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Switched-On Schoolhouse

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Switched-On Schoolhouse is originally based on Alpha Omega's LIFEPAC Gold curriculum and is available on CD-ROM. The five core subjects are all here -- Bible, Language Arts, Math, History & Geography, and Science -- plus a variety of electives: Consumer Math, Health Quest,  Spanish 1 and Spanish II, College Planner, Health, and Story Of The Constitution. State-of-the-art multimedia and animation  (video clips, sound files, and interactive learning games) draws your students to the computer and engages them in both fun and learning. Switched-On Schoolhouse is based on the mastery system of learning, in which concepts are completely mastered by the student before the next concept is introduced. Switched-On Schoolhouse is available for grades 3 and above.

Latest Version !! ... 2009

Switched-On Schoolhouse® is the perfect combination of traditional education and high-tech learning.

Switched-On Schoolhouse teaches 3-12 grade students standard subjects in a fun and easy to use computer-based format.

The CD-ROM format provides an interactive learning experience, making Switched-On Schoolhouse seem like an adventure. The clever animation and special effects spread a contagious energy that gets kids excited about learning.

Functional. Organized. Dynamic. The new generation of Switched-On Schoolhouse® products is more than just the latest version; it’s a better version. With Alpha Omega’s same focus on guided student learning for concept mastery, Switched-On Schoolhouse features new tools for teacher preparation and student success. New Windows®-based navigation screens allow students and teachers to effortlessly move around the curriculum, and a dynamic new home page complete with animation provides an inviting doorway into a world of learning. Update your student's education today!

New Features Include: • Custom Curriculum • Student Resource Center • Assignment Screens • Message Center • Advanced Lesson Planning • Custom Calendar • Improved Security • Flexible Printing Options • Work Mode • Animated Desktop Themes • Over 50 New Welcome Videos

SOS Features:   Desktop Themes (NEW) We’ve updated our look with a new student home page and desktop themes! Explorer! Dinosaurs! Bugs! Alpha 14! Finish Line! Kingdom Under the Sea! Dino Playland! Blast Off! God Bless America! Play Ball! Springtime! Groovy! Symphony! Advanced Lesson Planning (NEW) Put away that spiral bound lesson book! Advanced Lesson Planning now allows parents to combine the best of individualized and traditional lesson planning. Parents create lesson plans and assign them to students in relation to a school or student calendar. Students now have a personalized lesson plan that can pace them through the curriculum and be modified day-by-day. Advanced Lesson Planning is the perfect complement to Custom Curriculum. Printing (NEW) New flexible printing takes learning from the screen to the page. Students and teachers can easily print entire assignments, lessons, problems, and records. Custom Curriculum (NEW) Do you have your own ideas for the perfect lesson plan? Would you like to add your own touch to developed and proven curriculum? Now you can! Introducing Custom Curriculum, a new option available in Switched-On Schoolhouse®. This feature allows you to modify existing SOS subjects by combining, adding, or removing units and assignments. Or you can choose to build your own curriculum from scratch using any of the available SOS materials. Custom Curriculum allows parents to use SOS as both a central learning system and a supplemental product. It will give your home school even more ways to get Switched-On! Dynamic Learning Activities DLAs challenge students to apply the information they’ve been studying. Students will enjoy the Spelling Bee, Vocabulocity®, Chemistry Lab, and more!  New DLAs! Mix Chemicals in the Science Lab! More Exciting Math DLAs! States Game! Interactive Timeline! Elements Game!   Vocabulocity More Levels! Deeper Storyline! Save Space Station Alpha14 and Study! Vocabulary At the Same Time! Work Mode (NEW) With flexible navigation, the new Work Mode will allow students to view presentations, complete lesson problems in and out of sequence, and record notes and questions on the electronic notepad. Utilizing the status bar, students will be able to track their progress through quizzes and tests. New text highlighting in multiple colors will allow students to emphasize key concepts to aid in their review of lessons. Built-in Calendar (NEW) Never be caught off guard by holidays, events, or fieldtrips with an improved calendar. The improved school and student calendar features allow you to assign/unassign school days, exclude date ranges, and add or remove events such as field trips or holidays. You can organize your calendar with day, month, or three month views to help you plan future events and assignments. Assignment Screens Take the guessing out of schoolwork with our new assignment screens. Student screens show daily assignments, curriculum overviews, due dates, subject reviews, and grades. Parents can edit, add, remove, or reorder assignments and lessons and change assignment due dates. Automatic Grading and Record Keeping Administrative tasks are completed in a click of the mouse with automatic grading and record keeping. Teachers can easily keep track of students’ assignments and scores, quickly view assignments that need grading, and preview assignments in each subject. Message Center (NEW) Communication is made easy with improved internal messaging. Switched-On Schoolhouse messaging allows you to attach messages to each problem in the lesson and add instructions or comments for students via their personal electronic mailboxes. Parents are notified immediately of messages and now can access, sort, and print messages in one convenient place. Book Reports Designed to integrate reading, writing, and thinking. Language Arts book report projects feature genre highlights, annotated book lists, and links to additional resources. Thought-provoking questions provide a structure in which students can reflect upon, evaluate, and write about the books they choose. Available in grades 3-8 Timeline Put history into perspective with this feature. Click on any linked date in the curriculum (all subjects) to find out where in history you are. Students can see the context of their studies and how the events of the past fit together. All New Welcome Videos You will find thousands of videos in Switched-On Schoolhouse, each offering students an up-close look at the world around them. And this year, 50 new videos welcome students to the school year. With new animation and graphics these videos will introduce students to the topics that will be discussed in the curriculum and help them get the new school year started.

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Switched-On Schoolhouse - Core Subjects Overview

• The award-winning Switched-On Schoolhouse® (SOS) curriculum is a complete Bible-based curriculum for grades 3–12.  Multimedia, internal messaging, immediate feedback and automatic grading and record keeping are just a few of the features that make this product unique. SOS studies include the five core subjects – Bible, History and Geography, Language Arts, Math, and Science – and various electives.
  

Switched-On Schoolhouse - Bibles
Students study the teachings in the Old and New Testaments learning Biblical truths fundamental
to Christianity and to their own lives.

Switched-On Schoolhouse - History & Geography
World history and geography are presented from a Biblical perspective.

Switched-On Schoolhouse - Language Arts
From reading comprehension to proper grammar application, students learn the components
of our language and develop vital communication skills.

Switched-On Schoolhouse - Math
Proficiency in applying mathematical principles is developed through step-by-step progression
of concepts and practice problems.

Switched-On Schoolhouse - Science
In teaching scientific facts, honor is given to the Creator: all laws are God's Laws, all life is God's life,
all truth is God's truth.

Each Switched-on Schoolhouse Set includes all CD-ROMs, manuals, and required readers.

CORE SUBJECTS AVAILABLE
1) IN EACH GRADE AND EACH SUBJECT
2) IN EACH GRADE AND ALL 5-SUBJECT SETS

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Switched-On Schoolhouse - Core Subjects Details

Switched–On Schoolhouse® Bible

Switched–On Schoolhouse Bible is a comprehensive, basic curriculum for grades 3-12 with a developmental and in-depth academic study of the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. Utilizing the King James Version and the New American Standard Bible, the Bible curriculum covers a variety of biblical material to assist in the development of a Christian life-view and the integration of this view into academic studies and practical living. The Bible curriculum focuses on the following strands:

Strands: the Bible curriculum provides seven major themes that are covered on most levels.

• Theology: important subjects such as Christ, sin, salvation, and prayer are covered
• Attributes of God: facets of God's identity and nature are studied
• Biblical literature: Psalms, Proverbs, and other books are noted for literary value
• Biblical geography: geography and archeology provide background of Bible times
• Christian growth: awareness of God and self, leading to victorious living and service
• Christian evidences: equipping the Christian for temporal and eternal life
• Special emphasis: each grade level has a unique study

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Switched-On Schoolhouse ® History and Geography is a comprehensive, basic curriculum for grades 3-12.  Presented in a reading-based format, it utilizes a combination of on- and off-computer assignments and activities with the power of SOS automation and administration. The goal of this program is to develop students' understanding of and appreciation for God's activity as seen in the record of man and his relationships. The curriculum targets this goal by focusing on the strategic presentation of the following content strands:

Geography

· World Geography: Focuses on geographic distinctives around the globe, including geographical and climatic impacts on lifestyles of world social groups.

· American Geography: Focuses on geographic distinctives and impacts in America .

History

· World History: Traces the development of civilizations, including key historical personalities and cultural distinctives.

· American History: Traces the development of American civilization, including key historical personalities and cultural distinctives.

· History of Religion: Explores historical and current religious groups, with a particular emphasis on Christianity.

Government and Citizenship

· Explores the impact of historical and modern governmental systems and peoples' cultural relationships.

Economics

· Explores the history of economic systems with a focus on contemporary capitalism.

Social Studies Skills

· Map Reading
· Research Skills
· Historical Method

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Switched-On Schoolhouse Language Arts, a comprehensive, basic curriculum for grades 3-12, targets the sequential development and integration of communication skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The program addresses these skills by delivering a combination of on- and off-computer assignments by using the structure and organization of the LIFEPAC curriculum framework and the power of SOS automation and administration.

Because SOS Language Arts is an integrated program, the elementary grades (3-6) weave skill topics (reading, writing, listening, speaking) together within units. In the upper grades, skills are treated more discretely—i.e. unit by unit. The major strands are detailed as follows:

Reading

• Vocabulary: The language arts vocabulary program holds students accountable for vocabulary lists derived from the new words encountered in lesson presentations. This  program also exposes students to some of the structures and meaning relationships among words. Lower grade topics include parts of speech, syllabication, prefixes, suffixes and roots, antonyms and synonyms, and dictionary skills.  Upper level topics expand to include etymology, connotation and denotation, varieties of English, and context clues.
  
• Comprehension skills: SOS Language Arts helps students develop the ability to effectively read the lines, read between the lines, and read beyond the lines. The developmental sequence across the levels includes (1) identifying main ideas and details (what was said), identifying the audience (to whom it was said), finding the purpose (why it was said), questioning the occasion (when it was said); (2) analyzing point of view (perspective from which it was said) and technique (how it was said); (3) uncovering implication and inference (what wasn't said); and (4) evaluating and applying (responding to what was heard, viewed, or read).
  
• Literature studies: In the elementary grades, the language arts program uses literary works to apply basic principles in reading comprehension and to introduce students to general characteristics of literature and major literary categories such as fiction and nonfiction, poetry and prose. To expand upon the program's literature base, book-report projects (including book lists) are interspersed across grades 3-8 to help students develop their own reading tastes. Upper grades provide instruction intended to better equip students for effective literature analysis, interpretation, and appreciation. Unit topics include literary devices, features of poetry, short story, the novel, and drama, and American and British Literature survey.

Writing

• Spelling: spelling lessons appear in every SOS Language Arts unit from grades 3-8. Instruction and word lists drill and reinforce phonics rules/skills and provide opportunities for application in composition.
  
• Penmanship: the SOS Language Arts program does not include handwriting technology but AOP LIFEPAC Language Arts includes print-based materials that can be integrated with the SOS program.
  
• Grammar: studies focus on developing students' awareness of the structure of language and the conventions of written Standard English to improve their speaking and writing skills. Grades 3-6 emphasize basic parts of speech and rules of capitalization and punctuation. Grades 7-12 cover sentence structure, variety, and basic diagramming; verb forms and types; phrases and clauses; usage; and sentence reduction and expansion.
  
• Composition: In addition to providing opportunities for students to apply principles of grammar and usage in written assignments, SOS Language Arts provides writing instruction across the grade levels. Grades 3-6 focus on techniques of invention, word choice, sentence and paragraph structure, paragraph development (e.g. narration, exposition, description), journal and letter writing, story and poetry writing, basic research writing, and writing about literature. Higher grades incorporate formal instruction on the five-paragraph composition, the essay, the research paper, literary criticism, speech writing, and creative writing.  SOS Language Arts also uses writing assignments as a means of application and assessment on a variety of topics.

Most writing assignments appear as individual projects and require students to use a word processor. Project materials include suggestions for grading and/or rubrics.

Speaking and Listening:

Listening and speaking skills are introduced as vital components for effective communication in grades 3-6 and taught as specific skills in grades 7-12. Topics include conversational etiquette, note taking, interviewing and preparing, delivering, and evaluating speeches.

Special Topics:

· Viewing visual media: Upper grade courses (7-12) provide instruction on using the Internet, and analyzing and evaluating content of visual media.

• Nature and History of the English Language: Taught in both elementary and secondary grades (500, 800, 900, 1000, 1200), this topic guides students into understanding the relationship between the English language and the cultures and events that have shaped it. Lessons cover basics in etymology, introductory linguistics, anthropology and sociology.
  
• The Bible as Literature: Language Arts 500 and 600 include lessons that focus on the various literary genres found in the Bible to enrich and inform the student's experience in reading the Bible.
  
• Book Reports: Language Arts include book reports; book lists of the genre are provided, as are templates for writing the reports.
  
• Study and research skills: SOS Language Arts includes instruction on effective practices for note taking, outlining, using visual cues, evaluating, using, and documenting sources.

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Switched-On Schoolhouse ® Mathematics

SOS Mathematics 3-12 is a fully comprehensive math curriculum designed to meet and exceed necessary standards at all grade levels.

Content strands:

Number skills are developed throughout the elementary grades with a significant focus on the basic operations, whole numbers, fractions, and decimals as well as estimation and rounding skills. Emphasis is also given to application and “story problems."

Geometry is introduced early on in the math curriculum.  Students learn to identify shapes and understand basic concepts. Geometry is integrated into all the grade levels to reinforce and extend the numeracy skills worked on by the student. The formal study of two and three dimensional shapes and their formulas begins in middle school. The tenth grade curriculum contains a full year of geometry study and incorporates the formal study of logic and proof. It is equivalent to a standard high school Geometry course.

Algebra preparation begins in sixth and seventh grade, with an introduction to equations and variables.  Eighth grade expands on this skill by introducing rules for handling variables in different types of equations, combining terms, FOILing, and using equations to solve word problems. Ninth grade is our standard Algebra I course that covers such topics as inequalities, polynomials, factoring expressions, radical expressions, systems of equation, graphing, and quadratics. Advanced algebraic concepts are covered in eleventh grade and is equivalent to a standard Algebra II course.

The study of Statistics is integrated throughout the curriculum.  It begins with simple charts and graphs in the elementary grades and progresses to the formal study of permutations and combinations in high school.

Eleventh graders begin their pre-calculus study with the study of exponential and logarithmic functions and the conic sections. These topics continue and intensify up through twelfth grade where seniors continue their calculus preparation with the formal study of trigonometry and the introduction to summation, limits, and the slope of curves. The trig curriculum includes the study of advanced topics such as inverse functions, applications involving the law of sines and cosines, and polar coordinates.

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Switched-On Schoolhouse ® Science

Switched-On Schoolhouse Science is a comprehensive, basic Curriculum for grades 3-12. Students focus on the development of observational skills as they study the physical universe God created. The program involves a combination of on- and off-computer assignments as it combines the structure and organization of the LIFEPAC curriculum framework with the power of SOS automation and administration.

Because SOS science is such a diverse program, the elementary and Jr. High grades (3-9) observe each area of science on an individual survey basis, usually unit by unit. The high school grades (10-12) focus on specific areas of science; this includes Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The four major strands that flow through the lower curriculum and into the specific classes are as follows:

SOS Science

• Plants and Animals: SOS Science introduces the study of life to elementary students through the observation of structure and life processes in all living organisms. Specific organisms are used to portray general ideas.
  
• Human Anatomy and Personal Care: With a brief introduction in the lower grades, SOS Science mainly focuses on human anatomy and personal care in the Jr. High grades.
  
• Biology: From the basis of life to cellular and genetic biology, tenth grade SOS Science curriculum is dedicated solely to the study of Biology.

Earth and Space Sciences

• Geology: The study of the Earth and what we find in and on the Earth are the topics discussed in each of the elementary and Jr. High grades.
  
• Weather: Atmospheric conditions and how they affect each other and the planet is a vital component of the curriculum in each of the elementary and Jr. High grades.
  
• Space: The stars, our solar system, and how the Earth relates to the other objects in space are topics of discussion in the lower grades.

Physical Sciences

• Chemistry: SOS Science introduces Chemistry during upper elementary grades and builds on that foundation through the Jr. High grades. This study includes the concepts of matter, how it is structured and how it reacts with other matter.  The focus of eleventh grade science is dedicated to the study of Chemistry.
  
• Physics: Concepts in Physics are presented from the early elementary grades through Jr. High. The study of machines and of energy in its many forms; light, sound, heat, electrical, mechanical, can be found in each of the different grades. The final grade level in the SOS Science Curriculum is a concentrated study of Physics.

Nature of Science

• Scientific Method: The concepts of observation and reasoning using the scientific method are woven throughout the entire curriculum. The scientific method is essential to scientific study.
  
• Experimentation:  Experiments and demonstrations are included to help students of all ages visualize abstract concepts. Lower grade students perform simple experiments and higher grade students perform experiments of increased intensity. 
  
• Technology: Technology, the application of scientific concepts for the benefit of society, is mentioned throughout the curriculum as it relates to each topic of discussion.
   
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Switched-On Schoolhouse - Electives

Consumer Math is a supplementary math course which explores mathematical applications
for daily use. Appropriate for high school students who have completed Algebra I & Geometry.

Health Quest is designed to teach the importance of personal hygiene, fitness methods, as well as personal and ecological stewardship. Grades: 4th - 7th.

Spanish I and Spanish II curriculums are designed to help the 13 to 18-year old students
reach the same level of proficiency in two years of study that a college student should attain
after 2 semesters of Spanish Study.

Little or no budget for college counseling? Help your students prepare for college.
College Planner is designed as a one-semester course to guide students in college planning,
selection, and application. Plus, they earn high school credit while doing it!

Health is a one-semester high school elective that carefully considers the Christian view of health. The practice of good health starts with knowledge of the physical systems of the body. When the function of the body is understood, a person recognizes the importance of good nutrition, healthy exercise, and personal hygiene. Tending and caring for your health includes more than practicing good eating habits and getting regular exercise. Your overall health is affected by your spiritual, emotional, social, and environmental well-being. A responsible attitude toward living makes one avoid substances that destroy the body. Grades: 8th - 12th.

Story of the Constitution is a one-semester course that tells briefly of America’s origins and what steps led to the formation of the U.S. Constitution. Having explained how and why the national government came about, the course also tells what principles the Constitution stands for and how it applies to everyday life. The course is filled with a variety of helpful comprehension exercises for students. This course is ideal for anyone, young or old, who wishes to better understand the Constitution. Appropriate for grades 7-12.

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Each Switched-on Schoolhouse Set includes all CD-ROMs, manuals, and required readers.

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Switched-On Schoolhouse® Frequently Asked Questions

What is Switched-On Schoolhouse? Switched-On Schoolhouse (SOS) is Alpha Omega Publications award winning, biblically based CD-ROM curriculum for grades 3 – 12. What subjects are available on SOS? Bible, Language Arts, History and Geography, Math, and Science make up the five core subjects of SOS.  We also offer several electives including Spanish I, Spanish II, Health (for high school), Health Quest, Consumer Math, College Planner, and The Story of the Constitution. Is there a demonstration CD available for SOS? Yes, request a free demo disk by calling customer service at 1-800-622-3070. Is your Switched-On Schoolhouse program the same as your LIFEPAC curriculum? The SOS program is based on our LIFEPAC curriculum but the two will not match up word for word.  SOS is a different curriculum.  There is no need to purchase the LIFEPAC books and SOS. How many children can I have in the home version of SOS? SOS 2.0 can support up to 3 children on one computer. Can you print out lessons in SOS 2.0? Printing from SOS 2.0 is easier than ever.  With a simple click of a button, you can print assignments, grade reports, and report cards.  Look for the print button located at the bottom of the appropriate screens. How many lessons are there in each subject for a complete school year? SOS 2.0 contains approximately 130 assignments, including lessons, tests, quizzes and projects. How do I keep track of grades? SOS 2.0 has grading built into the application.  The only grading teachers will do consists of essays and paragraph questions.  Once the teacher grades an essay/paragraph question, they enter the grade into the application…the computer does the rest.  The program will also generate a report card How long should a student work on each subject? For Switched-On Schoolhouse the time will vary according to the number of days included in your school calendar, which automatically generates a lesson plan.

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Product Comparison: SOS and LIFEPAC Although the Switched-On Schoolhouse was originally based on the LIFEPAC curriculum, it has grown to so much more. Video clips, sound files, and interactive Learning Games have transformed Switched-On Schoolhouse into an advanced multimedia-based learning environment. Both LIFEPAC and Switched-On Schoolhouse are based on the mastery system of learning, in which concepts are completely mastered by the student before the next concept is introduced. While the LIFEPAC Curriculum is available for grades 1-12, the Switched-On Schoolhouse is only available for grades 3 and above. Click here for more information on LIFEPAC.

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