Apex Learning Instructional Design
Activity Types Provide Purpose and Structure
Apex Learning courses are created based on an intentional instructional design. An experienced
educational team authors each original course, resulting in a complete course of study — a digital
curriculum — that comprises standards-based instructional content specifically developed for online
delivery.
This instructional design model is supported by the use of a variety of activity types within each course,
providing a clear and purposeful structure to the learning process.
Some activity types are used exclusively by one subject area – labs in science, for example. Other activity
types are used in slightly different ways depending on the subject area or curricular pathway.
The following common activity types are used across all curricular pathways and all subject areas
in English, math, science, social studies, and elective courses.
Studies. This is where most direct instruction in a course occurs. Multimedia elements such as flash,
video, and various check-in activities keep the student engaged and active in their learning. Each Study
begins with a printable Study Sheet, which scaffolds student learning through guided note taking and
opportunities to apply new concepts learned in the Study. Although Study Sheets are not graded, answer
keys are provided as a Teacher Resource. Assessment questions directly align to the questions and
information found in Study Sheets.
Quizzes. Computer-scored quizzes test students on their grasp of the material presented in the previous
Study or Studies in a variety of question types (e.g. multiple choice, fill in the blank, put in order,
true/false.) Multiple forms of each question allow for new versions of a Quiz in the event of a retake. This
functionality supports Mastery-Based Learning.
Practices. Students answer a variety of question types (e.g. fill in the blank, short answer, essay) in a
structured format. Practices are teacher-scored activities and students access them via printable
documents. Answer keys with guiding notes and sample answers are provided as a Teacher Resource.
Journals. Students answer questions related to relevant learning objectives through personal, informal
writing. Journals are usually teacher-scored activities and students access them via printable documents.
They may occasionally be unscored. Answer keys with guiding notes and sample answers are provided
as a Teacher Resource.
Discussions. Students pose and answer questions about what they have been learning. Students
primarily interact with each other, with the teacher acting as a "guide on the side.” Discussions are usually
teacher-scored activities and students access them via an online discussion board as well as printable
documents. They may occasionally be unscored. Answer keys with guiding notes and sample answers
are provided as a Teacher Resource.
Reviews. Students are given the opportunity to review the material at the end of each unit and semester.
Reviews are unscored activities and students access them via printable documents. A Review activity
often includes low-stakes “check your understanding” interactive exercises.
Diagnostics. Unscored computer assessment that can be used to gauge student mastery of material
contained in a particular unit. Diagnostics may be used before the student begins a unit, before the
student takes the assessments at the end of a unit, or as a review for the end-of-semester exams.
Computer-Scored Tests. Computer-scored assessments at the end of every content unit test students
on the learning objectives from that unit in a variety of question types (e.g. multiple choice, fill in the blank,
put in order, true/false.) Multiple forms of each question allow for new versions of a Quiz in the event of a
retake. This functionality supports Mastery-Based Learning.
Teacher-Scored Tests. Teacher-scored assessments at the end of every content unit synthesize lesson
objectives from the unit, typically in short-answer and essay question format. Two versions of each
teacher-scored test rotate on a yearly basis to ensure academic integrity. Students access these tests via
printable documents. Answer keys with guiding notes and sample answers are provided as a Teacher
Resource.
End-of-Semester Exams. Students complete a final exam at the end of each semester. Each exam
consists of a computer-scored test and a teacher-scored test similar to the end-of-unit test structure.
The following activity types are commonly found in certain subject areas or curricular pathways.
Labs. Lab activities are found in all science courses. Labs reinforce critical thinking, writing, and
communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science.
Students with access to proper equipment and supervision complete the wet lab option, while students
who do not have access to a lab environment complete the dry lab option. Labs are teacher-scored
activities and students access them via lab manuals and printable documents. Answer keys with guiding
notes and sample answers are provided as a Teacher Resource.
Readings. Reading activities are found in all English and most social studies courses. Students read an
extended piece of literature or primary source writing, either online through a printable document or offline
in the Apex Learning anthology. Readings include scaffolding appropriate to the curricular pathway, such
as annotated readings and printable Reading Guides that support comprehension and active learning
strategies. Readings are unscored activities.
Explores. Explore activities are exclusive to the honors pathway. Students explore primary sources,
usually on the Internet, in order to answer high-level Bloom’s Taxonomy questions. Explores may be
scored or unscored and students access them via printable documents and pre-approved external web
links. When scored, answer keys with guiding notes and sample answers are provided as a Teacher
Resource.
Projects. Project activities are exclusive to the honors pathway. Projects are completed over an extended
period of time, usually a Unit or Semester, with milestone deadlines along the way to ensure appropriate
progress and to facilitate guiding teacher feedback. Projects enable students to both synthesize and
personalize the learning objectives in the course. Projects are teacher-scored activities and students
access them via printable documents. Answer keys with guiding notes and sample answers are provided
as a Teacher Resource.