Creating Dynamic, Digital, Social Studies Classrooms for All High School Students is the Focus of Missouri’s Springfield Public Schools Expanded Partnership with Discovery Education Stephen Wakefield, Discovery EducationStephen_Wakefield@discovery.com, 240-662-5563 – Award-Winning Digital Social Studies Textbooks to Empower High School Educators to Create Modern Learning Environments- Silver Spring, Md. (March 29, 2017) – Missouri’s Springfield Public Schools (SPS) announced today an expansion of their seven-year partnership with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms. In this new phase of collaboration, high school American History, World History, and Law/Government educators districtwide will be empowered to create dynamic digital learning environments with Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbook™. An innovative digital textbook, the Social Studies Techbook helps students across the country develop an in-depth understanding of government, civic life, economics, as well as U.S. and world history. SPS’s expanded partnership with Discovery Education supports the key goals outlined in the school system’s Strategic Plan: 2015 – 2020. Specifically, through the digital social studies classrooms created by this deepened relationship, SPS is creating environments in which irresistible learning experiences that directly connect to student interests can proliferate. In addition, the digital core instructional resources provided by Discovery Education will boost SPS social studies educators’ efforts to construct learning experiences that challenge all students to exhibit the ability to solve real-world problems for authentic audiences and connect learning to their own life or to the world around them. “The Springfield Public Schools are excited to integrate Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbooks into classroom instruction,” said SPS Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Dr. Allison Pilley. “By creating learning environments that mirror our students’ use of technology outside the classroom, we are making social studies lessons more engaging and relevant to our students.” Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbook series uses an inquiry-based instructional approach that emphasizes informational text literacy, analytical writing, and problem-solving skills that students will apply in the classroom and beyond. Each subject area includes primary source documents and activities, digital investigations, multimedia reference library, interactive maps and informational texts. The Social Studies Techbook is organized around complex Essential Questions that students use to guide their inquiry, analyze issues, and propose solutions to better understand their world. Aligned with the National Council for the Social Studies’ C3 Framework, the Social Studies Techbook helps students develop key literacy and writing skills and provides a multitude of resources to young people for college, careers, and civic life. Currently, Discovery Education Techbooks are used by more than 3 million students in all 50 U.S. states and several Canadian provinces. Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas, will continue being used by SPS educators district-wide. To ensure each SPS teacher is fully supported throughout the transition to digital teaching and learning, district educators will have the opportunity to participate in robust professional development opportunities that will help them maximize their new digital content to improve students’ academic achievement. In addition, the Discovery Education Community will continue supporting SPS educators in their efforts to transform students’ learning experience with digital media. A global community of education professionals that connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration. “Discovery Education is honored to support Springfield Public Schools’ strategic plan,” said Discovery Education Partnerships Manager Kevin Quinlan. “We look forward in accompanying the district’s talented educators and administrators on their continuing journey to create digital classrooms that bring social studies lessons to life.” For more information about the Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook series or other services and resources from Discovery Education, visit www.discoveryeducation.com. ###About Discovery EducationDiscovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.