FAQs

What is the cost?

The online course and ck-12 online textbook are available at no cost with direct registration. 

Students registered through a Charter School that offers the course should refer to the school's web site for pricing.

Labs scheduled in community centers in the Conejo Valley and Camarillo, CA areas have pricing listed in the parks and recreation catalogs. Contact hrobinson@horizoneducationandmedia.org for more details.

Who is the course for?

Any homeschool student aged 11-14 is welcome to the course and labs. PSA Families and Homeschool Families enrolled in Charter Homeschools may sign up. If your Charter School does not yet offer the course or labs, please contact Customer Service so we may apply to get listed.

Do you have a parent guide and keys?

Supplies lists for local or online purchase are available for each lab activity for registered families.

Keys are available for every lesson activity handout for registered families.

Parent guides and keys are unlocked during the course progression.

What makes up the course?

1. Online website with 70-80 middle school lessons and videos aligned with NGSS and middle school College Board standards.

2. Online textbook providing comprehensive content, aiChatbot support, and feedback. PDF download available.

3. Lab activities with materials lists that families can do together.

4. Parent guide with keys and materials lists available to registered families.

What is the schedule?

Contact hrobinson@horizoneducationandmedia.org for the latest school year schedule.

What technology is required?

Thorough learning at middle school level demands the tactile stimulation of writing and drawing rather than typing and scrolling (Askvik et al, 2020). Therefore despite offering an online course, it is strongly encouraged that students print each lesson's activity sheet then write and draw their responses instead of typing them. Therefore a black and white or color home printer is recommended. 

A fast iPad or laptop with the ability to run a split screen is a minimum requirement. 

A PDF of the textbook is available for download should a print version be preferred. 

Lexi, the ai chatbot is available 24/7 within the ck-12 textbook. However, the textbook is a supplement to the course, not the main focus. The course is aligned with NGSS standards. The textbook is much more comprehensive than the standards require.

Good judgement as a citizen requires sufficient comprehension of the natural world, and this course provides the life science groundwork on which human intelligence can be developed, with ai used as a tool.

Do the labs require specialized materials?

In this homeschool course, the labs are designed to use household and play materials wherever possible, other than a microscope and slides. Materials lists are provided for families to purchase from vendors such as local grocery and drug stores, Amazon or other online resources.

In-person labs are available in the Conejo Valley, CA area. These are designed to support the academic course as well as provide enrichment for homeschool families. The labs can be taken independent of the online course.

Who is the teacher?

Hannah Robinson is excited to work with Homeschool families. She is an accredited science teacher with numerous education awards spanning her 25 years of experience: 20 years in private schools and five years in public school. 

She developed and lead successful Scout hikes for five years as a Docent at the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Hannah Robinson has a Bachelors in Biochemistry and Physiology, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and current California Teaching Credential and Career Technical Education Credential.

What is Horizon Education and Media, Inc.?

This 503c California nonprofit was founded to promote education through online media and other means. 

Horizon Education and Media, Inc., 9452 Telephone Road, Suite 158, Ventura CA 93004

How do we contact customer service?

Please contact hrobinson@horizoneducationandmedia.org

What is the copyright of the site?

The author's materials and attributed materials of this site are licensed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International License. Tap the link for details of this particular license. Established in 2002, the CC licenses make it possible for everyone around the world to share knowledge, creativity, and culture, legally and freely. Please contact customer service regarding any additional questions about attributions or copyrights.