BJ DVD vs Veritas Online vs Potter School?

[Guest Voskamp]

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts/experience regarding BJU DVDs in comparison to Veritas Online classes or the Potter School classes?

 

Our high school students have benefitted greatly from VP Online and TPS ... yet we are considering BJ DVDs as perhaps an opportunity to have less online screen time and more quiet focusing time to deeply study...

 

Does anyone have experience with BJ and either VP or TPS? Any thoughts on:

... how do they compare in terms of quality of teachers?

... how well your student engaged? learned?

... depth and scope of curriculum (esp. sciences?) level of challenge? amount of time required daily/weekly?

... your overall recommendation?

 

Humble thanks for any input?

 

All's grace,

Ann

[PeterPan]

Just checking, have you seen the samples at the BJUPHomeschool website?  They have samples of the videos and whole chapters of the texts.  Generally the science texts are top-notch.  The math is being updated and is also excellent in the new edition.  My dd has done some of the physical science 9 videos with Mr. Harmon, and they're good.  Kind of odd though that you think it's going to reduce screen time...

[Guest Voskamp]

Yes, we've been checking out the samples on the website -- thanks for sharing your experiences. And yes, we are wondering if it might reduce online screen time, yes, as they are DVDs that won't require being connected to the internet? Most importantly, considering how strong are the sciences and how engaging are the teachers?

 

Has anyone transitioned from VPOnline to BJU and what was that experience like for the student in terms of adjustment from live classes to DVD?

 

Very grateful...

[Ellen in PA]

We have used/using Veritas and Potter's.  Our past year at Potter's school, my dd took geometry and did not care for the teacher or their classroom environment.  She felt like she had to self teach all the material and learned very little in class.  We are using Potter's again for Advanced Chemistry due to few options available.  We are hoping that the teacher is better.  Others in our community are quite satisfied with Potter's.

 

My daughter LOVES Veritas classes.  She took just Omnibus I primary and secondary this past year.  This coming year she is taking 5 classes through Veritas.  She likes the classroom environment and the teachers so far.  Their classes are challenging, but the teachers try to make it fun.  We attended their end of year gathering and met many of the teachers.  The students who received their diplomas through Veritas were accepted to selective colleges. 

 

Veritas twice a week format works much better than once a week at Potter's and for about the same money.

 

Hope you find this helpful

[G5052]

Mine really like live classes.  They like the interaction, and they like having a teacher who can answer the hard questions.  One of mine does two with Veritas and one with Lukeion, and the other is doing a local history/lit class with one Veritas class.  I'm fine with teaching the rest myself. We find that as much as we like the online classes, they still can really eat up your day.  So I don't think we'll ever move to doing it all online.

 

We tried one BJUP class some time ago before we did live online classes, and mine never want to go back to BJUP.  Although the instruction was excellent, they found watching a video lecture to be very boring.  We found it hard to fit in watching the class every day.  At least with live classes, they're only one or twice a week, and it is easier to schedule around.  We also noted that having to attend a live class is more motivating than watching yet the next lecture on the DVD.

 

Your mileage my vary...

 

 

 

[yinne]

We have used a number of BJU DVD/online science courses over the past few years and have been pleased with them. I have always felt that I can put together history and literature courses and would prefer the kids spend their time reading and discussing rather than listening to a lecture. Science courses not so much.

 

The BJU DVD option or the online option is the same content just a different delivery. When we have had questions I have found that the BJU people have been responsive and provided us with timely answers. The online option is nice in that you don't have to keep track of DVDs, but it isn't like a live online class where there is a set time you need to sign in. I do not care for the online testing option with BJU; we just used the paper tests.

 

Yvonne in NE

[jhschool]

I have only used TPS and it was a very bad experience so I wouldn't recommend it.

 

BJU DVD has tempted me but I haven't used it.  I do, however,

use BJU books extensively and they are extremely

high quality and a good college-prep level.

 

I have no experience at all with Veritas Press (except I like their catalog!)

 

If I had to pick, I would go with BJU from what I have experienced with their textbooks.

 

[MorningGlory]

Using BJU dvds will not reduce your students' screen time; it will greatly increase it.

 

Whereas online courses such as those from TPS require 1 or 2 online sessions per week, BJU high school lectures (on dvd or online) normally run 45 minutes every. single. day. for 177 or so days (and that is for just one course...and doesn't count homework/study time). It is a big commitment of time. But for subjects that may be hard to teach at home (like Spanish in our case), is it well worth the investment of time. I have been very pleased with the quality.