We had the opportunity to review the online CLEP and DSST prep materials from Study.com.
The high school years . . . I knew they were coming, but that does not mean I was ready. Well, they are here for two of my children and I am working my way through high school together with both of them.
High school is actually a wonderful period in the homeschool season. Your children are learning a number of subjects as they complete graduation requirements and maybe have a plan to move onto college. That is more years of studying with expense to follow. If they are excelling in a subject or possibly struggling in another, having access to a tool that can improve their learning experience can make a difference in the long run, time-wise and financially. Study.com may just be your answer.
Study.com is an online company with more than 25, 000 video lessons and resources for people in middle school through adult (ex: college, post grad, professionals, etc.) to learn, review and expand their knowledge in a number of subjects and areas of education. Students are able to use the courses as refreshers or to earn credit towards college or certifications. If you have children in preschool through elementary school, there are also video courses (for learning enhancement) in a number of subjects.
The CLEP and DSST offerings from Study.com are great for a student who excels in a subject as well as for someone who struggles in one. Taking a course through Study.com can prepare a student to “CLEP a subject” where they are able to take a test to pass that will be equivalent to required college credit. The DSST option, which was previously used for military personnel, is now an option for professionals and adults in a number of work and educational capacities. Study.com allows users to study, practice and prepare for those tests in a variety of areas cutting the time (semesters or years in college) and expense (price of those courses) that would be necessary if one took them in a traditional manner. It is like speed learning, but the instruction is thorough.
Students choose an area of study and teaching is presented through videos, quizzes, study guides and other resources.
We were given access to Study.com for three months and had the opportunity to use the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), as well as other courses. Something that was helpful to finding courses to take is being able to search through the videos by type of course (ex: grade level, CLEP, DSST, test prep, etc.). You can find the correct courses for your needs and even customize a plan with the courses that will help you achieve your goal.
We are not in CLEP mode right now, so I just let River look through the CLEP offerings and choose an area of interest to study. Since we are working through American History, that is what he chose.
Students may prepare for CLEP testing in business, composition and literature, history and social sciences, Spanish, and science and mathematics. I have heard about CLEP testing and may pursue it more. I think it is something that will do well for River, because he learns quickly and does not like to be slowed down by the lengthy semester or full-year course time that often is part of learning a subject.
I looked through some of the other courses that may be of interest to homeschool parents (and other adults). There is a section for teachers and working scholars. Often, as homeschool parents, we only think about the education of our children. One day, our children will graduate and it will be our time. The courses offered through Study.com could be a great beginning to your future.
I really like the prep and (quick, but thorough) teaching you get from Study.com. We are off from school this week. When we return next week, I am going to have River start using the ACT prep courses. He is scheduled to take the ACT in the fall. You may see what is covered in the ACT section.
These are the goals I have set for him when he does start his ACT study, which is a great feature available in the dashboard of Study.com. You choose the courses and the end date and Study.com determines how many chapters the student needs to complete to finish by the deadline. Most of the courses are at least 15 hours of instruction. It is suggested students spend around one and one half to two hours of study per week. Again, that will be determined by the schedule you can set.
Your child may take a CLEP practice test to see how they might do on the actual test. If you plan to use the CLEP towards college credit, be sure to check with the college or university your child plans to attend to learn what will be accepted.
Study.com also offers annual scholarships for students. Are you looking for employment, check out its list of fulltime openings.
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