Tech School: Web-Based High School

In my search for Tech-Based High School resources, I wish I could say that I’ve found “THE ONE!”

Alas, I haven’t.

What I have found is that the Internet abounds with resources, if you take the time to look.

What do you need?

My ideal curriculum is found on one site or in one program that covers all subjects, is interactive, and if not overtly Christian, is at least not so secular as to veer away from any mention of Christianity and the influence it has had on history from the beginning to present day. It also should not be so expensive that I would need to sell one child to pay for the other’s tuition.

The ideal curriculum from my wishes just does not exist.

This bank’s already tapped, and unfortunately I have not found a technologically current, Christian program any where. With that being the case, I began to look for high quality resources, Christian or not, that would fit into the plan I have for my kids.

Isn’t that what we need to do anyway? The plan should never be set by the curriculum, but rather the curriculum set by the plan, or even better, by the students we wrote the plan FOR.

What I found are that most sites have some sort of a specialty, which I did expect. Some cover “all subjects” but not necessarily very well. This list will be as comprehensive as I can make it. I will put them in categories to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. All of the curriculum and companies listed below are for web-based programs. No CDs to install. Some are online web apps and others are downloaded to your computer. Use them where ever you have an Internet connection.

Even if you don’t find any single resource to fit your needs, chances are pretty high that by using a combination of these, you will feel confident to put together a challenging middle and high school program for your kids.

Full or Multiple Subject Curriculum

• All In One High School (9th-12th) and it’s sister site, All In One Homeschool (K-8th) Cost: FREE Full, comprehensive high school program covering Bible, English, History, Humanities, Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II), Science (Biology, Physics, Oceanography, Anatomy & Physiology), PE/Health, and a couple of electives. Daily lesson plans written directly to the student, put together by a homeschool mother of 8, utilizing different sites and resources.
• Learning Aisle (1st-12th) Cost: FREE
  • Subjects for K-8th include: Science, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts
  • Subjects for High School include: Language Arts, Math, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, Biology, Earth Science, Physics, Chemistry, Social Studies (9th grade test prep courses for the Texas TEKS in: World Geography, World History, US History), plus in depth courses for 10th-12th in US government, US history, and modern world history from WWI+.
• Khan Academy (Jr./Sr. High thru College) Cost: FREE Known for their fantastic math programs listed below, Khan Academy also has course lectures in Sciences, Economics and Finance, Humanities (History, Art History, & American Civics), Computing, Test Prep (SAT, MCAT, GMAT and others).
• MIT OpenCourseware Cost: FREE. College level courses available online for anyone to use. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is perhaps the most prestigious college in the entire country when it comes to academia. Courses fall under Business, Energy, Engineering, Fine Arts, Health & Medicine, Humanities, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, Society, and Teaching & Education. Many courses have videos and downloadable course materials, and most have affordable texts available through Amazon. Courses include syllabus and lectures as well as assignments and some include tests (but no answers). These  are NOT high school level courses but that’s not to say a bright high school student couldn’t use them for high school credit!
• Monarch Online Curriculum by AlphaOmega (3rd-12th) Cost: $450 for 5 subjects, or $99 per individual subject. From now through April 30th, get 20% off!
  • Subjects include: Language Arts, Math, Science, History & Geography, Bible. (SOS and Monarch are the same curriculum in different formats.)
• Penn-Foster High School (9th-12th) Cost: $995 for all four years if paid in full, or $49/mo., total $1395. Full, accredited online high school program following traditional credit requirements: 4 English, 3 Math, 3 Social Studies, 3 Science, 2.5 Arts & Humanities, 1 Health & PE plus 5 Electives. They have career concentration courses students can choose for electives, such at Automotive Repair, Web Design, and more. Upon credit completion, students graduate and receive an accredited high school diploma. They will transfer in credits from other schools if you have them.
• Time4Learning (K-12th) Cost: $19.95/mo. for 1 child, and $14.95 for each additional child. High school is $30/mo.
  • • Subjects include: Language Arts, Language Arts Extensions (K-8th), Math, Sciences (General Elementary sciences; Earth & Space, Physical and Life Sciences for JH/HS; Biology, Chemistry and Physics for HS), Social Studies, Health (High School), Economics/Personal Finance (High School).

Math

• Aleks Math (K-12, college, adult ed.) Cost: $19.95/mo or $179.95/year with a 29-43% discount for multiple children in the same family on a 6-12mo/ membership contract. Interactive math courses, elementary up through college Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, GED Preparation, and SAT Preparation courses.
• Khan Academy Cost: FREE Video instruction for Early Math, 3rd-8th grade level programs, and Pre-Algebra up through Calculus, Integral Calculus, Mulitvariable Calculus, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra.
• Plato Courseware Cost: $79.95/single course for one year. High school courses include: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. Middle School Courses include: Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, or Consumer Math
• Uzinggo (5th-12th) Cost: $9.95/mo or $94.95/yr. for just math. Math/Science combo is a very good deal. Fun, interesting instructional video lessons for Math Foundations, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II

Science

• Aleks Math has AP Chemistry and math for AP Physics. Cost: $19.95/mo or $179.95/year with a very big discount for multiple children in the same family.
• CurrClick Live Online Classes. Jr./Sr. high science courses include Apologia General Science, Biology and Honors Biology, Physical Science,
• Khan Academy Cost: FREE.  Video instruction for Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Cosmology and Astronomy, Health and Medicine
• Plato Courseware Cost: $49.95/single course, $74.95/two courses, discounts for up to 4 courses ordered at once. High School Courses include: Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, & Physics. Middle School Courses include: Life Science, Physical Science & Earth Science.
• Uzinggo (5th-12th) Cost: $9.95/mo or $94.95/yr. for just science. Math/Science combo is a very good deal. Fun, interesting instructional video lessons for Middle School Earth & Space, Physical, and Life Sciences and High School Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Technology

Code Academy Cost: FREE. Interactive instruction in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, Python, and APIs. Great for 7th-12th grades and beyond.

Khan Academy Cost: FREE. Video based Computer Programming and Computer Science courses.

Lynda.com Cost: $25/mo or $250/yr. This adult-geared tutorial site is perfect for techie-minded teens (and PARENTS!) Courses include instruction in 3D + Animation: Game Design, Photoshop, Flash, & more;  Audio + Music: Mastering, Mixing, Recording Techniques & lots more; Business: Communications, Presentations, Social Media Marketing, Microsoft Office Suite program instruction, QuickBooks and more; CAD: 2D and 3D Drawing, Architecture, Interior Design, 3D Modeling & more; Design: Illustration, Logo Design, Digital Publishing and more plus Illustrator, Photoshop, GIMP, CorelDRAW and lots more! Other categories include Education, Photography, Developer, Video and Web with dozens of courses in each category. I can’t list everything here. Just go check it out and bring your geek with you. 🙂

History, Civics and Social Studies

CurrClick Live Online Classes (All grades.) Cost: Varies. High school courses include: Economics, Government, 20th Century American History, The American Story: History and Literature, Classic Literature, and more.

Writing

BraveWriter Online Classes All levels. Cost: $199-$249 per 4-6 week course. Jr./Sr. High school courses include: Literary Analysis, Mini Reports, Romeo and Juliet, SAT/ACT Essay Prep, and more all taught by an experienced writing teacher. These classes are very thorough, rigorous, and focused. Your students will come out with a new skillset.

Time4Writing (2nd-12th) Cost: $99 per 8-wk course. One-on-One writing courses taught by certified teachers.

Write-at-Home (7th-12th) Cost: $129 per 8-wk workshop and $399 per year-long tutorial course. $99 for two-week SAT Prep workshop. Also offering a Pay-Per-Paper service for grading and revision tutoring, from $18-80 per paper depending on length and number of draft revisions.

Language Arts

Vocabulary Spelling City Cost: Basic membership FREE, Premium Membership $29.99/yr for up to 5 students. Enter your child’s spelling lists from his spelling book, and Spelling City uses them in games and vocabulary exercises to help reinforce their learning. The free membership is all you really need, but Premium gives your student more games and exercises, and gives you the ability to create daily assignments with due dates. Very good for vocabulary study for many subjects.

LoyalBooks Cost: FREE Huge depository of free audio books, for streaming or downloading. Everything from children’s books to academic titles. If you have teens with learning disabilities, audio books make those high school literature studies possible!

Plato Courseware Cost: $79/yr for one course.

Foreign Languages

CurrClick Live Online (Jr/Sr. High) Cost: Varies- $50-80/semester. Live classes meet 1-2 times weekly online with homework to complete during the week. Courses offered: Mandarin Chinese, French, Russian, and German.

LiveMocha (Jr high-Adult) Cost: FREE  Learn any of 35 languages offered through self-study courses, and students may join a community and practice their language skills with others online.