Operation: Infinite Potential consists of a Teacher’s Manual, a Student Manual, a DVD, and a plethora of on-line resources including classroom management tools, games, and an on-line community. The many multi-media and print resources available to the teacher through the Jason website (www.jason.org) are extensive.

This product is an “Education through Exploration” standards-based multi-media curricula. It was created by the National Geographic Society, of which the Jason Project is a subsidiary of. Jason works with the National Geographic Society, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U. S. Department of Energy and others with the purpose of creating an engaging, exploration based, multi-media approach to science.

While the Jason Project offers many STEM titles, I reviewed “Infinite Potential.” This product covers physical science and energy issues, introducing concepts through the use of “Missions.” This program includes 5 Missions: Defining Energy, Calculating Transfers and Transformations, the Current State of the Grid, The Quest for Sustainable Resources, and Powering our Future. The cost for the Teacher pack, which includes a Teacher’s Manual, Student Manual and DVD, is $80.

Each chapter (i.e. mission) is set up identically; the topic is identified and the mission outlined. For example, Mission 1 is ‘Critical Current.” Each chapter follows the following format:

1. The Mission is defined. For example, in chapter 1 (Critical Current) the mission is, “to Explore energy in its many forms.” The student will need to do a set of tasks, some of which include explaining the benefits and risks of the different energy forms, surveying particles and electromagnetic waves emitted by the sun and examining how light interacts with matter. 
2. Next, there are a couple of pages of text, vocabulary definitions, and an introduction to an actual scientist, video links and mysteries to solve.
3. Well conceptualized labs are included in each mission – the number of labs varies.
4. More text builds on the labs done.
5. Field Assignment; for example, analyzing data obtained from space weather satellites.
6. “Connection” – this section talks about history or some form of real life application of the mission.

In addition, each chapter features a real, working scientist that the kids come in contact with in the book, and on the website.

This program is far more than a simple text or workbook. It is an interactive manual/website that encourages kids to think about and experience science.

Infinite Potential is for middle school and up, or for highly motivated older elementary aged students. This program was developed for classroom usage, meeting NSES (National Science Education Standards). With that in mind, I found it somewhat cumbersome to navigate as a homeschooler. I personally found the amount of information presented overwhelming. I spent a great deal of time reading the standards and getting familiar with the Teacher, Student Manual and DVD. Both manuals are in workbook format, but both are jam packed with information, visuals, graphics, links and more. It is clearly meant to be used for group study by someone with a prior understanding of NSES.

That being said, this is a well-conceptualized, beautifully rendered program. If I were teaching a classroom full of children, this is just the sort of program I would want to have by my side; it touches on every learning style, has tons of hands on activities, presents information in a way that is fresh and engaging and requires the student to apply what they’ve learned. The addition of in-real-life scientists in each chapter and via the website is a major bonus, giving the kids someone real to emulate. I’m going to pass along the program to our Tutoring Center director, because I believe this program (and its sister programs) would be the perfect fit for a science class at Tutoring Center.

Additionally, this program would be a beautiful fit for a science-minded homeschooler- someone who can’t get enough of science and is always looking for more science to do, or a science oriented family that breathes science. In addition, I think each unit would be a terrific unit study, and certainly a great co-op lab class. I could see a science oriented Co-op teacher having a blast with this curriculum and really getting their students energized by this program.

Personally, this is not a program I would reach for. It’s not because the program was lacking. In fact, it had everything and more that I could have asked for in a study on a topic. It’s because there was so very much involved in the program and it took me so long to really understand each chapter and the resources available. The Teacher’s Manual is full of NSES information and I felt there was a lot to wade through, from a homeschooling perspective, to get to the actual lessons. In many ways I felt that the program had so much included that I experienced visual/ information over-load. Also, I’m not that naturally clever about science so some of the labs and experiments tested me to the limit. For a random, global thinking, homeschooling mom with a busy schedule and kids at different science levels, I found this a bit too complicated for my life.

My 13 year old son enjoyed the text, graphics and “Mission” orientation of the program. The program expects the student to take initiative, and Jr. High is a great time for those not naturally inclined towards that to learn this important skill. He is a get-er-done type of student, who is naturally scientific and was occasionally frustrated by the hands on work when the information could have been easily (for him) understood through reading. Bear in mind, this is a kid who doesn’t like projects or activity guides. If yours does, this program would be a great fit!

My husband, as a logical and sequential science lover, took one look at this program and was thrilled. He loved the formatting, the information, the standards, and the vast amount of material, the labs, experiments and on-line resources. From his perspective, the Jason Project is a science-lovers dream come true!

Product Review by Lisa Nehring, M.A., The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, 2013