I received free access to the Devotional Biology video curriculum and digital materials in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.
The high school science dilemma
This time last year, we were looking ahead toward our daughter's upcoming transition from eighth grade to high school. It didn't seem possible she was old enough for that, and homeschooling high school suddenly felt a lot bigger than middle school - especially classes like SCIENCE. Science has labs, right? And there's just so much more knowledge, it seems. We had been using a Physical Science curriculum in eighth grade that had truly been written for a classroom setting and while it was clearly an excellent textbook, it had felt overwhelming to both of us - and that was only eighth grade. Suddenly I understood why so many homeschoolers enroll their kids in a school for high school, or at least in a co-op or other classroom setting that offers lab sciences.
Deep breath. We (my husband and daughter and I) decided to look at what we wanted most in a first high school science class. We decided to start with biology. We wanted it to have labs, but ones that were doable at home. Our daughter did not want it to include dissection, and we wanted it to be something she could do on her own without a class, for both financial and scheduling reasons. We also wanted it to be both from a Christian perspective and challenging scientifically.
With those criteria in mind, we found five different science curriculum options that we would be okay with and let our daughter look at each of them. Since she was the one who would be doing the work, we decided she would have the final say in this decision. Without hesitation, she selected Devotional Biology, from Compass Classroom. A year later, we are thrilled with her choice. Let me tell you why.
Deep breath. We (my husband and daughter and I) decided to look at what we wanted most in a first high school science class. We decided to start with biology. We wanted it to have labs, but ones that were doable at home. Our daughter did not want it to include dissection, and we wanted it to be something she could do on her own without a class, for both financial and scheduling reasons. We also wanted it to be both from a Christian perspective and challenging scientifically.
With those criteria in mind, we found five different science curriculum options that we would be okay with and let our daughter look at each of them. Since she was the one who would be doing the work, we decided she would have the final say in this decision. Without hesitation, she selected Devotional Biology, from Compass Classroom. A year later, we are thrilled with her choice. Let me tell you why.
Compass Classroom
First of all, Devotional Biology is part of the Compass Classroom world of homeschooling. Compass Classroom is a Christian homeschool company dedicated to creating video-based educational programs for homeschoolers. Their mission is "to create products that will be useful to moms, interesting to students, and glorifying to God." Their products cover a wide range of topics, including Latin, literature, history, philosophy, economics, music, and science. They capitalize on using particularly engaging instructors who can produce video lessons that are both entertaining and educational.
Kurt Wise is the instructor for the Devotional Biology series. Dr. Wise has his MA and PhD degrees in paleontology from Harvard University. He is a strong Christian and a young earth creation scientist. He taught biology at Bryan College for 17 years and has taught it at Truett McConnell University for the last seven, where he also founded and directs the Center for Creation Research. He is also a leading researcher (and the one who coined the term) in the field of baraminology, or "created kinds", about which our daughter had become fascinated after a family trip to Ark Encounter in Kentucky several years ago. Hearing his connection with baraminology was part of what made her adamant about using Devotional Biology this year!
To access Devotional Biology, you either need a premium membership to all of Compass Classroom's classes and products ($39 per month, or $390 per year) or you need to purchase the class ($155 for either streaming/download access, or for the DVDs). Either option also gives you access to all of the materials digitally, including the textbook, lab manual, and Teacher's Guide. Because we are old school, we opted for all of the printed books as well ($110 for all three). We also bought the Lab Materials ($140 without a microscope, which we already had).
Kurt Wise is the instructor for the Devotional Biology series. Dr. Wise has his MA and PhD degrees in paleontology from Harvard University. He is a strong Christian and a young earth creation scientist. He taught biology at Bryan College for 17 years and has taught it at Truett McConnell University for the last seven, where he also founded and directs the Center for Creation Research. He is also a leading researcher (and the one who coined the term) in the field of baraminology, or "created kinds", about which our daughter had become fascinated after a family trip to Ark Encounter in Kentucky several years ago. Hearing his connection with baraminology was part of what made her adamant about using Devotional Biology this year!
To access Devotional Biology, you either need a premium membership to all of Compass Classroom's classes and products ($39 per month, or $390 per year) or you need to purchase the class ($155 for either streaming/download access, or for the DVDs). Either option also gives you access to all of the materials digitally, including the textbook, lab manual, and Teacher's Guide. Because we are old school, we opted for all of the printed books as well ($110 for all three). We also bought the Lab Materials ($140 without a microscope, which we already had).
The approach
Dr. Wise's approach in Devotional Biology is quite the opposite of what most courses do. Most biology courses begin with the smallest building blocks (cells) and then work their way up to more and more complex forms of life. Wise, by contrast, begins Devotional Biology with the Creator and spends the course showing what the complexities and beauty of creation reveal about God. The earliest chapters are focused on topics such as biological beauty, baraminology (created kinds), mutualism and symbiosis, and animal behavior and intelligence. Later chapters get into details of DNA and cells. Every chapter also looks at ethical issues related to biology, and how a Christian can approach them.
The labs included are challenging, but not overwhelming. Early labs are more observational, with a focus on observing nature and learning to write a lab report. Later labs get into more technical topics such as DNA structure, photosynthesis, and mitosis and meiosis.
The video sessions are paired with the portions of the textbook that they match, and are guided via Compass Classroom's online platform that keeps track of completed assignments. My daughter has found it works better for her to watch the videos first, during which she will take notes using the Cornell Note-taking System, but students can read first and then watch the videos as well.
Test questions are provided in the text book with thorough answers in the Teacher's Guide. They are completely short answer and essay based. There are over twenty per chapter, and what I have been doing is giving my daughter a selection of short answer and essay questions to choose from for each chapter's test. I appreciate these being in a form that requires more thought than just a multiple choice exam.
The labs included are challenging, but not overwhelming. Early labs are more observational, with a focus on observing nature and learning to write a lab report. Later labs get into more technical topics such as DNA structure, photosynthesis, and mitosis and meiosis.
The video sessions are paired with the portions of the textbook that they match, and are guided via Compass Classroom's online platform that keeps track of completed assignments. My daughter has found it works better for her to watch the videos first, during which she will take notes using the Cornell Note-taking System, but students can read first and then watch the videos as well.
Test questions are provided in the text book with thorough answers in the Teacher's Guide. They are completely short answer and essay based. There are over twenty per chapter, and what I have been doing is giving my daughter a selection of short answer and essay questions to choose from for each chapter's test. I appreciate these being in a form that requires more thought than just a multiple choice exam.
What she's learning
My daughter loves what she is learning, both about science (especially baraminology!) and about God. I feel that this is an excellent foundational course for the rest of her high school science courses, as it is training her to see science as one more aspect of Creation that demonstrates who God is. It is also teaching her how to address ethical issues from a biblical perspective, something that will come up often in the future. I highly recommend this course for Christian families -- and while you are taking a look at Devotional Biology, check out the other classes that are available through Compass Classroom! We will be using the Dave Raymond American History course in tenth grade!
Coupon!!
Compass Classroom's Spring Sale is going on now! Through April 19, Devotional Biology is 45% off! You can get DVDs, Digital, or both for less than $90 (normally at least $150)! No coupon code required! And I so appreciate you using my affiliate links when you shop with Compass Classroom!
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