Course Catalog

This course advances students’ ability to think algebraically, taking their earlier work with linear, exponential, and quadratic equations and expanding on it with polynomials and more advanced equation types. Students will work with rational, radical, logarithmic, inverse, and piecewise functions. They will also extend their studies to include systems of equations and inequalities, trigonometry, complex numbers, and statistics. The course emphasizes using these algebraic concepts to solve problems and help people in many walks of life. The course employs many tools to teach students these concepts, including interactive graphing, videos that walk through problems, and many practice items.

Financial Algebra is designed to instruct students in algebraic thinking while also preparing them to navigate a number of financial applications. Students will explore how algebraic knowledge is connected to many financial situations, including investing, using credit, paying taxes, and shopping for insurance. In studying these topics, students will learn about the linear, exponential, and quadratic relationships that apply to financial applications. In addition, the course will help prepare students to tackle the wide variety of financial decisions they will face in life, from setting up their first budget to planning for retirement.

These two semester-long courses are designed to enable all students at the high-school level to develop a deep understanding of the math objectives covered and leave them ready for their next steps in mathematics. The courses are built to the Common Core State Standards. The three units in Semester A advance students through the study of single-variable expressions to systems of equations, while Semester B covers functions, advanced functions, and concludes with a practical look at the uses of geometry and trigonometry.

Beginning with the simplification of rational and polynomial expressions, Semester A takes students through the next steps in mastering the principles of integrated math. These two semester-long courses focus on meeting Common Core objectives with engaging and interactive content. Semester B begins with the derivation of the trigonometric formula for the area of a triangle, and proceeds through the use of functions and on developing the critical thinking skills necessary to make logical and meaningful inferences from data.

Math 7 builds on material learned in earlier grades, including fractions, decimals, and percentages and introduces students to concepts they will continue to use throughout their study of mathematics. Among these are surface area, volume, and probability. Real-world applications facilitate understanding, and students are provided multiple opportunities to master these skills through practice problems within lessons, homework drills, and graded assignments.

Precalculus builds on algebraic concepts to prepare students for calculus. The course begins with a review of basic algebraic concepts and moves into operations with functions, where students manipulate functions and their graphs. Precalculus also provides a detailed look at trigonometric functions, their graphs, the trigonometric identities, and the unit circle. Finally, students are introduced to polar coordinates, parametric equations, and limits.

This course provides a strong foundation in grammar and the writing process. It emphasizes simple but useful composition and language mechanics strategies with multiple opportunities for modeling practical, real-world writing situations that will enable students to improve their written communication skills quickly. Through a variety of grade-appropriate reading selections, students develop a clear understanding of key literary genres and their distinguishing characteristics.

Extends the skills developed in English 7 through detailed study of parts of sentences and paragraphs to understand their importance to good writing. Students also acquire study skills such as time management and improved test-taking strategies. Other topics include punctuation, word choice, syntax, varying of sentence structure, subordination and coordination, detail and elaboration, effective use of reference materials, and proofreading.

English 9 with Augmented Reality v6.0 is a completely new course built for and 100% aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. A balance of fiction and nonfiction texts are used throughout the course, and each unit is designed around a thematic concept to provide cohesiveness to the skills-based lessons and activities that make up the unit. The course intertwines the development of reading skills with the development of writing, speaking and listening, and language skills. Students can look forward to a course where the information is delivered in easy-to-digest chunks using student-friendly language, with assessments that are tightly aligned to the concepts and skills learned in the lesson. The course design reflects educator feedback about student engagement by featuring a variety of interactions, videos, and new student resources, such as worksheets and guided notes. Educators were also involved with writing activities and worksheets for this course. English 9 with Augmented Reality v6.0 reflects our commitment to standards alignment and putting the needs of educators and students first in all aspects of course design. This course also includes Augmented Reality activities in partnership with Boulevard Arts. The AR activities in this course are designed to immerse students in their English Language Arts learning while providing access to famous works of art for cross-curricular learning purposes.

English 11A explores the relation between American history and literature from the colonial period through the realism and naturalism eras. English 11B explores the relation between American history and literature from the modernist period through the contemporary era, and presents learners with relevant cultural and political history. Readings are scaffolded with pre-reading information, interactions, and activities to actively engage learners in the content. The lessons in both semesters focus on developing grammar, vocabulary, speech, and writing skills.

PLATO Course South Carolina English 1 is a completely new course built for and 100% aligned to the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards. A balance of fiction and nonfiction texts are used throughout the course, and each unit is designed around a thematic concept to provide cohesiveness to the skills-based lessons and activities that make up the unit. The course intertwines the development of reading skills with the development of oral and written conventions, as well as writing, listening and speaking, and research skills. Students can look forward to a course where the information is delivered in easy-to-digest chunks using student-friendly language, with assessments that are tightly aligned to the concepts and skills learned in the lesson. The course design reflects educator feedback about student engagement by featuring a variety of interactions, videos, and new student resources, such as worksheets and guided notes. Educators were also involved with writing activities for this course. South Carolina English 1 reflects our commitment to standards alignment and putting the needs of educators and students first in all aspects of course design.

The Contemporary World is a year-long course designed to strengthen learners’ knowledge about the modern world. Multimedia tools including custom videos as well as videos from the BBC, custom maps, and interactive timelines will help engage learners as they complete this course. Learners will explore the importance of geography, the influence of culture, and the relationship humans have with the physical environment. They will also focus on the responsibility of citizens, democracy in the United States, U.S. legal systems, and the U.S. economy. Ultimately, learners will complete this course as global citizens with an understanding of how to help and better their community and the world.

In Middle School U.S. History, learners will explore historical American events with the help of innovative videos, timelines, and interactive maps and images. The course covers colonial America through the Reconstruction period. Learners will develop historical thinking and geography skills, which they will use throughout the course to heighten their understanding of the material. Specific topics of study include the U.S. Constitution, the administrations of George Washington and John Adams, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

The interactive, problem-centered, and inquiry-based units in U.S. Government emphasize the acquisition, mastery, and processing of information. Semester A units include study of the foundations of American government and the American political culture, with units 2 and 3 covering the U.S. constitution, including its roots in Greek and English law, and the various institutions that impact American politics. 

In an increasingly interconnected world, equipping students to develop a better understanding of our global neighbors is critical to ensuring that they are college and career ready. These semester-long courses empower students to increase their knowledge of the world in which they live and how its diverse geographies shape the international community. Semester A units begin with an overview of the physical world and the tools necessary to exploring it effectively. Subsequent units survey each continent and its physical characteristics and engage students and encourage them to develop a global perspective.

This inquiry- and virtual-lab-based course is designed to support modern science curriculum and teaching practices. It robustly meets NGSS learning standards for high school biology. Content topics include cells, organ systems, heredity, organization of organisms, evolution, energy use in organisms, and the interdependence of ecosystems.

Each lesson includes one or more inquiry-based activities that can be performed online within the context of the lesson. In addition, the course includes a number of virtual lab activities in which students will exercise experimental design, data analysis, and data interpretation skills while working through a simulated laboratory situation.

Lab materials note: None of the virtual labs require specialized laboratory materials or tools. Some virtual labs do allow students to make use of common, household items—such as paper and a pencil—if they choose.

This inquiry- and lab-based course is designed to support modern science curriculum and teaching practices. It robustly meets NGSS learning standards associated with middle school Earth and space science. Content topics include Earth and space systems and interactions, the history of the Earth, the Earth’s systems, weather and climate, climate change, and human impacts on the Earth.

Each lesson includes one or more inquiry-based activities that can be performed online within the context of the lesson. In addition, the course includes a significant number of hands-on lab activities. Approximately 40% of student time in this course is devoted to true lab experiences, as defined by the National Research Council (2006, p. 3).

Lab materials note: All hands-on labs employ relatively-common household materials. Please refer to the Student Syllabus or Teacher’s Guide for details on lab materials.

The lessons in this course employ direct-instruction approaches. They include application and Inquiry-oriented activities that facilitate the development of higher-order cognitive skills, such as logical reasoning, sense-making, and problem solving.

Lab materials note: None of the virtual labs require specialized laboratory materials or tools. Some virtual labs do allow students to make use of common, household items—such as paper and a pencil—if they choose.

This inquiry- and lab-based course is designed to support modern science curriculum and teaching practices. It robustly meets NGSS learning standards associated with middle school physical science. Content topics include structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, forces and motion, force fields, energy, and waves.

Each lesson includes one or more inquiry-based activities that can be performed online within the context of the lesson. In addition, the course includes a significant number of hands-on lab activities. Approximately 40% of student time in this course is devoted to true lab experiences, as defined by the National Research Council (2006, p. 3).

Lab materials note: All hands-on labs employ relatively-common household materials. Please refer to the Student Syllabus or Teacher’s Guide for details on lab materials.

This inquiry- and lab-based course is designed to support modern science curriculum and teaching practices. It robustly meets NGSS learning standards associated with a sixth-grade integrated science course (NGSS Appendix K: Modified Conceptual Progression Model, p. 19), focusing on basic physical science, Earth and space science, and ecosystems. Content topics include structure and properties of matter, forces and motion, the Earth and space, the history of the Earth, the interdependence of ecosystems, and weather and climate.

Each lesson includes one or more inquiry-based activities that can be performed online within the context of the lesson. In addition, the course includes a significant number of hands-on lab activities. Approximately 40% of student time in this course is devoted to true lab experiences, as defined by the National Research Council (2006, p. 3).

Lab materials note: All hands-on labs employ relatively-common household materials. Please refer to the Student Syllabus or Teacher’s Guide for details on lab materials.

Built on the same sound pedagogy and proven course design methodologies as all of our courses, Medical Terminology helps students understand the structure and meaning of medical terms and identify medical terminology associated with various body systems. As the health care industry becomes more and more complex, developing expertise in accurately and efficiently identifying medical terms and their specific application is essential to a growing variety of health care careers. This course begins to prepare your students for those careers. 

This course is designed to enable students at high school level to develop the knowledge and skills related to audio video techniques that they can use in their careers. This course discusses the elements of audio video production, preproduction activities, media production techniques, and postproduction activities. The course is based on Career Technical Education (CTE) standards designed to help students develop technical knowledge and skills needed for success in the audio video production industry.

This course is designed to enable students at high school level to develop information management skills that they can use during in their careers in business organizations. This course discusses career opportunities available in Business Information Management, computing technology for business, connecting through the internet, working with documents, working with spreadsheets, working with a presentation program, working with databases, web page design, and project management. The course is based on Career Technical Education (CTE) standards designed to help students develop technical knowledge and skills needed for success in the business information management industry.

The course is designed to enable students to learn the key skills and information that they need to work as certified nurse aides. The course will help students develop an understanding of the human body, physical and nutritional needs, mental health needs and teach them to provide culturally competent and quality care to clients in a safe and healthy environment. The course is based on the NNAAP Exam syllabus and is designed to prepare students to take the exam and become certified nurse aides.

The course has animations and videos that demonstrate key skills that students must acquire to work as nurse aides. The practice test at the end of the course gives students practice on the written exam that they’ll need to give to become certified nurse aides.

This course is focused on the exam objectives of CompTIA A+ 220-1001. Students will learn about computer hardware and networking, including concepts related to virtualization and cloud computing. Students will learn about mobile devices and their features. Students will learn how to identify and troubleshoot problems related to hardware, networking, printers, storage devices, and mobile devices.

Unit activities in the course help students to develop and apply critical thinking skills.

Animations and screenshot-based slideshows included in the lesson keep students engaged. Students can understand technical concepts easily.

Simulations provide students a real computer environment to practice various procedural steps. These simulations emulate the CompTIA A+ performance-based questions.

Practice test at the end of the course help students to practice questions that are parallel to the CompTIA A+ 220-1001 certification exam.

This course is a two-semester course focused on the exam objectives of CompTIA Network+ certification N10-007. Students will learn about the types of networks, network topologies, the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, Internet protocol addresses, routing, and switching. Students will learn about wireless technologies, virtualization, cloud concepts, and network services. Students will learn about network cables, connectors, network devices, network storage technologies, and wide area networks. Students will learn about network documentation, network monitoring, and remote access methods. Students will learn about business continuity, disaster recovery methods, physical and logical security methods. Students will learn how to secure a wireless network. Students will also learn about network attacks, and various device hardening and mitigation techniques. Finally, students will learn how to troubleshoot issues related to wired connectivity, wireless connectivity, and network services.

Unit activities in the course help students to develop and apply critical thinking skills. Animations included in the lesson keep students engaged. Students can understand technical concepts very easily. Simulations provide students a real computer environment to practice various procedural steps. These simulations emulate the CompTIA Network+ performance-based questions. Practice Test at the end of the course help students to attempt questions that are similar to CompTIA Network+ certification N10-007 exam.

This course is designed to enable students at the high school level to develop basic computer skills that they can use during their college education and also in their careers. This course is designed to enable all students at the high school level to develop the critical skills and knowledge that they will need to be successful in careers throughout their lives. The course is based on Career and Technical Education (CTE) standards designed to help students prepare for entry into a wide range of careers and/or into postsecondary education.

This is an effective and comprehensive introduction to careers in the rapidly expanding world of digital art. The course covers creative and practical aspects of digital art in 15 lessons that are enhanced with online discussions and a variety of activities. Beginning with a history of digital art, the course goes on to issues of design, color, and layout. While students will experience creation of digital art, they will also learn about converting traditional art to digital formats. 

This semester-long course is based on Career and Technical Education (CTE) standards to help students prepare for entry into a wide range of careers and/or into postsecondary education. It is designed to enable students at high school level to develop electronic communication skills that they can use in their careers.

This course helps students understand and practice critical life and workplace readiness skills identified by employers, state boards of education, and Advance CTE. These skills include personal characteristics, such as positive work ethic, integrity, self-representation, and resourcefulness, as well as key people skills, communication skills, and broadly-applicable professional and technical skills. These skills are universally valuable but sometimes assumed or glossed over in more career-specific courses. For that reason, this provides students with a solid foundation in their career studies.

This is a two-semester CTE course for high school students who want to understand the rapidly growing and evolving energy field, with special emphasis on electrical energy and on new and emerging energy technologies. The course is designed to address state standards in the Energy and STEM domains as well as the Energy Industry Fundamentals Certificate Program (EIFCP) standards developed by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD). Unit topics include the energy industry; energy science and efficiency; electrical generation, transmission, and distribution; conventional, alternative, and emerging energy sources; health, safety, and security issues; and energy careers and pathways, from entry level to professional.

This course will help students develop an understanding of the industry with a focus on topics such as history of graphic design, types of digital images, graphic design tools, storing and manipulating images, design elements and principles, copyright laws, and printing images. The course is based on Career Technical Education (CTE) standards designed to help students develop technical knowledge and skills needed for success in the graphic design industry.

This course is designed to enable all students at the high-school level to learn the basics of health science. The course will help the students develop an understanding of the academic qualifications, personal skills, training, and use of healthcare tools required to work in the healthcare industry. The course is based on Career and Technical Education (CTE) standards to help students develop technical knowledge and skills needed for success in the healthcare industry.

This course is designed to introduce students to the process involved in creating a mobile app. Students learn about history of and upcoming trends in mobile app development. They explore career options in mobile app development and describe skills and training required for mobile app development. They also describe the types of apps available in the market. Moreover, they learn about platforms for developing Android mobile apps. Further, they learn about the Android development environment. Finally, they create the user interface of an app and make it interactive in Android Studio.

This Elective course introduces students to the field of cybersecurity, focusing primarily on personal computer use and vulnerabilities while also highlighting the wider scope of cybersecurity from a societal and career perspective. Specific topics include computer security, VPN and wireless security, risk management, and laws, standards, and ethics related to cybersecurity.

This course is designed to introduce students to the process involved in creating an app. Students learn about history of and upcoming trends in mobile app development. They explore career options in mobile app development and describe skills and training required for mobile app development. They also describe the types of apps available in the market. Moreover, they learn about various platforms for developing iOS mobile apps. Further, they learn about the iOS development environment. Finally, they create the user interface of an app and make it interactive in Xcode.

This course is a two-semester course focused on the concepts of networking. Students will learn about careers in networking and employability skills required for a career in networking. Students will learn about the types of networks, network topologies, the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, Internet protocol addresses, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Students will learn about networking devices, cables, media, and connectors. Students will learn to set up a small wired network. Students will learn about network security threats and preventive measures to secure a network. This course also covers network planning, administration, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Students will learn about wireless networking standards and access methods. Students will learn to set up and secure a wireless network. Students will learn about virtual private networks and cloud computing. Students will also learn to troubleshoot issues related to wired and wireless networks.

Unit activities in the course help students to develop and apply critical thinking skills.

Animations included in the lesson keep students engaged. Students can understand technical concepts very easily.

Simulations provide students a real computer environment to practice various procedural steps.

This interactive course empowers students with the knowledge to appreciate and evaluate career opportunities in architecture and construction. With an emphasis on developing critical thinking skills, this one-semester course includes a variety of activities as students learn about structures and loads, materials and costs, urban design, and other aspects of these fascinating career opportunities. This easy-to-manage course will help build a solid foundation for their career options.