Imagine Learning Curriculum
Based on current and confirmed research in learning
Imagine Learning courses are based on current and confirmed research in learning—and online learning in particular. Courses feature systematic and explicit instruction, build deep content knowledge and metacognitive skills, and employ best practices to manage cognitive load and increase transfer. Imagine Learning also uses the framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to ensure curriculum is flexible enough to address learner variability. Developers focus on providing students with multiple means of content representation, multiple means of expressing learned content, and multiple means of engagement with content.
Self-paced instruction features highly qualified on-screen teachers who tailor their video-based lessons for the target grade. Online text-based content is considered through the lens of text complexity (quantitative, the qualitative, and reader/task). And tasks and assignments are rigorous and interactive, yielding a rich store of data about every student. Virtual teachers (distinct from the on-screen video teachers) are trained in strategies for analyzing this data, pinpointing student needs, and differentiating instruction.
Coursework includes a variety of learning activities:
- Warm-up activity
- Video-based direct instruction
- Lab activities and simulations
- Practice assignments
- Journals and short-response prompts
- Projects and performance tasks
- Asynchronous and synchronous discussion
As appropriate, Imagine Learning incorporates a variety of tools to enhance the curriculum. These tools include interactives and simulations, online calculators, and extension activities that are either self-developed or provided by Explore Learning and other industry leaders. Some courses are licensed from leading providers in that subject. These include world language content licensed from Middlebury Interactive, physical education content licensed from Carone Fitness, and a wide range of electives licensed from eDynamic Learning.
Curriculum Basis and Research
English Language Learners Brief
NCAA
Curriculum Updates
Courses undergo an ongoing evaluation and update process with two major releases each year. New features and minor enhancements or updates occur monthly. Recent program enhancements include extended language translations for onscreen text to more than sixty languages to complement our robust selection of text and reading tools.
A full suite of Florida courses for grades K-12
Imagine Learning offers a full suite of Florida courses for grades K-12. Our courses are built using an instructional model grounded in research and are aligned to Florida standards.
Program Accessibility
Imagine Learning makes every effort to employ features and accommodations for students including ELL and students holding IEPs or 504s. These accommodations include addressing multiple learning styles, accommodations for assessments, video captions/transcripts, color and contrast considerations, read-aloud and translation tools, multiple representations of key concepts (verbal, concrete manipulative, numerical, graphical, and symbolic), and many other features/accommodations.
Availability of multi-lingual materials and resources in 6-12 courses
For ELL students (or any other students with language challenges), teachers can enable Imagine Learning’s robust language-support features. This toolset allows students to hear on-screen text read aloud. It also includes translation options to help newcomers access content in English; these students can have on-screen text translated into over 60 supported languages. Highlighted text can be translated into Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Filipino (Tagalog), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Javanese, Kazakh, Korean, Kurdish, Lao, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Maori, Marathi, Nepali, Norwegian, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Samoan, Serbian, Shona, Sinhala, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Yoruba. Students can hear text read aloud in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Arabic, allowing all students to interact with the text. ELL students are also supported through the use of sheltered instruction techniques such as:
- Sharing lesson objectives with students in writing and verbally
- Emphasizing key vocabulary
- Using speech appropriate for students’ proficiency level
- Explaining all academic tasks clearly
- Allowing students to control the pace of instruction through pause/rewind/replay
- Regular feedback on student input/work
Accessibility in K-5 Courses
Elementary students complete age-appropriate, engaging lessons delivered through an innovative digital learning platform that includes standards-aligned, research-based content, giving them complete control over their personalized learning environment. A variety of student support tools are available and include translation support for 65 languages with text-to-speech capabilities for 30 languages. These supports also include a glossary with a picture dictionary option and video transcripts. To encourage fluency when students are learning to read and transitioning to reading to learn, screen readers with a human voice are available to assist students in grades K-3.
Video Captions and Transcripts in 6-12 Courses
Video captions and transcripts are available to meet the needs of the hearing-impaired and students needing visual reinforcement of auditory instructions. (Imagine Learning provides video captions in English and transcripts are available in seven languages.)
Use of Multi-Tiered System of Student Supports/Response to Intervention
All students receive personalized core instruction to support mastery, including the ability to pause and rewind instructional videos, work at their own pace, and view supplemental resources and additional lessons and activities based on individual performance. Success coaches monitor a constant stream of student data to identify students at risk of not attaining mastery. When a student does not meet achievement targets for a lesson or unit, the coach schedules small-group tutoring for that student. Deeper one-on-one intervention can also be prescribed as needed. Students with IEP’s receive support/intervention as indicated by their IEP.
Assistance for students preparing for F.A.S.T, EOC, and statewide assessments:
These students have access to a wide range of support. Within the core curriculum, students have a rich toolset, including text-to-speech, translation, text highlighters, online notes, and text supports such as teacher’s notes and audio commentary. To support targeted literacy instruction, Imagine Learning also offers Foundational Skills in Mathematics for both middle- and high-school students. These courses are fully aligned to the Florida course descriptions and include synchronous instruction.
Compliance with third grade retention requirements
Imagine Learning will prepare students for success on the statewide Florida’s Assessment of Student Thinking (F.A.S.T.), however Imagine Learning teachers do not maintain a reading portfolio for students in grade 3.
In compliance with Florida law [section 1008.25(5), Florida Statutes (F.S.)], third grade students who do not score of Level 2 or above on the statewide Florida’s Assessment of Student Thinking (F.A.S.T.) will be retained (not promoted to grade 4).
Graduation Requirements
Imagine Learning follows all graduation requirements for Florida students as mandated by Florida legislation.
To view current graduation requirements visit the Florida Department of Education website at https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/sss/graduation-requirements/
Ensure middle school students have opportunity to meet middle school promotion requirements
The Imagine Learning Student Information System provides a course plan tool to arrange the schedule of classes to be taken throughout the year. In order for students to advance to the next grade level, they must complete each course in their course schedule for the corresponding academic year, demonstrate mastery of the standards, and successfully complete required assessments. Only approved academic personnel have access to set up and make changes to student course plans.
Ensure high school students have opportunity to satisfy Florida graduation requirements
Within the SIS, Imagine Learning utilizes a graduation plan tool that outlines graduation requirements and denotes each student’s progress towards those requirements. Students and faculty are able to see the requirements, what has previously been completed, current classes, and planned courses by required category. Graduation plans are customized to Florida graduation requirements, with standard and advanced tracks as appropriate that include mastery of the B.E.S.T. and the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and a satisfactory score on required assessments.