Visual Learning Systems is a digital online science program that caters for children for all ages. We were given twelve months free access to all the levels as part of this review, though we spent most of our time on the Digital Science Online: Elementary Edition that caters for children in grades K-5, there is the Digital Science Online: Secondary Edition that caters for grades 6-12.
With a vast library of videos, animations, images and activities, there is something for everyone. They have over 136 unit studies for K-5 and another 125+ unit studies for grade 6-12. For each topic there is a video, animations, images and worksheets which may include pre tests, post tests, quizzes, reading comprehension, hands on activities (projects), writing and answers to check your child’s work.
The elementary edition is actually divided into 2 levels: primary (grades K-2) and elementary (grades 3-5). The primary and middle/highschool editions are divided into 6 subjects: physical, earth, life, integrated, health and biology while the elementary edition is divided into 3 subjects: physical, earth and life.
How did we go?
We did not complete the topics in order. Our boys went through the list and chose a topic they wanted to learn about or one that corresponded with what they were learning in their books. We did concentrate more on the elementary, grades 3-5 levels and they are in grades 3 and 5.
First I would watch the videos, as being a Christian family, and this being a secular program, I was interested how some of the topics would be approached. There were a few times where “billions” of years was mentioned and these were the times which we would approach the topic with the understanding that some people may believe this while others may not. This did not happen very often at all, mainly in the historical topics.
Then I would print off the teacher’s guide for the particular topic. This guides includes the National Standards Correlations, the student learning objectives, assessments, a video script, the answer key and an activity or project that can be completed.
At first we were completing the whole of every topic in one day, but I found that the boys were struggling with this, so we broke each topic down into 3 days. So we ended up doing one topic per week.
On day one, before watching the video, the boys completed the pre-test and then we checked the answers. This was great to see how much they knew on each particular topic and then we could concentrate on what they didn’t know.
While watching the videos, which go for around 15 minutes (in the elementary edition, slightly shorter in the primary edition), the boys completed the video review. At the end of the video, there are some questions where they could ‘test their knowledge.’ This was great to see how much notice the boys actually took while watching the video. The videos are broken up in chapters, so you can watch each chapter as you wish and not have to watch them all in one sitting.
Day two, the boys completed the post-test, checking the answers before moving onto the vocabulary and writing activities.
On day three, we completed the ‘creating’ activities; ie. in the Earth’s Nearest Neighbour’s topic, the activities included building a scale model solar system, a hands on orbit activity and a reading comprehension activity about Mars.
The activity for Magnets and Electromagnetism was to Build a Compass which our boys really enjoyed. For the Blood and Circulation topic, the activity to was to check your pulse. The boys checked their pulse while sitting down and after some physical activity to see how different it was.
Overall we found this to be an easy program to use. There was little set up on most days and we found the topics to be very informative. We also loved the variety of topics in each level. It was great to be able to search for a topic that the boys had been learning about, reinforcing what they had learnt and sometimes even adding new information. We found the ‘creating’ activities were great in reinforcing what they had see in the video and completed in the written activities.
The best part for me was the easy set up and the way I needed no previous knowledge on any of the topics. The work was all there, ready for me to print out. It is also an easily adaptable program to which you can add your own books or projects too.
In regard to the content, though there are a few topics that are more secular, there are many more that are not. We still enjoyed this program and recommend it as an easy to use, very adaptable online science program.
These Tutorials and Demo Samples will give you a great insight into how this program works.
Details At a Glance!!
Name and Website: Visual Learning System
Product: Digital Science Online: Elementary Edition and Digital Science Online: Secondary Edition
Price: Homeschoolers: $99 for the Elementary Edition and $99 for the High School Edition
Ages: This site is for all grade levels: K-12
Monday Memory Verse: Jeremiah 33:3