Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

South Carolina’s State Board of Education Approves High School Biology Course From Discovery Education for Statewide Use

CHARLOTTE, NC —Following a comprehensive evaluation, the South Carolina State Board of Education has approved the South Carolina-aligned High School Biology course of the award-winning Science Techbook by Discovery Education for statewide use as a core instructional resource. South Carolina’s adoption of Science Techbook’s High School Biology course empowers school systems statewide to integrate this innovative blended curriculum into teaching and learning.  Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.    

The High School Biology course of Science Techbook offers a unique and engaging three-dimensional learning experience that aligns with SC College & Career-Ready Science Standards and supports learning and achievement. Delivered through Discovery Education’s award-winning K-12 platform, Science Techbook offers both print and digital editions designed to maximize classroom flexibility and student engagement. Technology tools streamline teacher prep with differentiation and auto-grading and lesson content is available in multiple Lexile levels and authentic Spanish, increasing accessibility for all learners. 

“Discovery Education appreciates the South Carolina Board of Education’s careful review of Science Techbook’s South Carolina-aligned High School Biology course,” said Anna Strassner, Discovery Education’s Director of Educational Partnership. “The engaging, phenomena-driven learning experiences this course makes possible will help South Carolina’s students develop the skills and knowledge important for success beyond the classroom.” …Read More

Oklahoma’s Millwood Public Schools Partners with Global EdTech Leader to Create Dynamic Learning Experiences

Oklahoma City, OK —Students and teachers in classrooms across Oklahoma’s Millwood Public Schools (MPS) now have access to a host of dynamic digital resources supporting science and social studies instruction thanks to a new partnership with Discovery Education. Through this collaboration, MPS educators districtwide now have access to rich content and powerful digital tools that support the creation of immersive learning environments. Discovery Education is the global edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. 

Located in the heart of Oklahoma City and serving approximately 1150 students, the Millwood Public Schools is dedicated to preparing all students academically and socially for lifelong learning and achievement. In the district’s recent strategic plan, MPS outlined several goals and measures of progress for student success. To help meet MPS’s goal of student mastery of science and social studies, school administrators sought engaging digital resources designed to connect what students are learning in school to the world beyond the classroom. 

Following a careful review, the district selected several Discovery Education resources for classroom use. To support science instruction in grades 3-12, the district selected the Discovery Education Science Techbooks for classroom use. The Discovery Education Science Techbook series is a comprehensive, research-backed science solution for grades K-12. Used in classrooms across the United States, the Science Techbooks drive engagement with exclusive phenomena and interactive content.  …Read More

Texas’ Corpus Christi Independent School District Expands Partnership with Discovery Education by Selecting New, TEKS-Aligned Mystery Science to Support Deeper Student Engagement in Science

CHARLOTTE, NC —Texas’ Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD) today announced it has expanded its partnership with Discovery Education, which has supported student learning across the school system since 2017. In the latest phase of this collaboration, a new edition of the award-winning Mystery Science service built especially for Texas educators is helping CCISD teachers in K-5 classrooms districtwide engage students more deeply in science instruction. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports instruction wherever it takes place. 

Committed to developing hearts and minds, CCISD serves nearly 33,000 students at 56 campuses within 68 square miles. The district’s mission is to graduate lifelong learners who are prepared to continue their education, enter the world of work, and be productive citizens. Since 1909, when the district was created, CCISD has served the community by focusing on excellence in preK-12 public education. 

To engage the district’s K-5 students more deeply in science instruction, CCISD sought a solution that would make it easier than ever to integrate highly engaging digital resources into science instruction. Specifically, district leaders and teachers sought a digital resource aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards, supportive of hands-on learning, and accessible to the district’s English Language Learners. Following a careful review of potential solutions, the CCISD team selected the new, TEKS-aligned Mystery Science for classroom use.   …Read More

Discovery Education and Social Impact Partners Present Engaging Resources Supporting STEM Day Observances

Charlotte, NC.— Discovery Education and select social impact partners are offering engaging, high-quality digital learning resources to students and teachers to support observances of National STEM Day. Held annually on November 8th, National STEM Day unites communities in celebrating the importance of teaching science, technology, engineering, and math to students in grades K-12. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.  

Discovery Education offers educators, students, and families hundreds of no-cost resources tailored to STEM teaching and learning wherever it takes place. Among the resources created in collaboration with leading social impact partners now available to support observances of National STEM Day are:   

Engaging Classroom Activities 
Integrate STEM into instruction with activities from the STEM Careers Coalition™ – the first-of-its-kind national STEM initiative powered by corporate and non-profit leaders and anchored in schools by Discovery Education. These activities span a broad range of STEM topics and feature important skills, as well as step-by-step guides for implementing activities in your classroom.  …Read More

Discovery Education and Dollar General Literacy Foundation Partner on New Initiative Promoting Literacy

(Tuesday, October 25, 2022) – Discovery Education announced today the launch of a new education initiative – Discover Literacy – created in partnership with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation promoting literacy nationwide. Designed to support the development of critical literacy skills in K-2 students, Discover Literacy offers teachers, students, and caregivers access to a powerful suite of in-school and after-school digital resources at no cost.  

Discover Literacy’s standards-aligned resources are designed for wherever learning takes place. Addressing the five key literacy topics of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, Discover Literacy provides educators, students, and afterschool professionals with six-to-eight-minute microlearnings that provide hands-on learning for an explicit, systematic approach to instruction, as well as opportunities to practice new skills. The partnership also helps up-skill teachers and after-school professionals with research-based support for professional learning that focuses on promoting equity in education. Learn more about Discover Literacy here. 

“We are excited to help equip and empower teachers with research-based microlessons and fun activities for students,” said Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “A great education is built on strong literacy skills. We are thrilled to partner with Discovery Education and National Afterschool Alliance to bring high-quality literacy resources to classrooms across the country.” …Read More

Discovery Education and Social Impact Partners Present Engaging Resources to Support Cybersecurity Awareness Month Observances

Charlotte, NC. — Discovery Education and select social impact partners are offering engaging, high-quality digital learning resources to students and teachers to support observances of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Established in 2004 by Congress, Cybersecurity Awareness Month seeks to raise awareness about cybersecurity and online safety. Discovery Education is the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.   

Observed annually in October, the 2022 theme – See Yourself in Cyber – puts people at the center of cybersecurity. In support of this theme, Discovery Education is providing educators and students access to curated digital resources that can be used to educate students about the importance of online security in all learning environments. Among the no-cost resources created in collaboration with leading social impact partners are:  

Classroom Activities 
In this 30-minute classroom activity from the STEM Careers Coalition™ – the first-of-its-kind national STEM initiative powered by corporate and non-profit leaders and anchored in schools by Discovery Education – students step into the role of a security employee at a technology company and explore the importance of cybersecurity. The activity also features important STEM skills and a step-by-step guide for implementing activities into your classroom.  …Read More

Minnesota’s South Washington County Schools Selects the Discovery Education’s Suite of Digital Services to Support Science Instruction in Grades K-8

Charlotte, NC —Minnesota’s South Washington County (SoWashCo) Schools today announced a new partnership with Discovery Education supporting science education in K-8 classrooms across the district. Through this multi-year collaboration, educators and students in the district’s elementary and middle schools will return to the classroom this fall with access to award-winning digital resources supporting science instruction. These new resources will drive the development of students’ critical thinking skills and create opportunities for the study of scientific mysteries and the development of design solutions. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.

SoWashCo Schools is a suburban district located southeast of St. Paul and serves students across 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and three traditional high schools. The district spans 84 square miles and is located near 3M Global Headquarters, a long-time partner of Discovery Education.

Seeking a digital solution that would meet both the district’s goals for K-8 science education and align to the new Minnesota Science and Native American standards, SoWashCo Schools reviewed several viable options. Following careful review, SoWashCo Schools selected the following Discovery Education services for use across its elementary and middle schools:…Read More

Discovery Education Premieres Haul!: An Interactive STEM Learning Experience that Digs Into Sustainable Copper Production with Freeport-McMoRan

Charlotte, NC. – Freeport-McMoRan and Discovery Education present a new, first-of-its-kind gamified educational experience with Haul!. This immersive, virtual STEM mission is part of Dig Into Mining – The Story of Copper, an educational program for students grades 6-12 that explores the use of metals such as copper in our everyday life.

Releasing September 22 at 1 P.M. ET, this cutting-edge learning experience is designed to give students the opportunity to discover how copper ore makes its way into items that power our day, including cellphones, computers, vehicles, and more. Students must navigate a loaded haul truck through a 3D copper mine to earn their Haul Truck Operator’s Scorecard, while learning how STEM is used in this larger-than-life operation. The learning experience is accessible through web browsers and Chromebooks using a keyboard and mouse or a USB game controller. An accompanying educator guide makes it easy for educators to integrate the hands-on STEM learning adventure into any lesson plan. The accompanying resources also include classroom extensions to engage students before, during, and after they explore the resource. Learn more and register here.

“Copper is a critical mineral in the renewable energy transition and one essential to our sustainable futures. At Freeport-McMoRan, we are committed to the highest standards of environmental stewardship and social impact. In this new interactive virtual experience created with Discovery Education, students discover first-hand the STEM activities and skills behind this resource powering our world,” said Tracy Bame, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Freeport-McMoRan. “The gamification of learning engages students in exciting ways, while the accompanying educator resources and activities make it easy for teachers to connect the classroom to the wider world.”…Read More

Nevada Department of Education Renews Partnership with Nevada Gold Mines and Discovery Education Providing High-Quality Digital Content to Students and Educators Statewide

Carson City, NV and Charlotte, NC – The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) is proud to announce it has renewed its multiyear partnership with Nevada Gold Mines, operated by Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE: GOLD) (TSX: ABX), and Discovery Education, the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports both remote and in-person learning.  

The renewal of this partnership, which includes a $2.2 million investment from Nevada Gold Mines, ensures the state’s teachers and students continued access to high-quality digital resources through the Discovery Education’s K-12 platform. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education’s K-12 platform provides educators an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction in any learning environment.     

“We are incredibly pleased to continue this tremendous partnership benefiting Nevada’s students and are grateful for the support of community partners like Nevada Gold Mines, who are so passionate about investing in the educational resources which are so key to making our state a better place to learn, work, and live,” said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “The continuation of this powerful partnership preserves Nevada’s students’ access to best-in-class digital resources, and we look forward to the next phase of this powerful collaboration.” …Read More

Discovery Education and Social Impact Partners Present Students, Educators, and Families No-Cost Financial Literacy Resources for College Savings Month

Charlotte, NC — To support students on their journey to higher learning during September’s College Savings Month and beyond, Discovery Education and its social impact partners are offering students, educators, and families an array of no-cost digital resources focused on financial literacy. This selection of dynamic content inspires students to think critically about their college plans and financial goals. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art K-12 digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.  

The following no-cost digital resources were created in collaboration with Discovery Education’s social impact partners: 

  • Personal Finance Support: Educators discover how to make personal finances culturally relevant and interesting in the professional development series from Pathway to Financial Success, a program developed with Discover Financial Services. Through these real-world educator stories, teachers see firsthand the benefits financial education can have on students. The professional development series and other resources offer step-by-step navigation to help guide students to reach financial and personal goals. 
  • Entrepreneurship Inspiration: Make financial literacy engaging and fun with Discover Venture Valley, a program with the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship. Discover Venture Valley empowers students in grades 6-12 to build financial and business basics through gamified learning and taking on the role of a budding entrepreneur in the new Venture Valley video game. 
  • College Planning Resources: Family discussions about college planning are made easy with discussion guides from TGR EDU: Explore, a program with TGR Foundation, A Tiger Woods Charity. From finding the right college fit to navigating financial aid, the resources will help students understand the various types of financial aid, navigate the application process and prioritize responsibilities for college admissions. 

“While college may not be right for all students, it’s an important step to think about and financially prepare for. During College Savings Month, and always, Discovery Education and its social impact partners are committed to making available helpful, easy to understand, and engaging no-cost content designed to support student discussions around higher education,” said Beth Meyer, Vice President of Social Impact at Discovery Education.  …Read More