David Poole
Bumberchute Homeschool Connectivity
www.bumberchute.net
(240) 426-8647
27115 Ridge Road
Damascus, MD 20875
Bumberchute is an online service that takes the stress off of homeschool planning and reporting. Bumberchute makes grading and tracking assignments very simple with their easy to navigate site. In case you're wondering, Bumberchute is an archaic British term for umbrella. They strive to assist umbrella homeschoolers by simplifying the administrational aspects of schooling and enabling teachers to create very detailed reports of their learning time. There is capability to print reports that are so high quality and specific that they really create a covering should anyone question your teaching. To use Bumberchute the only material you need is an internet ready computer. On the site you will find tools to create grading periods, list subjects, create and grade assignments, generate reports and manage it all on a family calendar that color codes each child. Soon Bumberchute will be adding a time tracking feature to the site as well. The new feature will allow users to record the amount of time spent on schooling.
Bumberchute was created by homeschool mom who wanted to simplify her planning methods and a homeschool dad who invested the talent of Internet developing to do it. Bumberchute is very easy to use. After logging in, you will choose your family's "preferences". This really just means that you choose "E" or "F" as a failing grade. From there you will add in your students. Each child is assigned their own color to help you see at a glance what assignments they need to get done. You will select subjects, assign students to them and set your grading scale as _/_ , % or letter grades. The calendar is a huge help by allowing you to view all that is assigned and to whom. Once a task is completed, you click the square to put a check mark on it and a screen pops up that allows you to grade your child's work. This sounds more complicated than it really is, and with all the help options you really can't mess it up. Bumberchute would be best suited for parents who need to show good records for their homeschooling. In states where homeschool laws are tough, this might provide great tangible documentation that looks professional and can be taken seriously. I also think Bumberchute would be a good fit for grading and creating transcripts for high school students.
I enjoyed using Bumberchute. I love that I can manage all the assignments and record grades so easily. I also appreciate how easy it was to manage assignments for multiple children. To me, the biggest advantage of using Bumberchute is the visual satisfaction of seeing a week completed on the Calendar. It's really encouraging to see all that has been accomplished when you feel like nothing is getting done. I also loved the accountability that Bumberchute provides.
My only difficulty using Bumberchute was when I graded our first assignment. To complete the task of grading, you always have to specify what you are grading ( a worksheet, test, quiz, etc.). This tool has to be pulled down with a little arrow icon and is hard to notice at first. It took me a while to figure out what I missed. I'd prefer this to be beside the grading box rather than above it. Also, if you have the site opened and walk away for longer than ten minutes you are automatically logged out. It can be a bummer when you get interrupted and have to start all over. Parents who choose not to grade or are not required by their state to show any proof of schooling might not benefit from Bumberchute.
Organizational nuts like me, however, will love Bumberchute. The cost is $10/ month or $80/ year. I actually think this is a very fair price for all that you will get.
I am happy to recommend Bumberchute. I strongly recommend checking it out if you have a homeschool student or if you need to have accountability with your state. They offer a thirty day trial, which is a wonderful, easy way to try out the service before you invest any money. In fact, they don't ask for any payment information at all until after the thirty day trial. As for me, I'm hooked and I will be continuing as a Bumberchute customer.
Product Review by Heather Randall, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, April, 2009
|
|
|
|
