Switched-On Schoolhouse Series: Personalizing Your Desktop

I write the Switched-On Schoolhouse Series twice a month to share our family’s experience using this software based curriculum in our home.

If you spend much time using electronic devices, the internet or social networks of any kind, you know that ‘skinning’ is a pretty popular thing. 

For those of you I just lost, let me translate.  When you ‘skin’ a device, browser or social platform, you’re adding a personalized background image to overlay or underlay.  Making it an enjoyable place for you to visit, something visually appealing to your sense of sight.

When kids can personalize their ‘space’ it makes them feel more connected to it.  Likewise they’re more likely to take ownership of it.

The #1 thing that Amber likes about Switched-On Schoolhouse, is the ability to ‘skin’ her desktop.  Not surprisingly it gets changed with her moods or after having done or seen something that reflects her current interests.

It’s simple to do with a couple of clicks and there are more than enough backgrounds to choose from, for younger kids and us adults too!

I’ve included some screenshots of my desktop to show how simple it is to do.

You can also change your avatar to reflect your interests.

On the desktop teachers and students can choose to have a  variety of widgets.  Lesson Plans and Daily Schoolwork are pretty much a given, but there are a number of interesting ones that can be made visible, Word of the Day, Bible Verse of the Day, This Day in History, and Where in the World, are some of them.  You can even have an RSS Feed from an online website show up on the desktop!

Of course all of them can be picked up with a drag and drop, to be placed in any configuration.

I think the personalized and customizable desktop is a unique feature, where Switched-On Schoolhouse really captured what makes kids enjoy technology.  The popularity of making it personal to them is a very cool plus to this learning software.  This is what Amber’s desktop looks like right now, a definite reflection of who she is personally (very computer and techie oriented!):

If you’re interested in learning more about Switched-On Schoolhouse or would like a discount on a purchase of curriculum, click through on the button in my right hand sidebar, and you’ll be taken to the publishers site.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the products mentioned above for free for review purposes from Alpha and Omega Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review and this product may not have the same results for all people, please do additional research of your own when purchasing products mentioned in reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.