Calvert Interactive: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Calvert Interactive?
Calvert Interactive is our exciting new online program for students in Sixth through Eighth Grades who are using either the Academic or Scholastic course. Students from around the world come together for two live online sessions and one recorded session per week. These are led by talented instructors who engage the students in projects and activities designed to help improve test performance, enhance critical thinking, and develop facility in multiple uses of the computer.
What subjects are covered?
Calvert Interactive classes cover math, reading, composition, grammar, science, history, and geography. Reading, composition, and grammar are covered in one of the live sessions, and math is covered in the other. Science, history, and geography are covered in a recorded session that the student may access at his or her convenience at the beginning of each week.
What if we don't use the Calvert math?
You may enroll your student in the Interactive program for just the core subjects at a reduced rate.
Can we enroll just for the math class?
You may, but preference will be given to students who are enrolling in a complete Calvert course. If a math class becomes full, a math-only student may be moved to the waiting list.
What happens in a 60-minute class?
Anything can happen! Students might play a game to review important concepts for a test, share compositions they have written to gain constructive criticism from their classmates, make presentations, or break into small groups to conduct a discussion or work together on a project. The instructor might even take the students to an interesting website for a virtual field trip. Just about anything that can be done in a traditional classroom can be done in an Interactive class!
You’ve mentioned “projects” several times. Are the students expected to do things outside of class?
Yes. For every twenty lessons, the instructors will assign two to four projects or online bulletin-board discussions for the students to complete on their own. These projects will replace written essays on the ATS tests. For example, instead of writing about digestion, the student might create a PowerPoint presentation that illustrates the process. Students find these projects to be a fun and challenging way to demonstrate what they have learned about a particular topic, and these projects are particularly appealing to students who have difficulty expressing themselves in writing.
You said that these projects replace parts of the ATS tests. How will they be graded?
The Online Instructors will provide clear rubrics for each project so that the student understands how he or she is to be evaluated. The Online Instructors will grade the project, and the points will be averaged into the student’s final grade for the twenty lessons.
Does that mean my student will do projects instead of the regular ATS tests?
Students enrolled in Calvert Interactive will be evaluated differently than a pencil-and-paper ATS student. Sometimes the student will be asked to complete a quiz or test online; at other times, he or she might be asked to scan and submit material by email. Either way, Interactive students are tested on the same material as the pencil-and-paper ATS students, according to the same grading scale.
Will the Online Instructor grade my student’s ATS test?
Yes. The Online Instructors grade all materials and provide ATS grades for your students.
Do we have to use the ATS tests?
Yes. Enrollment in ATS is part of the Interactive program, however students enrolled in Calvert Interactive will be taking their ATS tests online. That means that the student will complete his tests on the computer, saving you postage and enabling the Online Instructor to return the test much more quickly.
What adjustments are being made to the curriculum to allow time for the three classes and projects?
At the beginning of every twenty lessons, you will be able to download an Overview of the unit. This will tell you exactly what the projects will be and how the student will be assessed. In addition, the Online Instructor will give you some suggested activities that can be omitted from the daily lessons, as well as some additional online resources that the student might want to explore in his or her free time.
Is anything provided to help us keep track of the changes to the Lesson Manual?
You will be able to download a planning guide that the Online Instructor has put together to assist you. Like the Lesson Manual, it is written to the student and clearly shows him, day by day, what work he needs to accomplish before the next class. When he has finished an assignment, he can simply mark it off on the planning guide.
Whom should I contact if I still have questions?
The Education Counselors will be able to answer most of your questions. They can be reached at our toll-free number, 1-888-487-4652, between the hours of 8:00 A. M. and 5:00 P. M. eastern time, Monday through Friday. You may also contact them via Live Chat or by e-mail at edcounselors@calvertservices.org.
