How to Use Searchlight's Online Religious Education Programs

Many of the Searchlight® Software programs are developed from the content of St. Anthony Messenger Press Youth Updates!
Searchlight® online programs can be accessed from any computer connected to the internet, so consider the following:
  • Arrange to take your students to the technology center during the time you normally teach religion.  You or the technology coordinator or the School's DRE can facilitate the program.
  • If all of your students have access to the internet at home, consider using the Searchlight® programs as homework assignments.  Send the worksheets home in the same way you would send home other worksheets and homework assignments.
  • Utilize the Searchlight® programs as extra credit assignments.
  • Turn the use of the programs into long term projects that students work on at home and submit by a certain date.
  • If you have computer stations in your classroom, rotate the students in small groups over a period of time, or turn your computers into activity centers.
There are many ways of creatively using the Searchlight® online programs.  We'd love to hear from you about the ways you've successfully integrated their use.  Send your ideas to: Michelle@SearchlightVS.com.

What advantage does the association with St. Anthony Messenger Press bring to Searchlight® Software? Carol Ann Morrow, the former Assistant Editor for St. Anthony Messenger Press who oversaw the production of Youth Update, stated:

"We always started with a topic rooted in the adolescent experience. There is no topic of concern to young people which is outside the Gospel message. We drew upon the wisdom of Scripture and the Tradition of the Church when crafting our Youth Updates. Additionally, Youth Update was created with the intention to empower, not condemn!"

Developmental Strategies Behind Searchlight's Online Religious Education Programs

 

The Searchlight® Programs all follow a similar developmental strategy, although each program has it's own particular style.

  • Step 1: Building Your Faith Vocabulary - This section requires brief definitions of terms used throughout the lesson.  Having defined them in advance, the students are better able to understand their use in the context of the lesson.  Hint: If your technology lab has a vocabulary building program that can be customized (Most of them are customizable.), consider building lists of words drawn from the Searchlight® programs that can be used with vocabulary building games and activities.  Then make these games part of Step 1.
  • Step 2: Expanding Your Faith Knowledge - This portion of the program presents the content.  Each program has its own presentation style.
  • Step 3: Checking Your Faith Comprehension - This step consists of a series of interactive questions designed to check comprehension and guide understanding.  This is not a test.  Some programs also contain mapping the concepts activity sheets and/or crossword puzzles. Note: A few of the programs integrate Steps 2 and 3, presenting portions of content punctuated with interactive questions.
  • Step 4: Assessment Tools
    • Multiple lesson programs always include a lesson quiz.
    • Practice tests allow students to assess their knowledge base before actually taking the official unit or module test.  These can also be used as pre-assessment tools.
    • Unit or Module tests provide accountability on the part of students and assessment opportunities for teachers.
 
Exception: The Scorpion Files is laid out differently and does not follow the above pattern specifically.  It consists of two major steps: Getting the Facts and Asking Ourselves Why.  It is more discussion oriented in its developmental style.
 
The Searchlight Virtual® School's Religious Education Programs:
  • Available online 24/7
  • Developed for Grades 7 and Up
  • Utilize a step-by-step, interactive learning system with colorful graphics and engaging sound effects
  • Program print materials (Curriculum Guides, Student Worksheets, Activity Sheets, Quizzes, Tests, Answer Keys) delivered electronically following purchase
  • Order online or by mail
  • Quick service and fast electronic delivery
  • One-time purchase offers unlimited reproduction rights of program print materials
   

The Searchlight® Virtual School
Engaging Catholics in the study of their faith and preparing them for today's challenges ... ONLINE!


The Searchlight® Virtual School is a division of Ocean East Publishing.
The Searchlight® Software programs presented on this web site are the property of Ocean East Publishing.

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Webmaster: Michelle Willis
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