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Acellus

Overview:

Acellus uses innovative video-based lessons to accelerate learning for grades K-12. Outstanding teachers and content make learning relevant to the real world. Each lesson is followed by a set of multiple-choice questions to assess comprehension. After completing the lessons in a unit, students can review all of the videos to prepare for the unit exam. If the student passes the exam, they move forward to the next unit. If they do not pass, the program moves them to the beginning of the unit to review and re-take the unit exam.  

Key Characteristics:

  • Good for auditory learners who learn best by listening.

  • Students can progress quickly if they pay attention to the lessons.

  • Lessons are easy to follow with a predictable format.

  • Students can quickly calculate how many lessons need to be completed each day to stay on pace for the course.

  • Easy to catch up if students miss a day or even a week.

Things to Think About:

  • Can be monotonous.

  • If a student has trouble mastering a concept, they will be required to repeat lessons.

  • Students learn at the recognition level vs. higher-order thinking. In other words, there is limited analysis, reflection, or critical thinking built into Acellus.

  • Students must do assignments in 2 programs to receive full credit for the course: Acellus for lessons and tests; Canvas for written assignments and projects. There is no analysis or writing in Acellus, so students do extra projects in the associated Canvas classrooms that have been created by the teacher in order to flesh out these areas – deeper thinking, and more writing.

  • Students can’t go back and see previous questions or videos except in the Review lessons before tests.

  • Parents cannot see what the student worked on. Teachers can see records of time worked, lessons completed, answers, and scores for lessons and the whole course. The student (and parent) can only see how many lessons have been completed and what the next lesson is. Parents cannot go back to see a previous lesson.

  • The videos often start out short and may get longer throughout the course. Therefore, students may underestimate how long it will take to finish the day’s lessons.

    Learn More:

Acellus Website

Course Outlines for Acellus

Flexpoint (FLVS)

Overview:

Flexpoint is an innovative digital curriculum. While it is predominantly text-based, it also includes interactive technology such as games for review, Discovery videos, virtual labs, and even some avatar clips. These core subject-area classes are very solid and great preparation for students planning to go on to future education after high school. The content presents real-world situations and asks questions that connect back to real events and situations as often as possible. K-12th grade.

Hybrid Option:

  • Online Lessons with a workbook packet sent from BWA

  • Online subjects: math, language arts, science, and social studies

Key Characteristics:

  • Rigorous

  • Includes text to speech options

  • Includes videos and interactive lessons

  • Discussion-based assessments

  • Compelling and varied

  • Students and parents can go back to content when they need to review

  • There are opportunities to work with the teacher and other students in the course if the teacher has set up these assignments as an option.

  • Although the math is partially multiple-choice, it has “real world” problems. The lessons present the material in a way that relates back to how math is used in the real world.

  • Students can see how much each assignment is worth so they can gauge how much time and effort to spend on each assignment. This is a great skill to learn.

Things to Think About:

  • Requires strong reading and writing skills.

  • Assignments vary in complexity, so it is not always possible to set a consistent daily goal. In other words, finishing 1 lesson per day could mean a short quiz or a long paper.

Learn More:

Course Outlines

Flexpoint Virtual Course Tours

Timberdoodle

Overview:

Timberdoodle all-in-one curriculum kits are perfect for students who want their school-at-home life to be creative and fun. Games, art projects, and activities are all included in this kit along with specific instruction in every academic area. This is not an online curriculum. K-8th grade. 

Key Characteristics:

  • Kits offer something for everyone

  • Creative and specific instruction

  • For the creative students

  • Strong geography for younger students

  • Has a weekly schedule for each grade level

  • High emphasis on thinking skills

  • High-quality workbooks, games, and activities

Things to Think About:

  • The parent needs to have a significant amount of time to prep

  • The curriculum kit includes many pieces

  • The hands-on games don’t necessarily follow what’s being taught in the subject areas

  • Subjects are not integrated

Timberdoodle Website