Science Techbook for Texas by Discovery Education is a brand-new, custom built TEKS-aligned core curriculum designed expressly for Texas teachers and students. This powerful new resource includes real-world, phenomena-driven lessons, embedded accessibility tools, and time-saving teacher resources. With the Science Techbook, teachers can focus more on teaching and engaging learners, while the Lone Star State’s students deepen scientific inquiry through hands-on science!

Science Techbook appeals to students’ natural sense of wonder and empowers them to explore with real-world, phenomena-driven lessons. The hands-on activities provide a rich experience for Texas students while teacher materials provide guidance for every step. Students will transform into scientists and engineers and learn the scientific and engineering practices and recurring science themes needed to explain core concepts.

Finally, interactive, formative questions check-in repeatedly with scaffolded feedback to guide instruction; phenomenon-check-ins give students time to revise their models; Summative Assessments and new STAAR question types help teachers wrap up each concept before diving into a new one.

Formats/platforms used:

Science Techbook is a core digital product with optional print and kits for a blended learning package suitable in any learning environment.

Primary website URL:

https://www.discoveryeducation.com/texas/science/

Problem Solved:

Discovery Education Science Techbook is a comprehensive, research-backed, science program that combines digital-first learning resources with high-quality, standards-aligned content to spark curiosity and drive active engagement in science. Hands-on and virtual investigations enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction.

It is designed and built new for Texas with simple, seamless coverage of the new TEKS. With 100% Comprehensive Coverage, teachers know they have the right content in the right grades, and offers multiple solutions.

With real-world phenomena, educators can appeal to students’ natural sense of wonder and invite them to explore with real-world, phenomena-driven lessons. Watch students’ curiosity climb as they follow a multi-faceted path to find evidence to support their learning.

The hands-on activities provide a rich experience for students, and teacher materials include guidance for every step. Students will transform into scientists and engineers, while using scientific and engineering practices and recurring science themes to explain core concepts.

Interactive formative questions check-in repeatedly with scaffolded feedback to guide instruction; phenomenon-check-ins give students time to revise their models; Summative Assessments and new STAAR question types help you wrap up each concept before diving into a new one.

Available in digital, print, and with interactive kits, Science Techbook empowers teachers to focus on teaching instead of planning while deepening students’ scientific inquiry through engaging hands-on science.

Grade/age range:

The Science Techbook offers courses for grades K-8, as well as high school biology.

Core or Supplemental:

Science Techbook for Texas is a core curriculum aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards. Science Techbook supports educators with a brand-new curriculum custom built to the TEKS that includes real-world phenomena-driven lessons, intuitive tools for accessibility and timesaving teacher resources. Teachers can focus on teaching instead of planning while students deepen scientific inquiry through engaging hands-on science.

In addition, concise teacher instructions are available at point-of-use throughout the program – streamlining preparation, facilitating differentiation, and supporting ongoing assessment to inform instruction. This allows teachers to focus on teaching rather than the administrative burden of teaching.

Professional Learning options are also available to support educators.

What subject, topic and/or standards is your product mapped to?

Science Techbook is built for to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state science standards.

Lesson time needed:

Science Techbook for Texas provides the best resources for all teachers, whether they have 5 minutes or 2+ hours for science instruction.

First, everything educators need to facilitate an engaging and thorough science class is where they need it, when they need it. Teacher instructions are easy and clear to follow.

Second, lessons are the right length with flexibility for instructors to adjust based on their individual needs (20 minutes for elementary and 40 minutes for middle grades).

Last, the digital tools (auto grading, immersive reader, toggles etc.) expedite processes that were formerly manual for critical lesson components such as differentiation and assessment – freeing up teacher and student time.

Pricing model:

Science Techbook offers multiple pricing options depending on the needs of the district or school.

Additional services needed:

This is a stand-alone core curriculum product for use in any learning environment.

What makes Science Techbook unique?

It is a K-12 program that makes it easy for educators to help students love science. With time-optimized content aligned to learning standards, educators save time with engaging, student-centered learning. Available in digital or print as well as Spanish or English, Science Techbook for Texas empowers learning wherever it takes place. Alongside dynamic digital videos and resource collections are key learning materials like literacy cards, hands-on activity kits, student workbooks, and professional learning packages.

Characteristics:

Discovery Education’s design principle is to promote deeper engagement, support educational outcomes, and provide tailored, enjoyable learning experiences. This focus on engagement and ease-of-use is at the core of the Science Techbook. Multiple rounds of educator feedback were included while building Science Techbook to ensure it meets classroom needs, is easy to use and encourages curiosity. From contextual interviews, concept co-creation sessions, and usability studies the product was developed with direct input from educators.

Based on educator feedback the team created differentiated experiences for age and grade bands. This includes all-new lesson templates for K-5 with more vibrant colors, graphics, and engaging characters. The Discovery Education team also created a unique font for early learners that mimics how students are taught to read in the classroom.

Throughout, more exciting photographs help explain real-world phenomena while a kid-friendly slide format makes it easier to navigate lessons and resources. Usage research continues to show that Techbook is extremely engaging for students, with student engagement doubling over the past year.

The resources are organized in a way to make it simple for educators to find, plan, and deliver lessons. For example, the Course – Unit – Concept structure helps educators find exactly what they need no matter how they come to it. Searchable by standards, as well, the Techbook makes it simple to find what’s needed in the immediately usable table of contents sidebar.

In addition, through research, users reported using many different tools and being faced with multiple challenges when teaching their students. Understanding the nuances of use cases, limitations and different strategies teachers use to be successful was essential to accommodate these situations. This includes having print and digital resources, additional supports for educators, varying types of lessons, multiple delivery methods for lesson materials, etc.

This is what users are saying:

“Discovery Education’s Science Techbook for Texas is a powerful resource that engages my students in science then holds their attention as they explore the natural world. I encourage my peers across Texas to consider this service for classroom use,”

--L’Tunya Bernard, M.Ed, an Elementary Science Supervisor in Port Arthur, Texas