Light Speed Biology: The Building Blocks of the Cell is a video plus a digital workbook designed for high school students. This product is from the Standard Deviants and is filled with their well-worn, clean, and engaging humor: "Our rapid-fire approach keeps students engaged while our cast of young actors, humorous skills, mnemonics, and on-screen graphics present step-by-step examples to teach students the essentials to master a subject."

There are two discs: one is the video and the other is a digital workbook that complements the video lessons. The two major divisions of this video course are "Molecules & Cells," which has a 25-page workbook, and "Heredity & Inheritance," with a 26-page workbook. The workbooks include graphic organizers that follow along with the video lesson. They also include critical thinking questions, classroom activities, answers, and a script for reference to reinforce student learning.

Overall, this product could help with a biology program, as learning concepts like mitosis and meiosis might be better conveyed with animation rather than an illustration in a book. The humor seemed a little juvenile for this age group, but it might be preferred to a dry textbook. Our memory tends to work better when we enjoy our learning, so "whatever works!"

Product review by Stephanie D. Scarborough, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, October 2011