Digital Science is Visual Learning Systems' collection of science videos in digital file formats that can be used with all types of computers and media devices, and shared on servers. Individual schools license our digital files to own the content. Districts, regional media centers, statewide consortium projects and instructional television stations license our digital files to own the content or on an annual basis. Visual Learning Systems is the sole source of Digital Science video titles.

A bundle is all the digital media files associated with one title from Visual Learning Systems. This includes video files for the full show and content clips in both h.264 and Windows Media, as well as the teacher's guide in .pdf, animations from the video (h.264), images from the video (.jpg files) and a metadata file (.xls or .xml file) used to integrate the content into a searchable database.

A preview clip of every video program or series is accessible on www.visuallearningsys.com. Visual Learning Systems also offers access to all our K-12 science videos, teacher's guides and media assets via Digital Science Online.  This is the best way for your to view all the K-12 core-curriculuar science programs produced by Visual Learning Systems' to date. You will recieve a password.  Please contact us at 802-683-4126 to get your access code. 

Technically DVDs are digital, however DVD's need to be played in a DVD player or on a computer with a DVD drive using DVD player software. DVDs include an index of the video chapters, subtitles, image library, and a glossary. Digital video files are played on a computer using QuickTime, iTunes or Windows Media Player. They can be transferred to an iPad or other multimedia device that plays videos. They are easily integrated into presentations and software programs and playable on all types of computers.

For an individual school building, DVDs and Digital titles are the same price. Digital titles may also be licensed for a number of schools in a district, region, or statewide. Pricing for this type of license is based on student population and the length of the license agreement. 

We provide customers with digital video files that they can stream from a server, including the full show video, content clips and animations in Windows Media and H.264,  plus annotated images, teacher's guide, and metadata from a title as a digital bundle product.  In addition, we now offer a collection of  science animations and images as a separate product and license.

- Single schools purchase digital files as an unlimited site license for their school. Schools can store videos on an unlimited number of local computers, stream them from school servers, and sync videos to handhelds. Pricing is the same as DVDs.

- Multiple schools, districts, regional centers, statewide consortium and instructional television stations purchase one, three, five year and in perpetuity licenses. Pricing is based on the length of the license and the K-12 student population that will access the videos. Contact us for a quote.

Videos play on a computer, project to a screen, and sync to iPads or other portable media players. Video files reside on a user’s personal computer, as well as on servers. Teachers and students can access videos simultaneously. Videos can be streamed via a password-protected login over the internet, over a wide area network between many schools in a district, or within a school building. Digital video files can be added to a video subscription service, or streamed from an online media catalog.

Digital video files are easy to use and are an ideal tool for a wide-range of applications and learning situations. Digital titles are the same price as DVDs, however teachers in a classroom may use them simultaneously. Schools can select video titles that meet their curriculum needs. Libraries can stream them from an online media catalog. Digital files can easily be integrated into presentations and lectures. Individual schools that purchase a license own the videos, therefore you do not have to pay a renewal or risk not having access to the content in the future.

Digital bundle file formats include H.264 and .WMV. These formats produce a high quality image in a relatively small file. Additionally, we offer DV files as a master format if you want to compress videos into your own formats. If you are broadcasting digital video we offer DVD (MPEG-2), DV cam and other digital masters. For more information visit Digital Science Formats.

Every video currently available in Spanish is available in both DVD and H.264 Digital format.  Students are now watching our videos on iPads in Spanish.  Using iPads as instructional tools accomodates individual learning styles, improves vocabulary comprehension, increases motivation, and makes learning mobile.  You do not have to have an iPad to use Digital Science.  Teachers can use them on desktops, laptops, access them from the school server, and project them in the classroom.

For technical specifications of Digital files visit the Digital Science Formats page.

The bit rate of our videos is 1 MB. Bandwidth is generally determined by multiplying the bit rate times the number of expected simultaneous streams. Bandwidth use depends if you are streaming over a local network, such as in a school building, or if you are streaming over the internet.

Visual Learning Systems' video files are relatively small because we use the latest compression technology to get a high quality image in a smaller file size. The average file size of a 15-20 minute video in H.264 is 85 MB, and in .WMV is 145 MB.

H.264. This is a newer video compression technology that provides a clear, sharp video in a small file size, and is the preferred format for use with iTunes and iPads. iTunes is a free application for both Windows and Mac operating systems that organizes and plays video and other media. All the videos include metadata, so once the videos are imported into iTunes, a user can search by keyword through thousands of one to three minute video clips. These clips can be integrated into lesson plans and used by students in video projects.

iPads and portable devices engage students, excite them about learning, and increase interest level. Portable learning devices help with reading comprehension and are effective instructional tools for English Language Learning (ELL) because students can focus on English grammar and vocabulary. They accommodate multiple learning styles of students, are a great tool for differentiated instruction, help students focus, and are ideal for individualized instruction. Teachers can bring videos home to plan their curriculum, and students can bring videos home to complete assignments.

Each digital bundle title includes a digital version of the teacher’s guide in PDF format. The guides are opened using Adobe Acrobat Reader, can be printed, or teachers can project them in a classroom. No other instructional media company creates as comprehensive a teacher’s guide as Visual Learning Systems. Teacher’s guides include learning objectives, suggestions for using video in the classroom, video script, preliminary and post assessments, video review handout, vocabulary lessons, laboratory investigations, reading exercises, and several student activities.  Watch a video about Visual Learning Teacher's Guides.

Visual Learning Systems offers high-quality video programs aligned to state and National science standards with new copyrights. Throughout the videos, students are asked thought-provoking questions, view on-screen vocabulary, and every program includes a summary and assessment. Videos receive excellent reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, Video Librarian, Library Media Connection, and National Science Teachers Association Recommends. Teacher’s guides are more comprehensive than short lesson plans that come with other videos. They include learning objectives, suggestions for introducing the video, script, preliminary and post assessments, vocabulary, laboratory investigations and, student activities that incorporate math, reading and writing skills. We have excellent customer service, offer free previews, and provide a 100% money-back guarantee.