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Tag: Discovery Education

  • Student Engagement Is Key, Defining and Measuring it Is the Challenge


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    Student engagement is critical to student success: The more deeply students connect with their learning, the more they see learning as relevant and motivating, and the more likely they are to succeed. But as Discovery Education’s Education Insights 2025–2026 report reveals, engagement is not a simple concept — and often viewed differently depending on point of view and context. 

    Drawing on the responses of 1,400 K–12 superintendents, principals, teachers, parents and students across the United States, the Insights report spotlights the promise and the challenge of keeping students connected to learning.

    More than 90% of teachers, principals, and superintendents agree that engagement is one of the most important predictors of student success. Nearly all students (92%) say that engaging lessons make school more enjoyable. And 99% of superintendents rank engagement as one of the top indicators of achievement. 

    But they don’t agree on how to measure engagement – or even how to define it. For example, students report higher levels of engagement than teachers do, but even then, only 63% of students say they feel “highly engaged” in class. There is an almost 20-point gap between students reporting being highly engaged and what teachers believe. 

    And teachers overwhelmingly point to outward indicators of engagement, such as asking thoughtful questions or contributing to discussions. Less obvious signs, like persistence, are often overlooked. 

    This gap in the perceptions between students and teachers is an essential challenge to address. When educators miss the signals of engagement, they may misinterpret students as being disengaged, even when they are fully vested in learning. 

    Superintendents, unsurprisingly, view student engagement from a lens focused on student outcomes. Nearly all surveyed superintendents rate engagement as a top predictor of success and are far more likely than teachers to see test performance as a leading sign of engagement. 

    These differences — leaders equating engagement with performance, teachers seeking observable behaviors and students experiencing quiet or compliance-based engagement — undercut the effectiveness of efforts to increase student engagement. Often, leaders’ emphasis on systems of measurement collides with teachers’ limited time and tools to enact engaging, personalized learning at scale. 

    Students are clear about what fuels their motivation. They want relevance: learning that connects with their lives and future plans. Across all groups surveyed, relevance consistently ranked as one of the most critical factors impacting engagement. Students also seek challenge. Somewhat surprisingly, nearly four out of five say that school often feels easy, while wanting deeper, more meaningful work. Students report that challenging lessons can spark curiosity and engagement, which is consistent with teachers’ views.  

    Educators are aware of the obstacles to greater student engagement. One of the biggest is that engagement can vary by learner, subject and even the day of the week. Teachers also point to the lack of time and resources as a barrier to creating the right conditions.  

    In the Insights report, teachers identify a concern around the lack of tools to measure engagement. While nearly all superintendents say their district has a system for measuring it, only about 60% of teachers agree. This disconnect is a tall hurdle to overcome in fostering more engagement for all students.  

    Alignment across teachers, principals and district leaders can create the clarity needed to recognize different forms of engagement and respond effectively. Students thrive when teachers have the time they need to prepare and personalize lessons.  

    The report’s findings emphasize that engagement isn’t a “nice to have.” It is a precondition for student success. Without it, students may comply but not necessarily thrive. With it, they are more motivated, ready for challenges and more likely to succeed in the present and the future. 

    It is imperative that districts build more coherent strategies that move beyond encouraging engagement to shared definitions, frameworks and measurement. The approach should recognize that quiet, reflective or multilingual learners may demonstrate engagement differently than more outwardly expressive students do. Districts should also provide the time, tools and training for teachers to design relevant, personalized lessons; and harness engaging multimodal content and digital tools to support, not distract from, engagement. 

    Engagement is a prerequisite to learning. However, as the Insights eport shows, engagement doesn’t just happen, and it doesn’t have a widely or universally accepted definition or measurement. Instead, fostering and sustaining engagement requires clarity, alignment, intentional strategies and purposeful resources. Garnering widespread agreement on a definition — and adoption of that definition — will enable engaging and successful learning experiences for all students. 


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    Grace Maliska

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  • Discovery Education’s Immersive Learning Resources – EdTech Digest

    New research included in the Education Insights 2025-2026 report offers a clear view of how important engagement is to learning, motivation, and achievement.

    To support deeper student engagement across the curriculum, Discovery Education makes available to educators worldwide a host of experiences that deeply engages learners and captivates their senses, emotions, and attention, creating a sense of being fully surrounded and absorbed in a particular environment or activity. These resources, which can be found at Discovery Education’s Immersive Learning website, transport students out of their classroom, their neighborhood, and sometimes their planet and time period, to witness firsthand the topic of interest.

    Among the resources found on Discovery Education’s Immersive Learning website are:

    TimePod Adventures

    TimePod Adventures from Verizon and Discovery Education immerses K-12 students in the universe through state-of-the-art, life-size Augmented Reality. Accessible on a browser, Chromebook, or mobile device, students need only internet access and audio. Guided by an AI-powered assistant and featuring grade-band specific lesson plans available in English and Spanish, TimePod Adventures support educators in developing new skills and encourages students to take control, explore incredible environments, and solve complex challenges.

    Sandbox

    The BETT and GESS award winning Sandbox app, which is now available in both the Google Play store and Apple App store, enables students to create virtual worlds using unique objects from history, science, nature, and more. Sandbox also gives students new ways to express themselves and demonstrate their learning through features like photo taking or annotations on virtual text panels. Designed to create immersive experiences, Sandbox offers a mode that allows users to explore and create content from inside their own virtual environments.  Sandbox also includes many pre-built sandboxes exploring diverse subjects, such as ancient Egypt, space exploration, Maya civilization, road construction, and more, with additional themed 3D models added regularly. Finally, subscribers to Discovery Education Experience have access to additional, standards-aligned ready-to-use Sandbox lessons that enhance classroom instruction.

    Game-Based Learning

    Discovery Education’s game-based learning resources boost motivation, create a heightened sense of achievement, encourage a growth mindset, and aid with knowledge retention. Through game-based immersive experiences, students can become more receptive to further learning. Among the game-based learning resources are:

    Crash Course is an interactive 3D experience that helps students in grades 6-12 learn the principles of speed and the forces involved in a real-time crash test-based scenario. In this immersive game-based learning experience from Honda Safety Driven, students select course variables, then take the wheel of a Honda Civic Type R to witness the outcome of safety decisions.

    The cutting edge Haul! Learning Experience is designed to provide students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to discover how copper ore makes its way into the items that power our day. A part of Dig Into Mining – The Story of Copper, the educational program created in partnership with Freeport-McMoRan that uncovers the use of metals such as copper in our everyday life, HAUL!  challenges students to navigate their way 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.

    I

    n Operation Communication, a new immersive game from the STEM Careers Coalition, students in grades 6-12 experience a day in the life of an employee in a simulated workplace, navigating production schedules, team dynamics, and customer satisfaction. Players practice a wide range of active skills with a focus on effective communication in the workplace to keep the production line running smoothly and create happy customers.

    HARVEST: From Seed to Success from Cooperative Minds with the CHS Foundation empowers students in grades 3-12 step into the role of a farmer and discover what it takes to grow a successful harvest. In the experience, students consult agricultural professionals to analyze a soil sample, select crops and fertilizers, identify the right moment to harvest, and simulate operating a combine to harvest crops. An accompanying educator guide and ready-to-use student activities make it easy for educators to integrate the resource into any lesson plan.

    Interactives

    With interactive resources from Discovery Education, students can travel the trade paths of Ancient Rome, grow tomatoes in a virtual lab, and solve equations at a zombie luau! Research, experiment and have fun learning about topics at your own pace through a variety of interactive types—including virtual labs, games, investigations, interactive maps, and more. Among the interactives available are:

    – The Interactive Virtual Labs, created in partnership with the LEGO Group’s Build the Change program, investigate Bird Behavior and invite students in grades 6-8 to explore innovative ways to improve human-bird interactions in their shared environment. Designed to spark creativity and curiosity, these labs immerse students in engaging, hands-on experiences that connect the wider world to the classroom.

    – Plus, students of all ages can dig into grade-banded interactives covering important topics like financial literacy, data analysis, biotechnology, and Earth sciences.

    Virtual Field Trips

    Virtual field trips (VFTs) empower educators to introduce students to amazing places, new people and ideas, and remarkable experiences, without ever leaving the classroom. Discovery Education, a pioneer in creating VFTs, offers a large library of fun and engaging resources, including.

    – The Bridge to the Future: A Virtual Field Trip into Extended Reality  with Verizon shows students how extended reality is redefining the world from entertainment and medicine to education and beyond. Students visit the Verizon Innovation Lab in Boston, Massachusetts to discover how new technologies are connecting people and redefining the possibilities of how we interact. Students will also get an up-close look at exciting careers in cybersecurity, gaming, and engineering by meeting with STEM professionals.

    – Additional resources to support learning are available, such as a standards-aligned companion guide with hands-on activities and educator support content. Learn more about all the virtual field trips – including new ones with partners like LEGO, the National Science Foundation, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBA, LIV Golf, and more – here.

    Immersive resources encourage a style of learning which is based on problem-solving and trial and error. Immersive learning gives students permission to fail, to try again, and to overcome obstacles which initially may seem insurmountable. Discovery Education offers educators new to immersive learning a host of professional development resources to ensure they feel supported as they integrate these resources into classroom learning.

    For more about the free Immersive Learning resources from Discovery Education, learn more.

    Stephen Wakefield

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  • Discovery Education Survey Underscores Value Of Engagement

    A new report and survey from Discovery Education ought to be a reminder that there is a secret sauce for scholastic success – student engagement.

    Engagement is the single most important learning light switch. Without engagement switched on, no novel curriculum, no education technology, no proven pedagogy will get very far. Said another way, engagement is not sufficient for learning. But it’s pretty nearly required.

    In the new report, Discovery surveyed K-12 students, teachers, school and system administrators and family caregivers about engagement. The results are important and interesting and worth a review.

    Generally, it finds that student engagement peaks in elementary school, declines significantly in secondary school, and then ticks slightly upward again in high school.

    In what may be a lesson for curriculum and pedagogy in the crucial middle school years, the report suggests that the high school engagement bump may be related to, “increased autonomy, more relevant coursework, or stronger identity development. These findings align with some developmental frameworks, such as self-determination theory that shows when adolescent learners experience autonomy, competence, and relevance, their intrinsic motivation is more likely to increase, especially if learning feels meaningful or future focused.”

    In addition to underscoring the pivotal nature of engagement, the Discovery report also surfaces what may be disconnects between how teachers literally observe and recognize student engagement and how students report that they see it.

    Teachers, for example, see engagement as class participation – activities such as asking questions or working on class projects. But the survey implies that these proxies for student engagement may be incomplete, at least according to students.

    “Nearly 80% of teachers report that students often zone out, yet fewer than half of students say the same. This mismatch suggests that teachers may mistake quiet or internalized forms of engagement, like reflecting, imagining, or self-directing, as disengagement or a lack of motivation because these behaviors are harder to notice in the moment,” the report says.

    It continues, “This gap highlights a key tension in how engagement is recognized and expressed. Asking questions requires not just curiosity, but also social confidence and a classroom environment where students feel comfortable speaking up. Many students want to contribute but feel too shy or nervous, especially in middle school. This highlights that lack of verbal participation doesn’t equal lack of engagement.”

    And that, “there is a noticeable 22-point gap between how much students value class participation and how often they actually engage in it, suggesting that while students understand its importance, social factors like peer judgment, fear of being wrong, or discomfort speaking up may hold them back.”

    The survey also digs into a primary ingredient of school engagement, motivation. But here too, the report shows a disjointed view.

    For example, the report says, “When asked about barriers, over one-third of education leaders and half of teachers cite low motivation as the primary challenge to engagement, yet only 16% of students agree.”

    Students also say that internal motivations “such as personal satisfaction and interest in subject matter [are] highly motivating.” And that, “86% of students believe that personal satisfaction is very motivating for schoolwork.”

    Using these data, the report says that teachers and schools can do more to tap into these internal motivations and deliver higher engagement by making lessons and assignments more challenging and personally interesting. “Together, these findings suggest that what educators may interpret as disinterest often reflects a lack of relevance, personal connection, or appropriate challenge in the learning experience,” the report says.

    “These findings align with recent Gallup research which consistently shows that students report higher levels of intrinsic motivation and a desire for meaningful, challenging work, even as educators continue to view low motivation as a top concern. Similarly, a classroom study found that students motivated by genuine interest or personal value in the work most often showed authentic, lasting engagement, while those driven mainly by external rewards or pressure tended toward surface-level or withdrawn participation,” the report also found.

    The Discovery report also warns about the long-term motivation damage caused by compliance-based school activities such as homework.

    The report says, “Engagement researchers have defined this dynamic of simultaneous workload and boredom as passenger mode. Students show up, follow instructions, and complete homework, but they do so passively, without taking initiative or feeling personally or cognitively connected to their learning. Over time, this leaves students feeling both overwhelmed and bored, unsure of the purpose behind what they’re asked to do and increasingly checked out.”

    But what, in addition to more motivating and interesting classroom activities, can boost student engagement?

    According to the report, teachers say time – they need more time to prepare for classes and invest in engaging students directly in the classroom.

    Also, literally everyone in the survey says more money is needed to upgrade and improve the engagement potential of classroom activities. “Stakeholders widely agree on a major barrier: limited classroom resources,” the report finds. “While 81% of students and 79% of parents recognize this challenge, educators feel it even more acutely. Eighty-four percent of teachers and 80% of principals report limited resources as a barrier, with superintendents citing it most strongly at 95%. This consistent pattern underscores that resource constraints continue to limit schools’ ability to support deeper student engagement.”

    If you follow education, little of that is surprising. Schools need more money. Teachers need more time. And everyone needs to find the best ways to pull more motivation and engagement from students.

    But that should not in any way minimize the importance of the findings. Especially now, as education distractions are everywhere, it’s crucial to remember what really works in classrooms – or what does not work. And almost nothing we try to do in a classroom works when students are not motivated and engaged.

    Grace Maliska

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  • Report Explores Link Between Student Engagement and Learning — THE Journal

    Report Explores Link Between Student Engagement and Learning

    Over 90% of teachers, principals, and superintendents agree that student engagement is a critical metric for understanding overall achievement, according to a new survey report from Discovery Education. Yet engagement is hard to define, the researchers found, and educators disagree on its top indicators.

    For its “Education Insights 2025-2026: Fueling Learning Though Engagement” report, Discovery Education polled 1,398 superintendents, teachers, parents, and students from across the United States about what engagement looks like, how best to measure it, and how to sustain it. Survey data was collected in May 2025 by Hanover Research.

    Across educator responses, there was broad agreement on the top two indicators of an engaged student: asking thoughtful questions and contributing to classroom discussion. Beyond those measures, however, responses by educator persona tended to differ. For example, while 54% of superintendents identified performing well on assessments as a top engagement indicator, only 29% of teachers said the same. And while just over half of superintendents and principals considered spending extra time on studies a top indicator of engagement, only 22% of teachers agreed.

    School leaders and teachers also disagreed on whether their schools have systems in place for measuring student engagement. While the vast majority of superintendents (99%) and principals (88%) said their district has an intentional approach for measuring student engagement, only 60% of teachers said the same. And about one in three teachers said the absence of a clear, shared definition of student engagement is a key obstacle to effective measurement.

    “One of the most important findings of this report is that engagement is seen as essential to learning, but is inconsistently defined, observed, and supported in K-12 classrooms,” commented Brian Shaw, CEO of Discovery Education, in a statement. “I believe this highlights the need for a more standardized approach to measuring student engagement and connecting it to academic achievement. Discovery Education has embarked on an effort to address those challenges, and we look forward to sharing more as our work progresses.”

    The survey also asked about respondents’ perception of AI in teaching and learning. Key findings there include:

    • 66% of students believe AI could help them learn faster.
    • 57% of teachers said they use AI to complete tasks at school.
    • 98% of superintendents and 87% of principals agree with the statement “I frequently learn about positive ways students are using AI,” compared to 57% of teachers.
    • 94% of superintendents and 83% of principals said they are excited about the potential for AI to support teaching and learning, compared to 53% of teachers.
    • 100% of superintendents agree that AI must be implemented carefully to avoid negative consequences.

    The full report is available on the Discovery Education site here (registration required). In addition, the company is hosting a webinar on Oct. 8 at 2:00 PM ET, in which a panel of education leaders will break down the report findings and share their own insights. Find additional details and event registration here.

    About the Author



    Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].



    Stephen Wakefield

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  • The Engagement Gap: Discovery Education CEO Brian Shaw on What’s Missing in K–12 Classrooms – EdTech Digest

    Nearly 1,400 voices—students, teachers, superintendents, and parents—shed light on how engagement is defined, measured, and misunderstood in schools.

    INTERVIEW | by Victor Rivero

    Engagement may be the engine of student success, but new data shows that educators, parents, and students don’t always agree on what it looks like. Discovery Education’s Education Insights 2025–2026 survey highlights surprising disconnects. In this interview, CEO Brian Shaw unpacks the findings with EdTech Digest.

    The report, Education Insights 2025–2026: Fueling Learning Through Engagement, reflects the perspectives of 1,398 superintendents, teachers, parents, and students nationwide. Conducted in May 2025 by Hanover Research, the study offers a timely look at how engagement is defined, measured, and supported in classrooms today. Read on for Shaw’s take on the key findings, what they mean for teaching and learning, and how edtech providers can help close the gaps.

    So, let’s get to the interview.

    Good afternoon Brian and great to sit down with you again. First, can you start off by telling readers why Discovery Education conducts this research?

    For the second year in a row, Discovery Education has conducted an in-depth, nationwide research study that explores a timely and relevant topic in K-12 teaching and instruction that requires more attention and exploration.

    This year, we’ve taken a closer look at the topic of student and classroom engagement. We know that student engagement is nuanced, multidimensional, and varies across contexts, age groups, and individual learners. Right now, it seems as if engagement is very top-of-mind for many education stakeholders, so we wanted to take a deeper dive into the subject to gain a greater understanding of how student engagement is defined, observed, and nurtured in classrooms. The results of this in-depth look can be found in Education Insights 2025–2026: Fueling Learning Through Engagement, which is available to all education stakeholders today at www.discoveryeducation.com.

    We think that by sharing the insights, opinions, and perspectives of those closest to the classroom—in this case, almost 1,400 superintendents, teachers, parents, and students from across the United States—we can spark new conversations about student engagement, assist stakeholders in creating actionable steps that lead to more challenging, supportive learning environments promoting dynamic instruction, and help every student reach their fullest potential.

    Now, from your perspective, what are the biggest takeaways from this report?

    There were a lot of really interesting nuggets of information that came out of this report, but for me, the biggest takeaway was the finding that, even though engagement is broadly recognized by educators as a key driver of learning, there is disagreement among educators as to what the top indicators of engagement in their classrooms are.

    According to the data we collected, 93% of educators agreed that student engagement is a critical metric to understanding overall achievement, and 99% of superintendents polled believe student engagement is one of the top predictors of success at school.

    ‘According to the data we collected, 93% of educators agreed that student engagement is a critical metric to understanding overall achievement, and 99% of superintendents polled believe student engagement is one of the top predictors of success at school.’

    But while teachers and superintendents agreed that engagement is important to learning, there were differences on what constituted strong indicators of student engagement. 72% of teachers ranked “asking thoughtful questions” as the strongest indicator of student engagement while 54% of superintendents identified “performing well on assessments” as a top engagement indicator. It is interesting to note that teachers ranked standardized assessments as among the lowest indicators of engagement. 

    Another key finding of Education Insights 2025–2026 is that school leaders and teachers disagree on whether their schools have systems for measuring engagement. Overwhelming majorities of superintendents and principals said their districts have an intentional approach to measuring engagement, but only 60% of teachers surveyed agreed with that statement. In addition, nearly 1/3 of teachers say that a lack of clear, shared definitions is a top challenge to measuring interest, motivation and engagement effectively. Taken together these data points paint a picture of confusion as to if schools are actually measuring engagement, and if so, what it is they are measuring, emerges.

    IMAGES: DISCOVERY EDUCATION

    Education Insights 2025–2026 also collected information on students’ perceptions of their own engagement and the results differed from teachers’ perceptions. When asked to rate the degree to which they agree with this statement- “Students are highly engaged in school,” 63% of students agreed and only 45% of teachers and 51% of principals agreed with the same statement. In addition, when we reviewed the data by grade band, the gap between students’ perceptions of their engagement and educators’ perceptions of engagement widened, painting a worrying picture of a perceived “engagement gap” between teachers and students that grows as a child progresses through school. 

    Finally, as we are living in the age of AI, we felt it prudent to include some questions on the topic. Interestingly, we found that proximity to the classroom changed respondents’ impressions of AI. For example, two-thirds of students believe AI could help them learn faster, yet fewer than half of teachers report using AI themselves. Only 57% of teachers agreed with the statement “I frequently learn about positive ways students are using AI,” while 87% of principals and 98% of superintendents agreed. Likewise, only 53% of teachers agreed with the statement “I am excited about the potential for AI to support teaching and learning,” compared to 83% of principals and 94% of superintendents. 

    ‘Interestingly, we found that proximity to the classroom changed respondents’ impressions of AI. For example, two-thirds of students believe AI could help them learn faster, yet fewer than half of teachers report using AI themselves.’

    There is a lot more really interesting data in the report on perceived student barriers to engagement, how students demonstrate disengagement in the classroom, what strategies can improve student engagement, and more, so I’d encourage readers to download the report and review the data and insights themselves.

    What do you see as the main takeaway for educators in this data?

    Here are what I believe are the three takeaways for educators in the Education Insights 2025-2026 report:

    Student engagement is variable, and thus a challenging concept to define and measure. It manifests itself in various forms, and what constitutes engagement for one student, or group of students, may differ by classroom, school or district.

    Better strategies, shared definitions, and effective tools are needed to monitor and foster engagement. Alignment across roles, practical resources, and actionable insights empower teachers to establish engaging learning environments that support the holistic development of all students.

    Barriers to deeper student engagement can be both visible and hidden. Students may complete tasks without fully committing to learning, making it challenging to identify and address passive or withdrawn behaviors.

    Let’s switch gears here and talk about what you believe this report means for edtech. What is edtech’s role in solving the disconnect between Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents that the Education Insights 2025–2026 report uncovered?

    First, I believe edtech providers need to commit to working with students, teachers, principals, and administrators to find agreement on the strongest indicators of engagement in the classroom. The edtech industry can play a major role in surfacing the diverse ways engagement is interpreted, experienced, defined in education today, and in building consensus on those topics.

    I believe that edtech providers should also play a role in developing and supporting effective new ways of monitoring  student engagement. For example, monitoring students behavioral, cognitive, and affective engagement with learning activities and resources will provide actionable insights that can then help create better instructional strategies and solutions. 

    In addition, edtech should seek to research and quantify the relationship between engagement and achievement. Can we predict academic achievement based on engagement indicators? Are some forms of engagement more important to student achievement than others in certain contexts or environments—for instance, what type of engagement is most helpful in a math classroom?  What engagement indicators should a science teacher look for? How could these indicators be best reflected and measured in edtech solutions? These are all questions we, as edtech providers, can help answer.

    ‘…what type of engagement is most helpful in a math classroom?  What engagement indicators should a science teacher look for? How could these indicators be best reflected and measured in edtech solutions?’

    The overwhelming numbers of educators we polled believe student engagement is one of the top predictors of success at school. We need to clarify this linkage, find ways to effectively measure student engagement, and then explicitly connect that measurement to academic achievement.

    Specifically, how will Discovery Education pivot to address these findings?

    Discovery Education has always sought to provide educators and students with high-quality edtech tools and resources that engage students and improve achievement. Through the user experience and product research we conduct, we monitor several student engagement indicators, and with our efficacy research we have been able to demonstrate our products’ ability to support academic achievement.

    Earlier this year, we enhanced our products with more real-world connections, more personalized content, and more innovative instructional strategies as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure our resources continue to fuel student engagement. That work will continue as we enhance our resources.

    But that is not enough.

    As we move forward, Discovery Education will add to its ongoing work to support student engagement and its connections to student success and achievement. In addition to our efforts to create the highest-quality edtech solutions in the market, we will seek to build consensus on the strongest indicators of engagement in the classroom, explore how best to monitor student engagement through our products and services, and begin research on how to quantify the relationship between engagement and achievement.

    ‘…work to support student engagement and its connections to student success and achievement.’

    One of the most important findings of this report—that engagement is seen as essential to learning, but inconsistently defined, observed, and supported in K-12 classrooms nationwide—highlights the need for a more standardized approach to measuring and fostering student engagement across all educational settings—and especially with edtech products and services. Achieving such a standardized approach will be challenge, but it is one that Discovery Education embraces readily.

    Thanks for your time, Brian.  Where can educators interested in learning about this report learn more?

    Education Insights 2025–2026: Fueling Learning Through Engagement is now available at www.discoveryeducation.com.

    —

    Victor Rivero is the Editor-in-Chief of EdTech Digest. Write to: victor@edtechdigest.com

    Stephen Wakefield

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  • New Jersey School District Taps Otus, Discovery Education for Data Insights — THE Journal

    New Jersey School District Taps Otus, Discovery Education for Data Insights

    West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District (WWP) in Central New Jersey has partnered with assessment and data platform Otus and ed tech company Discovery Education to better utilize data to support student achievement. Its goal: to gain insights into student performance by enhancing the district’s ability to collect, read, and react to student assessment data, according to a news announcement.

    WWP will utilize the Otus platform, provided through Discovery Education, to:

    • Centralize district assessment data for a holistic view of student learning;
    • Utilize data to group students with similar needs for targeted intervention or extension;
    • Align instructional strategies with data insights; and
    • Provide every student with a collaborative plan for success, outlining goals and milestones to address academic, attendance, and other needs.

    In addition, WWP educators will receive professional development  on the Otus platform from the company’s team of professional learning experts, to gain best practices for integrating the platform’s resources into instruction.

    “The addition of Otus to the district tech stack improves our educators’ ability to easily pull and analyze achievement data and then adjust instruction to improve student outcomes,” said Allan Johnson, supervisor of technology, training, & media sources at WWP, in a statement. “We look forward to deploying this new resource districtwide.”

    “Discovery Education is thrilled to continue to support the students and teachers of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District through its unique collaboration with Otus,” commented Tori Byrd, Discovery Education’s manager of educational partnerships. “As the first school system nationwide to leverage the unique partnership between Otus and Discovery Education to combine high-quality learning solutions and state-of-the-art data analytics, West Windsor-Plainsboro is setting a new bar for innovation in this space.”

    About the Author



    Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].



    Stephen Wakefield

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  • 3 key opportunities to address education’s biggest challenges

    3 key opportunities to address education’s biggest challenges

    Key points:

    While most students say they are eager to learn and say they feel a strong sense of belonging in school, teachers still face challenges that slow improvements in student engagement and learning outcomes, according to a new report from Discovery Education.

    Teachers are eager to embrace changes that produce positive outcomes, but major barriers to those outcomes remain, according to The Education Insights Report by Discovery Education.

    The report reveals key areas of opportunity for addressing student engagement and captures prevailing attitudes and beliefs from superintendents, teachers, parents, and students.

    Three focus areas emerged in the report:

    1. All stakeholders must foster student engagement to motivate curiosity, inspire exploration, and activate effective learning. Research shows that students who are engaged are more likely to find learning interesting and empowering. Sixty-eight percent of teachers say that getting students excited about learning is a top challenge for them. What’s more, almost all teachers and students (94 percent) agree that curiosity is key to unlocking learning, but 80 percent of students say there are not enough opportunities to be curious. Students must be appropriately challenged in their learning, and prioritizing curiosity and exploration can fuel student engagement.

    2. Career exploration and 21st-century skill development are increasingly critical because teachers, parents, and students feel concerned about students’ preparedness for the future as the workforce evolves. When students see how their current studies connect to potential career paths, they are more likely to be motivated and invested in their education. This integration of curiosity-driven learning and practical exploration of future opportunities guides students toward both academic and career success. Sixty-seven percent of students worry that their education is not evolving to meet future workforce needs. Seventy-four percent of superintendents believe student preparedness for job opportunities has improved compared to five years ago, while only 41 percent of teachers agree. As educators work to engage and motivate students, survey findings suggest they must sharpen their focus in two key areas to better prepare students for the future–career readiness and developing interpersonal skills.

    3. Providing more targeted support for teachers and students can increase confidence and improve outcomes. Studies show that teachers who feel supported are more likely to experience job satisfaction and remain in the profession longer, creating a more stable and effective learning environment for students. Research consistently shows that personalized learning approaches–where
    instruction is tailored to students’ unique strengths, needs, and interests–lead to better academic outcomes, increased engagement, and higher levels of motivation.

    “While The Education Insights Report by Discovery Education found that students, parents, teachers, and superintendents have a generally positive outlook about the current state of education, it also found there are hurdles to overcome,” said Brian Shaw, Discovery Education’s CEO. “Educators have concerns about keeping students engaged, and students feel uncertain about their preparedness for the future. Discovery Education’s goal with this research is to spotlight opportunities for improvement so that all stakeholders can collaborate to solve these challenges and create brighter futures for all learners.”

    Additional findings include:

    • Curiosity is important to everyone. There is broad agreement on the importance of curiosity in learning, with more than 90 percent of stakeholders surveyed agreeing that curiosity is central to learning. However, 82 percent of students and 75 percent of teachers believe there are not enough opportunities to be curious in today’s classrooms.
    • Students want to learn more life skills. Eighty-eight percent of district leaders, teachers, parents, and students rate life skills as very important, but only 57 percent of students believe their schools adequately teach the life skills needed for future success.
    • Teachers see promise in adaptive learning. Ninety-three percent of teachers believe adaptive learning resources would help students learn more effectively and 75 percent of students say learning at their own pace would increase the likelihood of their engaging with lessons, feeling empowered in school, and more prepared for the future.
    • Time is of the essence. Ninety-four percent of teachers surveyed reported that they are seeking classroom tools that will give them time back to focus on students.
    • AI tools from education experts are more trusted. When it comes to Artificial Intelligence, 72 percent of teachers and parents, as well as 85 percent of superintendents surveyed, believe AI-powered customized learning materials are more trustworthy when built by experts in education. In addition, 84 percent of teachers and 90 percent of superintendents believe that as teachers receive more training on how to use AI, it will become a more trusted tool in education.

    Survey data was collected by The Harris Poll, an industry-leading research organization, on behalf of Discovery Education in August 2024. It included 1,524 responses from K-12 students, parents of K-12 students, and K-12 teachers and superintendents.

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  • Ahead of Schedule: STEM Careers Coalition Reaches Over 10.7 Million Students  

    Ahead of Schedule: STEM Careers Coalition Reaches Over 10.7 Million Students  

    Charlotte, NC — The STEM Careers Coalition – an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations partnering with Discovery Education to create equitable access to free STEM content and career connections – today announced it has surpassed the goal of reaching 10 million students by the end of 2025 ahead of schedule. Since 2019, the STEM Careers Coalition has reached over 10.7 million students, including 2.97 million in the 2023-2024 school year alone, 65% of which are from Title I schools.  

    Student STEM education is critical, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts STEM jobs will grow by 23% by 2030. Through the STEM Careers Coalition, all K-12 students in the United States and educators are supported with high-quality careers resources, equity of access to key resources, volunteer employee engagement activities, and research.  

    “Starting this journey in 2019, we knew collaboration was key to inspiring the next generation of the STEM workforce. By bringing diverse industries together in one place for educators, the STEM Careers Coalition allows students to see the breadth of opportunity in STEM and the similarities in critical thinking skillsets that are pertinent across careers,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education. “We are so thankful to our partners. We are excited for the next evolution of the STEM Careers Coalition in the emission to ensure that all students have what they need to explore STEM jobs.” 

    The STEM Careers Coalition supports diverse career awareness and exposure. The Coalition works to prepare all students for future jobs in STEM, developing the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in college and a career through high-quality classroom resources, career exploration tools, after school activities, digital content, and more. The STEM Careers Coalition features a large network of partners from a variety of industries.  

    The STEM Careers Coalition frequently provides students and educators new resources aligned to learning standards. Amongst the newest materials is the Mission Possible Virtual Field Trip: Re-powering the Future, premiering on November 21, 2024. In addition, 14 new career bundles introduce K-12 students to careers like a senior data scientist, gnotobiotics training coordinator, fire protection design manager, chemical engineer, and more.  

    Learn more about the STEM Careers Coalition at stemcareerscoalition.org or on the award-winning K-12 learning platform, Discovery Education Experience. For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.    

    About the STEM Careers Coalition 
    The STEM Careers Coalition solves for critical gaps in diverse representation in the STEM professional workforce. The Coalition is an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations, reaching 10.7 million teachers and students with equitable access to STEM resources and career connections since its launch in 2019. The Coalition will continue to ignite student curiosity and influence a diverse future STEM workforce and reach 10 million teachers and students by the end 2025. 

    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, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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. 

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  • 14-year-old Named America’s Top Young Scientist for Inventing an AI Handheld Pesticide Detector

    14-year-old Named America’s Top Young Scientist for Inventing an AI Handheld Pesticide Detector

    ST. PAUL, Minn. & CHARLOTTE, N.C. – 3M (@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) named Sirish Subash, a 9th grader at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Snellville, Georgia, the winner of the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s premier middle school science competition. Sirish set himself apart with an AI handheld pesticide detector. As the grand prize winner, he received a $25,000 cash prize and the prestigious title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” 

    Sirish spent the last four months competing against nine other finalists and secured his win during final Challenge events at 3M global headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Oct. 14 and 15. Finalists navigated a series of interactive challenges and were evaluated on their ingenuity and innovative thinking, application of STEM principles, demonstration of passion and research, presentation skills, and ability to inspire others.   

    “This year’s Young Scientist Challenge finalists have demonstrated an incredible ability to develop creative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Torie Clarke, EVP & chief public affairs officer at 3M. “I am beyond impressed and inspired by their intelligence and their scientific minds. Congratulations to this year’s Top Young Scientist, Sirish Subash, and all the finalists for their phenomenal work.”  

    Sirish Subash’s project, Pestiscand, is a handheld device designed to detect pesticide residues on produce using a non-destructive method. It employs spectrophotometry, which involves measuring how light of various wavelengths is reflected off the surface of fruits and vegetables. A machine learning model then analyzes this data to determine the presence of pesticides. Pestiscand consists of a sensor, a power supply, a display screen, and a processor. During testing, the device achieved an accuracy rate of identifying pesticide residues on spinach and tomatoes of greater than 85%, meeting the project’s objectives for effectiveness and speed. 

    3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists are paired with a 3M scientist who mentors and works with them one-on-one over the summer to transform their idea from concept to prototype. This year’s winner was paired with Aditya Banerji, Senior Research Engineer of 3M’s Corporate Research Process Laboratory.   

    The second and third place winners from the Young Scientist Challenge each receive a $2,000 prize. These exceptional students are: 

    • In second place, Minula Weerasekera from Beaverton, Oregon, a 9thgrader at Mountainside High School. Minula developed a solution for storing energy for longer through organic compounds and a sulfur-based terhiophene.  
    • In third place, William Tan from Scarsdale, New York, an 8th grader at Scarsdale Middle School. William developed an AI Smart Artificial Reef that encourages coral, seashells, kelp and other marine life to grow in a safe and controlled environment. 

    The fourth through tenth place winners each receive a $1,000 prize and a $500 gift card. These finalists, in alphabetical order by last name, are:  

    • Ankan Das from Sanford, Florida, a 9th grader at Oviedo High School in the Seminole County School District
    • Steven Goodman from Lake Mary, Florida, an 8th grader at Milwee Middle School in the Seminole County School District
    • Aakash Manaswi from Orlando, Florida, a 9th grader at Lake Highland Preparatory School
    • Prince Nallamothula from Frisco, Texas, a 9th grader at Centennial High School in the Frisco Independent School District
    • Ronita Shukla from Acton, Massachusetts, an 8th grader at RJ Grey Junior High School in the Acton Boxborough Regional School District
    • Rithvik Suren from Ellington, Connecticut, a 9th grader at Academy of Aerospace & Engineering in the CREC School District
    • Hanna Suzuki from Bedford, Massachusetts, a 9th grader at Bedford High School in the Bedford School District 

    “Discovery Education is incredibly proud to support student innovation over the past 17 years through the 3M Young Scientist Challenge,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education. “It is more important than ever that future generations are given the tools needed to tackle real-world problems. Each remarkable participant has embodied the curiosity that will fuel these discoveries, and we congratulate them all.” 

    In its 17th year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire and challenge middle school students to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discover real-world solutions. America’s Top Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found nonprofits, make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and exhibit at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named TIME Magazine’s Kid of the Year, featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider, and have appeared on national television programs such as Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and more. In addition, a 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network was formed in fall 2022 and welcomed more than 100 former challenge finalists and winners for networking opportunities.  

    The award-winning competition supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program Young Scientist Lab, which provides free dynamic digital resources for students, teachers, and families to explore, transform, and innovate the world around them. All its resources are also available on Discovery Education Experience, the company’s award-winning K-12 learning platform.  

    To download images from the 2024 science competition, click here. To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and meet this year’s winners and finalists, visit youngscientistlab.com.  

    About 3M 
    3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what’s possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we’re working to improve lives and make what’s next at 3M.com/news. 

    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, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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. 

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  • Discovery Education and LIV Golf Launch Multi-Year Partnership Reaching Half a Million Students Worldwide with STEM and Life Skills

    Discovery Education and LIV Golf Launch Multi-Year Partnership Reaching Half a Million Students Worldwide with STEM and Life Skills

    Charlotte, NC and Carrollton, TX — Discovery Education and LIV Golf today announced a new multi-year partnership, LIV to Learn, that will positively impact half a million students worldwide. This innovative collaboration offers students and educators digital resources that explore STEM, life skills, and career opportunities, while also addressing topics of teamwork and sustainability. 

    LIV to Learn is a key component of the LIV Golf Potential, Unleashed Impact Strategy which aims to positively impact 5.4 million young people. LIV to Learn unites partners across sectors to increase opportunities for education, employment, and training for young people. Since its founding, LIV Golf has launched numerous programs focused on inspiring a better tomorrow through the game of golf. The pillar programs of Potential, Unleashed – LIV to Learn, LIV Green, Transform the Game, and the Way We LIV – demonstrate a holistic and transformational strategy for impact. 

    “Inspiring students through the game of golf is a core focus of LIV Golf’s Potential, Unleashed impact and sustainability initiative,” said Greg Norman, the CEO and Commissioner at LIV Golf. “We are proud to partner with Discovery Education to create new ways to make golf more accessible to young people, while developing the important skills and values that play a huge role in the game we love. We believe these tools will help foster a passion for golf and encourage students to reach their potential as we work to inspire the leaders of tomorrow.” 

    The program includes ready-to-use resources, teacher-led and family activities, and a facilitator guide. LIV to Learn features exclusive content from some of the biggest names in golf, including two-time Masters champion and RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson, U.S. Open champion and Cleeks GC captain Martin Kaymer, LIV Golf Wild Card player and former Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim, Cleeks GC star and 2023 DP World Tour Player of the Year Adrian Meronk, and more.  

     “To partner with such a great organization like Discovery Education is a very exciting moment for our league,” says Watson. “I am honored to play a small role in this and look forward to seeing the global impact we can make together.” 
     
    This week, as part of the program launch during the LIV Golf Dallas Team Championship, local students and educators are visiting Maridoe Golf Club for an opportunity to learn about STEM-related careers at LIV Golf. A series of events for students and educators will include virtual field trip filming, a behind-the-scenes tour of the event operations and broadcast compound, meet and greets with athletes, and fan village tours. 

    “Our extensive experience with major leagues has strengthened our belief in the power of sports to ignite student curiosity,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education. “We are excited to partner with LIV Golf to channel that curiosity into learning, fostering essential skills to help students thrive in their futures.” 

    Additional resources will be released in the coming months, including a virtual field trip, digital lesson bundles, and language translations. Learn more about LIV to Learn at livtolearn.discoveryeducation.com or within Discovery Education Experience.  

    About LIV Golf  
    The LIV Golf League is the world’s only global golf league featuring 13 teams, a 14-tournament schedule, and many of the world’s best golfers. Launched in 2022, the League was designed to expand the sport on a global level and create new value within the golfing ecosystem while enhancing the game’s societal impact. A landmark investment by LIV Golf also launched The International Series, a set of 10 enhanced events sanctioned by the Asian Tour, with elevated prize funds in world-class destinations, offering a pathway for leading professional and amateur golfers from around the world into the LIV Golf League. Hall of Fame golfer and renowned businessman, Greg Norman, is the League’s first and founding CEO and Commissioner. Only two years into operations and with tournaments across North and Latin Americas, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe, LIV Golf remains committed to developing the sport at every level and exposing more people to the positive virtues of the game through its unique blend of intense competition and entertainment. 
      
    LIV Golf is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments whose vision and mission are centered around making holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential. 

    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, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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.

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  • Discovery Education Unveils New, Free Environmental Focused Learning Resources 

    Discovery Education Unveils New, Free Environmental Focused Learning Resources 

    Charlotte, NC — Discovery Education today announced a new curated collection of free dynamic digital resources that encourages students to follow their curiosity and explore the natural world. These resources are made available to all students, teachers, and caregivers in the United States at no cost through the Environmental Education Initiative. Powered by worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education, the Environmental Education Initiative is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to empower students to make informed decisions that support healthy environments and civic engagement. 

    The Environmental Education Initiative empowers learners with standards-aligned resources to explore contemporary topics in environmental studies. The newest content includes video lesson bundles and student activities exploring subjects such as energy conservation, forestry, clean drinking water, and more. 

    The resources from the Environmental Education Initiative are created with The National Environmental Education Foundation and other partners including Honeywell, LyondellBasell, Nucor, and Subaru of America, Inc. Each partner provides expertise, insight, and access to enable the creation of high-quality and standards-aligned dynamic digital resources and will help provide under-resourced schools across the United States no-cost access to the award-winning Discovery Education Experience learning platform.  

    “Experts at Stanford University carefully reviewed a body of academic literature over a 20-year period that measured the impacts of environmental education for K-12 students,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. “Among the benefits of environmental education were improved academic performance, enhanced critical thinking skills, improved life-building skills, and greater confidence, autonomy, and leadership. We are proud to work alongside our partners to help engage students in the world around them and build these essential skills.” 

    To access Environmental Education Initiative resources, visit environmentaleducationinitiative.discoveryeducation.com. Educators with access to Discovery Education Experience can find these resources on the Environmental Education Initiative Channel. 

    For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.      

    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, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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. 

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  • Texas’ Pine Tree Independent School District Expands Partnership with Global Edtech Leader to Support Innovative Science Instruction

    Texas’ Pine Tree Independent School District Expands Partnership with Global Edtech Leader to Support Innovative Science Instruction

    Charlotte, NC—Texas’  Pine Tree Independent School District (PTISD) today announced an extension of its multi-year collaboration with global edtech leader  Discovery Education. In this new phase of partnership, students in grades K-8 will this year return to classrooms that feature innovative science lessons powered by  Science Techbook for Texas by Discovery Education. A dynamic core instructional curriculum, Science Techbook for Texas was created from the ground up expressly for Texas educators and learners. 

    PTISD’s talented team serves a diverse student body of more than 4,500 learners in the western portion of Longview and part of the neighboring city of White Oak. PTISD is a Texas District of Innovation, and as such, has created a thoughtful strategic plan with three goals: all students will reach their full potential; all students will thrive in a global society; and all students will discover and pursue their unique passions. 

    To support progress toward these goals, PTISD’s leadership team sought an innovative, updateable, digital-print-kit blended science curriculum that would easily integrate into instruction to create unique, student-centered learning experiences. Following a thorough review process, the district selected Science Techbook for Texas by Discovery Education for teachers and students in grades K-8. 

    Science Techbook for Texas includes everything educators need to create modern science lessons, including engaging digital resources, print student and teacher editions, hands-on activity kits, and virtual investigations. In addition, an embedded professional learning component within Science Techbook for Texas helps teachers quickly and easily integrate this resource into classroom instruction, ensuring school leaders see maximum return on their technology investment. Science Techbook for Texas was rated as 100% aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and the English Language Proficiency Standards at every grade level by the relevant state review panels and earned a 100% score from the Texas Resource Review for its K-5 and Biology editions. 

    The Science Techbook for Texas’ curriculum includes ready-to-use, phenomena-driven lessons that motivate students with powerful technology tools—such as toggle-on authentic Spanish translation—that personalize the student experience, and time-saving teacher tools that streamline preparation and grading. Available in both print and digital formats, Science Techbook for Texas provides a seamless classroom experience complete with immersive, interactive ways to explore scientific phenomena, including hands-on engineering activities, labs, and STEM connections. In PTISD, Science Techbook for Texas will be used alongside  Discovery Education Experience, an award-winning K-12, cross-curricular, supplemental digital learning resource already used districtwide. 

    “Pine Tree Independent School District has a long history of providing students with captivating educational experiences that prepare them for future success in our increasingly global environment,” said Dr. Lisa Mullins, PTISD’s Executive Director of Quality Education. “The adoption of these powerful core instructional resources helps us continue our tradition of excellence and prepares our students to thrive beyond graduation.” 

    Through its digital, print, and blended options, Science Techbook for Texas delivers a wide range of high-quality resources that support students as they discover how science is practiced in the real world, while focusing on deeper understanding and the application of grade-appropriate science content. Recently,  Discovery Education’s Science Techbook was certified as meeting the rigorous, evidence-based ESSA Tier III standards as set forth in Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).  

    Multiple studies show that regular use of Discovery Education Science Techbook in the classroom has many positive academic results for educators and students across a variety of districts and populations in the United States. For example, in an independent study with Arizona’s Sahuarita Unified School District, a third party evaluated Discovery Education’s impact and found that use of Science Techbook resulted in increased science, math, and reading proficiency in grades 3-8. In the second study, a correlation was found between frequency and depth of use of Science Techbook and student achievement in science in grades 6 and 7. This research and more can be found  here. 

    All educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the  Discovery Educator Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Educator Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration. 

    “Discovery Education is proud to support Pine Tree Independent School District’s efforts to create innovative science instruction,” said Discovery Education’s Manager of Education Partnerships Jason Fennell. “Dr. Lisa Mullins, Superintendent Steve Clugston, and the rest of the district’s talented team of teachers and administrators have charted an exciting new course in science education that helps all students pursue their curiosity as they prepare for a bright future, and we are excited to be chosen to support their work.” 

    For more information about Discovery Education’s  award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit  www.discoveryeducation.com and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through  X (formerly Twitter),  LinkedIn,  Instagram,  TikTok, and  Facebook.  

    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, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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. 

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  • Discovery Education Offers Educators New Resources Supporting Black History Month Observances 

    Discovery Education Offers Educators New Resources Supporting Black History Month Observances 


    Charlotte, NC. — Discovery Education today unveiled a new collection of engaging, high-quality digital learning resources supporting Black History Month observances. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform nurtures student curiosity and supports learning wherever it takes place.  

    The following resources are now available for users of the award-winning Discovery Education Experience K-12 learning platform: 

    • Civil Rights Ready-to-Use Resources: Through the DE Original Series, Need to Know, students travel through time to investigate the Civil Rights Movement. Each episode is paired with Ready-to-Use Lessons and PDF activities that align with the topics covered and features additional historical context and primary source resources.  
    • Happy Black History Month video: In this new video from Sesame Workshop for students in grades PK-2, Elmo, Gabrielle, Tamir, and Abby come together to celebrate the contributions of Black and African American communities. 

    All these resources and more are available on the Celebrating Black History channel within Discovery Education Experience. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standard-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education’s K-12 platform facilitates the creation of engaging instructional experiences for all students.  

    “At Discovery Education, we are committed to providing educators digital content that helps all students see themselves in the real-world,” said Robin Porter, Vice President of Digital Content at Discovery Education. “This new content collection for Black History Month ensures educators have high-quality resources for their Black History Month observances.” 

    Discovery Education also offers many free resources educators can integrate into their Black History Month observances. Among the free resources are:   

    • STEM Career Profiles: The Black History Month collection from the STEM Careers Coalition celebrates the careers of Black leaders in STEM during Black History Month and beyond. The collection of dynamic, on-demand resources supports educators’ efforts to drive deeper student engagement by connecting classroom lessons to the real-world. Career profile videos show students a variety of STEM careers across software engineering, chemistry, and technology support. 

    The STEM Careers Coalition solves critical gaps in representation in the STEM professional workforce. The Coalition is an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations that has provided equitable access to STEM resources and career connections since its launch in 2019. The Coalition will continue to ignite student curiosity and influence a diverse future STEM workforce and reach 10 million teachers and students by 2025. 

    • Virtual Field Trip: The Courage to Act Virtual Field Trip shares the stories of young people standing up as individuals, groups, or as a community to make the world a better place. Students meet a peer who has created a project that stands up against injustice, hear about survivors of the Holocaust, and learn from community leaders. An accompanying educator guide provides teachers with materials and activities for before, during, and after the virtual field trip. 

    This virtual field trip is part of Teaching with Testimony, a program with USC Shoah Foundation that connects students to the power of testimony from the survivors and witnesses of genocide, inspiring students to find their voices and act for a better future. 

    For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.    

    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, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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.  

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  • Tennessee’s Hardeman County Schools Begin New Year with New Digital Resources Supporting College and Career Readiness 

    Tennessee’s Hardeman County Schools Begin New Year with New Digital Resources Supporting College and Career Readiness 

    Charlotte, NC —Tennessee’s Hardeman County Schools (HCS) today announced a new phase in its partnership with global edtech leader Discovery Education that is bringing new digital resources to students districtwide. Thanks to this new collaboration, teachers and students across HCS will have access to a suite of award-winning digital products that prepare students for college and careers and nurture their inherent curiosity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and all other subjects. 

    Located in Southwest Tennessee, HCS’s approximately 250 educators serve nearly 3,300 students daily, providing a high-quality education in a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment that builds foundations for lifelong learning. These foundations include academics, social emotional skills, technological competencies, and career awareness. 

    To support this mission, HCS sought a suite of flexible, standards-aligned digital learning resources that were easy to integrate into instruction and had a proven record of engaging students in STEM education and stoking curiosity in all other subjects. Following a careful review of available resources, HCS selected the following products for use in district classrooms: 

    Discovery Education Experience. Discovery Education Experience will now be available in all district elementary and middle school classrooms. 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 Experience provides an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging instruction in any environment. 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. Through expanded, lasting partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Brightspace, and Clever, integrating Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform into existing Information Technology architecture is easier than ever.  

    STEM Connect. An interdisciplinary K-8 resource that blends dynamic digital content with ready-to-use lessons and hands-on activities, STEM Connect enhances core curriculum and cultivates valuable design thinking skills that prepare students for the future. STEM Connect purposefully integrates across disciplines and provides all the necessary resources to introduce real-world challenges to students. Together, these resources provide educators with a suite of powerful tools with which they can create opportunities for critical thinking and problem-solving. 

    Discovery Education Coding. With Discovery Education Coding, elementary and middle school students are inspired to learn important coding concepts as they develop computational thinking skills through decomposition, logical reasoning, and problem solving. Based in part on the award-winning Discovery Education Coding service used by teachers across the United Kingdom, the U.S. version of Coding features a wide array of resources that help students take coding from concept to reality. 

    These new digital solutions will be used alongside Mystery Science by Discovery Education, which is currently available in Middleton Elementary School. 

    “We believe that providing all students a rich background in STEM education is critical to promoting college and career readiness,” said Michelle Howell, Hardeman County Schools Supervisor of Instruction. “The new state-of-the-art digital resources from Discovery Education coming to our classrooms will engage our students in STEM and all other subjects in an exciting new way. Our educators look forward to integrating these new resources into classroom activities.”  

    In addition, all HCS educators using Discovery Education solutions will receive dedicated professional development from Discovery Education’s team of professional learning experts. These learning opportunities for teachers help schools recognize the full return on their edtech investment. Through Discovery Education’s interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional development increases student engagement in learning and supports the continued academic development of all students. 

    Also, educators at HCS enjoy access to the Discovery Education Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.  

    “Discovery Education is proud to support Hardeman County Schools’ work to provide all students the strong grounding in STEM and other subjects that leads to college and career readiness,” said Kim McCullough, Discovery Education’s Account Executive. “The district’s efforts to provide students dependable, dynamic digital resources and teachers meaningful professional learning that drives return on this edtech investment creates powerful learning experiences that prepare all learners for life beyond graduation. We look forward to continuing to support Hardeman County Schools’ as they prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.” 

    For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.  

    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, innovative classroom tools, and social impact initiatives, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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. 

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  • Wyoming Catholic School Partners with Global Edtech Leader to Enhance Instruction in Science and All Other Disciplines 

    Wyoming Catholic School Partners with Global Edtech Leader to Enhance Instruction in Science and All Other Disciplines 

    Charlotte, NC — Wyoming’s Holy Name Catholic School (HNCS) today announced a new multi-year partnership with global edtech leader Discovery Education. Thanks to this new collaboration, teachers across HNCS will soon have access to a suite of award-winning digital products that nurture curiosity and support their goal of implementing the first comprehensive STREAM program in a Wyoming Catholic school during the 2024-2025 school year. 

    HNCS is in Sheridan, Wyoming, at the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. HNCS’s dedicated staff views the world through the lens of faith and with curiosity, integrity, and courage. Seeking to educate the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and prepare PK-5 students for the world beyond the classroom, HNCS’s team sought to enhance science instruction by integrating a comprehensive STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Math) curriculum. Discovery Education will help HNCS achieve this challenge by providing engaging STEM learning opportunities throughout the curriculum. 

    To accomplish this, HNCS sought a suite of flexible, standards-aligned digital learning resources that were easy to integrate into instruction and had a proven record of quickly engaging students in science, STEM, and all other subjects. Following a careful review of available resources, HNCS selected the following products for use in the school’s PK-5 classrooms: 

    Discovery Education Experience. 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 Experience provides an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging instruction in any environment. 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. Through expanded, lasting partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Brightspace, and Clever, integrating Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform into existing Information Technology architecture is easier than ever.      

    Discovery Education Science Techbooks. 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-based, interactive digital content and companion printed resources. The virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM activities, and instructional supports within Techbook enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction, in person or at a distance. Available with the Science Techbooks are coordinated teacher guides offering unit, concept, and lesson overviews, standards connections, and differentiation activities that inform instructional planning and guide three-dimensional learning. Teacher editions also provide flexible pacing options, embedded teacher notes, and pathways for learning that support diverse learners.      

    Mystery Science. Mystery Science, winner of SIIA’s Best Science Instructional Solution CODiE award for Grades PK-8, provides K-5 educators simple-to-use, open-and-go, hands-on lessons that inspire students to love science. Each lesson begins by posing a question commonly asked by young students. Students then explore these questions through interactive videos featuring real-world visuals fostering a sense of wonder and actively supporting student engagement in the accompanying discussion prompts. Mystery Science simplifies prep for teachers, making the integration of this resource into classroom instruction simple. Plus, all K-5 science lessons are now available in Spanish, with accompanying videos featuring authentic Spanish narration and Spanish text-on-screen (for discussion questions, vocabulary words, and step-by-step instructions). Editable, ready-to-use worksheets and assessments are also available in both English and Spanish. 

    Doodle Math. DoodleMath is an award-winning, research-based, standards-aligned K-5 math app that boosts student skills, confidence, and fluency at home and in the classroom. Filled with thousands of interactive exercises, online learning games and virtual rewards, Doodle transforms math practice into a rewarding activity that children look forward to. Working seamlessly alongside teachers and parents, DoodleMath is a self-paced, personalized learning program that continuously adjusts to the unique learning needs of students. 

    STEM Connect. An interdisciplinary K-8 resource that blends dynamic digital content with ready-to-use lessons and hands-on activities, STEM Connect enhances core curriculum and cultivates valuable design thinking skills that prepare students for the future. STEM Connect purposefully integrates across disciplines and provides all the necessary resources to introduce real-world challenges and design thinking skills to students. Together, these resources provide educators with a suite of powerful tools with which they can create opportunities for critical thinking and problem-solving. 

    “Holy Name Catholic School seeks to empower students to discover their passions and unique gifts while growing in knowledge, leadership, and faith,” said Dr. Katy Brock-Worman, Principal. “This new suite of state-of-the-art digital resources from Discovery Education actively engages students’ latent curiosity, encouraging them to explore the world around them. We look forward to quickly integrating these powerful new resources into classroom activities.”  

    In addition, all HNCS educators using Discovery Education solutions will receive dedicated professional development from Discovery Education’s team of professional learning experts. These learning opportunities for teachers help schools recognize the full return on their edtech investment. Through Discovery Education’s interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional development increases student engagement in learning and supports the continued academic development of all students. 

    Also, all HCNS educators enjoy access to the Discovery Education Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.  

    “Discovery Education is proud to support the Holy Name Catholic School’s innovative approach to learning,” said Rachel Sholtis, Discovery Education’s National Partnership Coordinator. “Their investment in dependable, dynamic digital resources and professional learning will create powerful learning experiences that help students meet their personal and academic goals. We look forward to continuing to support this school as they nurture student curiosity and implement their vision for preparing students for success in a rapidly changing world.” 

    For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.  

    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, innovative classroom tools, and social impact initiatives, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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. 

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  • GoldieBlox and Discovery Education Partner to Bring Chemistry to High School Classrooms Nationwide with New Immersive Learning Experience on Roblox 

    GoldieBlox and Discovery Education Partner to Bring Chemistry to High School Classrooms Nationwide with New Immersive Learning Experience on Roblox 

    Charlotte, NC – GoldieBlox and Discovery Education today announced a new education initiative – Maker High. Maker High offers an immersive learning experience hosted on Roblox for educators to teach chemistry in middle and high school classrooms.   

    Maker High is a new experience on Roblox from the award-winning GoldieBlox team that leverages the power of gamified learning to deeply engage learners in chemistry. Maker High features Chem Lab Escape, a virtual escape room set in a chemistry lab where high school students explore core concepts of chemistry through dynamic gameplay. Chem Lab Escape empowers students to solve challenges such as combining elements and solutions to create chemical reactions and adding and removing heat energy to water to navigate an obstacle course. Accompanying student-driven activities and hands-on investigations are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and facilitate instruction around particle motion and the types of chemical reactions. Resources from Maker High, including the Chem Lab Escape, pair digital media with easy-to-follow instructions and are simple to incorporate into any lesson plan and learning environment.  

    “GoldieBlox has over a decade’s worth of experience making STEM fun and inclusive, especially for girls who have been traditionally excluded from STEM fields. Maker High empowers students to understand and master STEM concepts. Maker High makes learning fun by meeting students where they already are: on Roblox. Every detail of these resources are thoughtfully designed to strike that hard-to-reach balance of entertainment and academic rigor, all while delivering the learning content in an accessible, inclusive way,” said Debbie Sterling, CEO and Founder of GoldieBlox. “We hope teachers and students come back to play again and again to build upon their STEM skills.” 

    GoldieBlox is a Roblox Community Fund (RCF) grantee. Established in 2021, RCF offers grants to educational organizations and developers to enable the creation of innovative learning experiences and curriculum leveraging the platform in immersive and compelling ways. 

    Learn more about Maker High at makerhigh.discoveryeducation.com or within Discovery Education Experience, the award-winning K-12 learning 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 provides educators with an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction. 

    “Research shows that game-based learning proves an effective teaching tool in an educator’s toolbox. We’re proud to team up with GoldieBlox to bring chemistry to life through Maker High on Roblox,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Social Impact at Discovery Education. 

    For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.    

    About GoldieBlox 

    GoldieBlox is a multimedia company on a mission to make Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fun and accessible for all youth, especially girls, who have been underrepresented in STEM fields. Founded by Stanford engineer Debbie Sterling, GoldieBlox is known for “disrupting the pink aisle” and challenging gender stereotypes with the world’s first girl engineer and coder characters in children’s toys. For the past decade, GoldieBlox has inspired millions of girls around the world with videos, animation, books, apps, curriculum, toys, and merchandise; the tools that empower girls to build their confidence, dreams and ultimately, their futures.   

    GoldieBlox has been recognized as a disruptive leader in educational entertainment and has reached billions of consumers through TV, radio and digital as the first startup company to win a free Super Bowl commercial and have a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. GoldieBlox and its founder, Debbie Sterling, have won numerous awards, including the Toy Industry’s Educational Toy of the Year Award, Fast Company’s list of Most Innovative Companies, Fortune’s 40 Under 40, President Obama’s Ambassadorship for Global Entrepreneurship, and the National Women’s History Museum’s “Living Legacy” award for inspiring girls around the world.   

    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, innovative classroom tools, and social impact programs, 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 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. 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. 

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  • 4 simple ways to put the science of reading into practice

    4 simple ways to put the science of reading into practice

    Key points:

    In districts across the country, educators are continuing to support students with post-pandemic learning recovery. Many students are still reading below the level appropriate for their grade–roughly one-third of fourth graders in the United States read at or below what’s considered the basic level. And unfortunately, even before the pandemic, reading achievement has been low over the past several decades.

    Districts incorporating the science of reading into their curricula are seeing improved student outcomes. However, because the science of reading refers to broad research in a variety of fields on how a child learns to read, practical applications have not yet been widely taught to educators and there is a sizeable gap between theory and action.

    Educators deserve relevant professional development in research-based instructional practices to inform their classroom instruction. One example to learn from is the “Mississippi Miracle,” in which a state once ranked second to last in the U.S. for literacy saw fourth-grade reading scores rise by 10 points – even after school closures during the pandemic – due to an emphasis on explicitly teaching foundational reading skills and professional development.

    To help other school leaders start replicating the success that administrators and educators experienced in Mississippi, district leaders can guide the implementation of the science of reading principles through high-quality instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. To do this effectively, it is important to align lessons with research-based practices that don’t encumber or overwhelm administrators, educators, or students.

    Provide trusted resources

    Educators need a consolidated source of trusted resources when making any significant classroom changes. This includes research, webinars, and other content to guide implementation.

    Each state’s department of education may have guidelines, frameworks, and resources for implementing the science of reading. The U.S. Department of Education also provides resources and guidance on evidence-based practices in literacy. District leaders can supplement those guidelines with training programs that offer explicit, systematic approaches to teaching reading, or attend a webinar series from education technology partners that offers data-driven suggestions for literacy curricula.

    Digital resources include Literacy Worldwide, research-based articles from the International Literacy Association (ILA), and peer-reviewed reports from journals like Reading Research Quarterly, the Journal of Educational Psychology, and the Journal of Literacy Research. The science of reading is an evolving field, so it’s essential that both administrators and teachers have the necessary resources to stay up to date with the latest research and best practices.

    Choose the right classroom technologies

    Supplemental classroom technology that aligns with science-based practices not only helps ease implementation of new curricula but can also tell educators where to target instruction respective to each student’s understanding.

    Adaptive technology can assess students’ current literacy levels through formative, diagnostic assessments and then create personalized learning paths for each student. These real-time insights ensure students work on the specific skills they need to develop, whether it’s phonics, reading comprehension, vocabulary, or writing.  Students who excel in a particular area can access more advanced content, while those struggling can receive additional support and practice. This differentiation makes certain all students are challenged at an appropriate level.

    Many adaptive education platforms incorporate interactive and multimedia elements, making the learning process more engaging for students. Gamification, interactive exercises, and multimedia resources can capture students’ attention and keep them motivated to practice literacy skills.

    When students experience success and progress in their literacy skills through education technology, it can boost their confidence and motivation. This built-in positive reinforcement can have a significant impact on their overall learning experience. That said, literacy and reading technology should always be chosen with the understanding that it is not meant to replace teacher-directed instruction but to complement it.

    Be prepared to make strategic changes

    Implementing science of reading curriculum in classrooms requires careful planning, strategic rollout, and the flexibility to make adjustments as needed. The science of reading is an evidence-based approach to teaching reading that focuses on the underlying cognitive processes involved in reading – as such, best practices are subject to change with the latest research and with anecdotal evidence from student performance.

    Start by defining clear, achievable, and measurable objectives. These objectives should be aligned with your school, district, or state’s literacy goals and standards. Instead of implementing the curriculum all at once, consider a phased rollout. Districts can also consider establishing a system for teachers, students, parents, and caregivers to provide feedback on the new curriculum and spotlight necessary adjustments.

    Not all students and classrooms are the same, and what works for one group may not work for another. Implementing a new curriculum takes time, and success may not be immediate. Patience and a commitment to evidence-based practices are key to ensuring that the science of reading best practices have a positive, lasting impact on students’ reading skills and motivation to learn.

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    Kim Wooden, Principal Product Marketing Manager, Discovery Education & Former Deputy Superintendent, Clark County School District

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  • What’s Next for Discovery Ed?

    What’s Next for Discovery Ed?

    Six months into his tenure as Discovery Education’s new CEO, I had the chance to Zoom in with Jeremy Cowdrey as he reflected on the state of education post-pandemic and the persistent need for edtech innovations. It was a refreshingly unscripted conversation—not often the case with senior executives—about the accelerated adoption of technology, the shift in teacher perspectives, and the importance of intentional AI implementation. I also heard about his neighbor’s technology pivot as a teacher and how while AI has great potential, it will never take you out to lunch! Have a listen.

    Cowdrey was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Imagine Learning. Having joined the company in 2006, Mr. Cowdrey also served as Imagine Learning’s President, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and Regional Partnership Director. Prior to joining Imagine Learning, Mr. Cowdrey served in sales and management positions for several software and education companies, including Scott Foresman Addison Wesley, Pearson, and Novell. With over 23 years of experience in edtech, he is also the first person in his immediate family to graduate from college,

    Key Takeaways:

    1. Teacher Shortage and Budget Constraints: Jeremy acknowledges the ongoing teacher shortage and tight budgets in school districts and emphasizes the need for impactful partnerships between educational institutions and edtech companies like Discovery.
    2. Acceleration of Technology Adoption: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of Edtech tools, making devices and remote learning solutions a necessity. Jeremy notes the positive change in teacher attitudes towards technology, citing examples of enhanced teaching capabilities through digital tools.
    3. Importance of Implementation Plans: With a greater focus on ROI, districts are scrutinizing edtech products more critically. Jeremy stresses the importance of solid implementation plans that ensure effective use of products to amplify classroom experiences.
    4. Role of AI in Education: Jeremy sees AI as a beneficial tool in education but emphasizes its inability to replace the personal connection and care provided by teachers. He advocates for intentional and measured AI implementation, considering its potential to meet students where they are in their learning paths.
    5. Future Hopes: Looking ahead, Jeremy hopes for a convergence of educators, technology, and politics, with a shared focus on putting students at the center of the educational experience. He envisions continued innovation in the classroom and anticipates more tools to improve the overall impact of education.
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