Minnesota’s Bloomington Public Schools (BPS) today announced a new collaboration with Discovery Education supporting science education in elementary and middle school classrooms across the district. Through this new partnership, educators and students in grades K-8 will return to school this fall with access to dynamic digital resources supporting pathways to career and college readiness and fostering an atmosphere of innovation and agency in the classroom. Discovery Education is the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.
Earlier this year, the district undertook a search for potential digital resources that would support science instruction in grades K-8 and align with the district’s vision for the use of technology in education. Following a careful review of potential edtech science solutions for elementary and middle school students, BPS selected two resources from Discovery Education. In grades 6-8, educators will begin the 2021-2022 school year using Discovery Education Science Techbooks. Currently used in classrooms across the United States and Canada, the Science Techbook is a comprehensive, research-backed science solution.
The Science Techbook series drives student engagement with exclusive phenomena and interactive content. Virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM activities and a variety of instructional supports enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction, in person or at a distance. Available with the Science Techbooks are coordinated digital and print teacher guides offering unit, concept, and lesson overviews, standards connections, and differentiation activities to inform instructional planning and guide three-dimensional learning. Teacher editions also provide flexible pacing options, embedded teacher notes, and Pathways for Learning to address diverse learners. Print student editions and interactive worktexts are available for every grade level and integrate seamlessly with the digital and hands-on assets of this comprehensive program.
In grades K-5, educators and students will start school using Discovery Education’s Mystery Science. Mystery Science features ready-to-teach multimedia science and STEM lessons for K-5 students. Each lesson begins by posing a question commonly asked by young students, which is followed by a series of brief videos and prompts used to guide class discussion.
Mystery Science lessons cover a wide range of questions children wonder about, including Where do rivers flow? Could a volcano pop up where you live? Why do the stars come out at night? and How far can a whisper travel? Mystery Science lessons conclude with a hands-on activity incorporating basic supplies commonly found in a classroom or at home.
Mystery Science and the Science Techbook are the latest Discovery Education resources to be selected by BPS for classroom use. Last school year, through the generosity of UnitedHealthcare, Discovery Education’s flexible K-12 learning platform was integrated into teaching and learning in grades 6-12.
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 provides educators a recently enhanced learning platform to facilitate engaging, daily instruction in any learning environment.
Discovery Education’s team continues adding, contextualizing, and organizing exciting new content and timely and relevant resources to the platform each month in response to current events and the ever-evolving needs of educators. These resources, sourced from trusted partners, are aligned to state and national standards, and help educators bring the outside world into teaching and learning every day.
The K-12 learning platform is designed to work within school systems’ existing infrastructure and workflows and provides safe, secure, simple access methods for educators and students. Through expanded, lasting partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Brightspace, and Clever, integrating Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform into existing IT architecture is easier than ever.
With this suite of dynamic digital resources, school leaders believe they now have engaging digital resources that will help district teachers create exemplary teaching and learning experiences for all students, in all disciplines.
“Bloomington Public Schools takes tremendous pride in inspiring all learners to succeed with curricula and academic programs that are standards-based, differentiated, and culturally-diverse,” said Beth Flottmeier, Bloomington Public Schools Director of Curriculum & Instruction. “Discovery Education’s engaging science resources are closely aligned to the Minnesota Science Standards, and they encompass the three-dimensional framework as outlined in the NGSS standards. The materials allow for phenomenon-based learning that puts students at the center of the learning by connecting their inner curiosity to learning experiences. These characteristics make Discovery Education’s resources extremely powerful, and we look forward to integrating them into classroom instruction in the coming year.”
To help the district recognize the full return on their EdTech investment, Discovery Education will provide BPS educators dedicated professional learning. Through these interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional development will maximize the power of these new digital services, increase student engagement in learning, and support students’ continued academic development.
The district’s partnership with Discovery Education also provides all teachers access to the Discovery Education Community. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Community connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration.
“Bloomington Public Schools is at the forefront of a national movement toward digital teaching and learning and Discovery Education is proud to be supporting their work,” said Rebecca Osburn, Discovery Education Manager of Education Partnerships. “We look forward to bringing our high-quality digital resources to elementary and middle school students in the coming year, and to their students’ continued academic growth.”
For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 140 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading EdTech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
