics of each intelligence. There are 8 types of intelligence according to Armstrong (2013): Linguistic Intelligence, where children in this category tend to be the ability to use words effectively, both verbally. After that, logical-mathematical intelligence, where children tend to have the ability to use numbers effectively and sensitivity to logical patterns and relationships, statements and propositions. Third, there is spatial intelligence, which is the ability to understand the visual-spatial world accurately and spatial intelligence is the ability to understand the visual-spatial world accurately, then bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is the skill of using the whole body to express ideas and feelings including certain physical skills such as coordination, balance, dexterity, strength, flexibility. Next, musical intelligence is the ability to feel and express musical forms. This intelligence includes sensitivity to rhythm, tone or melody, and timbre or tone color in a piece of music. Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand and make distinctions in the moods, intentions, motivations, and feelings of others. Intrapersonal intelligence is self-knowledge or the ability to act adaptively based on that knowledge. This intelligence includes having an accurate picture of oneself. Finally, naturalist intelligence is the ability to recognize and classify various species of flora and fauna in an individual’s environment. This includes sensitivity to other natural phenomena. With the eight categories of intelligence groupings in children, as teachers and parents, we can utilize this in understanding children’s emotional intelligence to support their growth and development, thereby creating a safe and comfortable learning environment for children. Learning doesn’t have to be through books; it can also be through YouTube videos and other interactive learning resources.

3. Developing a comfortable and enjoyable learning process and method for students
With a variety of educational pathways available, all share the same goal: to provide knowledge to students. Non-formal education is an educational pathway outside of formal education that can be implemented in a structured and tiered manner. Non-formal education is provided for members of the community who require educational services that serve as a substitute, supplement, and/or complement to formal education. Homeschooling allows children the freedom to choose the subjects they prefer. The focus on children’s learning in homeschooling, especially in communities, is significant because they learn individually and at their own pace. They make learning as comfortable as possible by joking around, lying down, or sitting around relaxing. Homeschooled children typically experience challenges related to cognition or learning, particularly in non-exact subjects, as they perceive these subjects as requiring special concentration and attention. Another problem faced by homeschooled children is that some children still feel afraid and embarrassed to express their opinions and convey problems to their parents, so this requires special attention and much more attention. By designing a learning process that suits the child’s interests and talents, it will make each student more comfortable and safe.
With a clear understanding of the role of homeschooling in today’s digital era, it becomes an alternative solution for flexible educational learning.

In creating comfortable and enjoyable learning conditions, it is hoped that homeschooling will become a flexible informal education model. One such model is Discovery Private Homeschooling, which has several advantages:
a. National, international, and bilingual curriculum available
b. Accredited by BAN PAUD & PNF
c. Teaching staff are rigorously selected, and we select competent, experienced, and state university graduates.
d. Daily and Progress Reports are available
e. Accelerated program
f. Pearson Edexcel is a UK Curriculum Center
g. Provides a comprehensive selection of learning methods: community, tutorial, and distance learning.
Therefore, in this case, Discovery Private Homeschooling can be an alternative solution for finding flexible educational solutions to create comfortable and enjoyable learning conditions. As a teacher who deeply understands the psychological conditions of cognitive and other skills, creating a comfortable learning environment for students is a teacher’s obligation and moral responsibility. For almost six months of teaching at Discovery Private Homeschooling, I have had many memorable experiences and learned how to win the hearts of students with diverse characters and circumstances. Therefore, collaboration between teachers and parents is crucial to building positive chemistry for child development during the homeschooling process.

Afifah Nur Rufaidah – Teacher Homeschooling Discovery Private