Video Streaming FAQs

What is Internet video streaming?

Internet video streaming allows you to view videos using an Internet connection. You can view Abeka Academy’s lessons at any time by connecting to the Internet and accessing our direct video streaming technology. Video content is played by the most recent version of HTML 5, a cutting-edge technology that delivers smooth, top-quality, full-screen content. These videos can also be played on Apple’s® iPad® devices.

Are the classes live?

These are the same classes recorded and used on our DVD program and are therefore available for viewing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This continuous availability provides both families and students great flexibility.

What if we have academic questions?

We’d be happy to help! You can reach academic support 8 a.m.–4:45 p.m. CST, Mon.–Fri. If you’re in the accredited program, call 1-800-874-3592. If not, call 1-877-223-5226 and ask for academic support.

Can previous video lessons be viewed?

Yes, students may view previously completed lessons.

Can video lessons be viewed in any order?

For accredited program enrollments, lessons must be watched in order. (If you need to go back and rewatch a lesson or part of a lesson, you’ll be able to do that. You can also watch subjects each day in the order you prefer.) For unaccredited enrollments or FlexTeach video lesson options, you can watch lessons in any order you’d prefer.

How do I activate my streaming account?

1. Go to the video streaming page. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to log in first and then redirected to the video streaming page. (Your student’s login information is located on the top left-hand side of the parent Dashboard.)
2. Find your last viewed lessons and begin watching your next video.

What type of equipment do I need to receive Internet video streaming?

You will need:

1. A computer or tablet.
2. A high-speed Internet connection.

Will video streaming work with Windows, Mac OS, or Linux?

All of the above

On average, how much data is consumed through video streaming?

Standard videos will use 1 gigabyte for every 1 hour of video streamed. HD videos will use 3 gigabytes for every 1 hour of video streamed.

I'm not able to watch the sample videos. What can I do?

Check to see whether your firewall may be blocking your connection. Temporarily disabling it is the easiest way to solve this issue; note that you should not leave it disabled permanently.

Be sure you are using the most updated version of your software and regularly clearing the history and cache of your browser. For the best video-viewing experience, we highly recommend using Google Chrome to stream Abeka Academy video lessons.

Who do I contact if I have technical questions?

Contact Customer Service at 1-877-223-5226.

Will video streaming work on a dial-up connection?

It may be possible, but Abeka Academy does not recommend video streaming over a dial-up connection. A high-speed Internet connection will deliver the best experience for video streaming.

Will video streaming allow us to pause, stop, rewind, etc., like DVD?

Yes

Will there be pop-ups?

No

How many students/computers can I have viewing streaming lessons at one time?

The number of computers that you can have viewing lessons at the same time is dependent upon the Internet download speed. A minimum of 5 Mbps of download speed is recommended per computer when viewing lessons simultaneously; please refer to the chart below. Please note that the download speed is determined by the Internet service provider, not the Abeka Academy website.

Click here, and then click “Begin Test.”

	Students
	1	2	3	4	5	6
10+ Mbps
7 Mbps
5.5 Mbps
<5 Mbps

   Bandwidth OK for this number of students

   Should work, but will not provide optimal viewing experience

   Not recommended; playback may be low quality and/or choppy

My videos aren’t playing. What can I do?

1. Clear your browser history and cookie data, then try again.
2. Try using Google Chrome if you aren’t already. That browser works best with our video streaming.
3. If you’re still having problems, please contact us at 1-877-223-5226, and we’ll be glad to help.

What happens if I lose my Internet connection while my child is viewing a lesson?

Once your Internet connection is reestablished, you’ll be able to start where the lesson was interrupted or return to the beginning of the lesson.

When my student attempts to log in to streaming lessons, an “Invalid username or password” message appears. How do I verify what my student’s username and password are?

1. Go to My Students on your dashboard. You may be required to log in if you aren’t already.
2. Choose your student from the list and click the login information icon in the student information panel.
3. If you don’t know the password, you can now enter a new one in the New Password box. Re-enter the student’s username in the New Username box or enter the current username listed. Save your changes.
4. Your student can now log in with new password and username. If you’re sharing a computer, you’ll need to log out so the student can log in again.

Why do I sometimes get a spinning circle when I push the “Watch Lesson” button?

The most common cause of this issue is the buffering. If your video seems to be buffering longer than normal, you can press “Watch Lesson” again—this typically solves the issue.

Why do the lessons sometimes stop and I get a spinning circle or a message that says my lessons cannot sustain playback?

Your download speed may be too low to support the video streaming. A minimum of 5 Mbps of download speed is needed per student when viewing lessons simultaneously; please refer to the chart below. Please note that the download speed is determined by your Internet service provider, not the Abeka Academy website.

To fix this issue, first lower the quality of the video you are watching as that will use less download speed. However, if you still experience buffering, you would want to test your download speed by clicking here and then clicking the “Begin Test” option. If it is low, you will need to contact your Internet service provider to have it increased.

If your download speed is sufficient, but you are still having trouble, reboot your router and try again. Oftentimes, rebooting the wireless router helps.

Computers connected to the Internet that are downloading updates, files, or programs are often another cause of this issue. If the computer being used to stream the Abeka Academy videos is simultaneously updating and downloading, the buffering may occur.

	Students
	1	2	3	4	5	6
10+ Mbps
7 Mbps
5.5 Mbps
<5 Mbps

Why is the video/audio distorting or is out of sync?

The most common cause of this issue is due to the buffering. If the computer being used to stream Abeka Academy videos is simultaneously updating and downloading, the buffering will occur.

If the video or audio is distorting for only a few classes, please contact Abeka Academy Customer Service at 1-877-223-5226 so we can verify if there is an issue with those class videos. However, if this problem is occurring for most or all of your classes, then first lower the quality of the video you are watching as that will minimize the amount of computer resources necessary to process the video.

Why do the lessons sometimes stop while I am watching them and a message appears saying a server error has occurred? Is there a problem with the streaming?

It is possible that there is an issue with the streaming servers. If you wish, you can contact our office to verify if the problem persists after following the below steps.

1. Check to see that your device software is up to date.
2. Be sure any firewalls or virus protections are allowing the Abeka site to pass.
3. You may also need to clear the history and cache of your web browser.
4. If possible, lower the video quality.

Also, if the signal between your Internet service provider and your computer drops, even for a split second, it will cause the streaming to stop. However, the most common cause of this issue is that the cache on your web browser needs to be cleared.

Can I change my student’s username/password?

Yes, you will be able to set up the username and password while filling out the enrollment information. If you need to change either of these, you can do so through the “My Students” section of the Dashboard. Once you have selected the student profile that you would like to edit, choose “Login Information” and enter the new username/password.

Can I keep track of what videos my student has watched?

Yes. To see which lessons your student has watched, log in to the Dashboard and select which student you would like to view in the “My Students” section. After you’ve selected your student, scroll down until you see “Subject Progress.”