Frequently Asked Questions

• How are Virtual Checks different from free Amoeba Sisters handouts?

  While both focus on single content videos, Virtual Checks offer:

  1. Fully digital experience inside PocketLab Notebook

  2. Multiple assessment types (free response, multiple choice, drag-and-drop, illustration, matching)

  3. Auto-graded multiple choice and drag-and-drop questions providing immediate student feedback

  4. Teacher notes for free response questions (acting as answer keys)

  Try our FREE biomolecules demo to experience the difference on your devices.

• How do these compare to the Amoeba Sister's Unlectured Series or Annotated Video Script Templates on Teachers Pay Teachers?

  Virtual Checks offer a complete digital assessment solution within PocketLab Notebook, while maintaining the engaging Amoeba Sisters style you trust.

  Unlike the Unlectured Series (which focuses on discussions) or Annotated Script Templates (which are for note-taking), Virtual Checks:

  1. Provide immediate feedback through auto-grading

  2. Track student progress automatically

  3. Integrate seamlessly with your digital classroom

  4. Include multiple interactive assessment types in one package

  5. Require no printing, copying, or manual grading

  With Virtual Checks, you get a more comprehensive, time-saving solution that builds on the best aspects of other Amoeba Sisters resources.

• Can I try a Virtual Check before subscribing?

  Yes! Try our FREE biomolecules Virtual Check demo to experience the complete lesson. Test it on your devices to see how easily students can navigate the interactive elements and how the teacher dashboard works.

  TRY FREE DEMO

• How does pricing work?

  The annual subscription is $90 with new lessons added regularly at no additional cost. Your subscription will automatically renew one year from purchase unless you opt out.

• Why pay for Virtual Checks when YouTube videos are free?

  While Amoeba Sisters videos remain free on YouTube, the $90 annual subscription offers:

  1. Complete assessment system - Transform passive watching into active learning with auto-graded activities

  2. Student accountability - See who’s truly understanding concepts versus just playing videos

  3. Time-saving automation - Eliminate creating, printing, and manually grading worksheets

  4. Immediate intervention - Identify struggling students in real-time, not after test day

  5. Growing resource library - Access 45+ lessons with new additions monthly

  6. Easy integration - Seamlessly works with Google Classroom, Canvas, and ClassLink

  Virtual Checks transform free videos into complete, interactive lessons inside PocketLab Notebook.

• What grade levels and standards do Virtual Checks support?

  Virtual Checks are primarily designed for high school biology but are used successfully across multiple levels, including middle school and introductory college courses.

  Like the popular videos, these lessons support various educational standards globally. View our standards alignment sheet to see which specific standards each Virtual Check addresses.

  The interactive format allows differentiation for various student abilities within the same classroom.

• I know each Virtual Check embeds YouTube videos - what if my district blocks YouTube?

  Please contact our technical support!

  
  You can share our FREE demo Virtual Check with your IT team to test how PocketLab embeds Amoeba Sisters videos. This helps them configure network filters to allow these educational videos within the Noteboo

   

• How many Virtual Checks are available? Will you make more?

  We currently have 45 Amoeba Sisters Virtual Checks corresponding to their most popular videos from the Amoeba Sisters Biology Learning Playlist on YouTube.

  We will continue adding Virtual Checks monthly for other videos in their playlist. With 91 total videos (and growing), the goal is to create Virtual Checks for most videos in the collection.

   

• How do I set up student logins or integrate with Google Classroom?

  PocketLab Notebook offers free live training sessions plus a comprehensive library of pre-recorded tutorial videos. Visit our Knowledge Base for detailed guides on:

  •Setting up student logins

  •Google Classroom integration

  •Assignment creation

  •Assessment tools

  For technical assistance, use the chat feature at the bottom right of the PocketLab page to contact our support team directly.

• Will this work for homeschooling?

  Absolutely! Virtual Checks are perfect for homeschool environments. Many homeschool parents and co-ops use

  PocketLab Notebook to:

  •Distribute ready-made biology lessons

  •Track individual student progress

  •Create flexible, self-paced learning

  •Support both individual and group learning

  The platform works whether you’re teaching one student or a small group, with tools that simplify planning, progress monitoring, and student engagement through interactive activities.