DISCOVERY EDUCATION HOSTS ESTEEMED EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE IN CHICAGO FOR UNIQUE SUMMER LEARNING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Elizabeth Hillman(240) 662-2664, Elizabeth_Hillman@discovery.com Stephen Wakefield(240) 662-5563, Stephen_Wakefield@discovery.com -Unique Professional Development Events Support Educators in Delivering Effective STEM Instruction and Creating Authentic Digital Learning Environments- SILVER SPRING, Md. (July 25, 2016) – Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, recently hosted 240 educators from around the world at Loyola University in Chicago, IL for its 11th annual Discovery Educator Network (DEN) Summer Institute, as well as the first-ever Discovery Education Summer STEMmersion. On July 14-17, 41 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educators from across the world convened for the inaugural Discovery Education Summer STEMmersion professional development event. This immersive experience, which was focused on the grand engineering challenge of urban infrastructure, provided participating educators with a variety of new strategies they can use to deliver effective STEM instruction in their school system. Topics covered included using virtual reality in the classroom, writing effective grants for STEM, integrating engineering concepts into instruction, and more. Participants hailed from 14 different school districts and individual schools that are currently collaborating with Discovery Education to build a culture of STEM teaching and learning system-wide that helps students become innovative problem-solvers. Following STEMmersion, on July 17-22, Discovery Education’s Discovery Educator Network convened 150 educators from the U.S., Canada, the UK, Sweden, Egypt, Mexico and Antigua & Barbuda for the 2016 Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute (DENSI). An immersive, week-long professional development experience, DENSI is designed to support educators as they combine the latest technologies and digital content to create authentic digital learning environments that engage students and improve achievement. Throughout DENSI, participants had the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and share resources, ideas and strategies for integrating the latest technologies and digital content into classroom instruction. In addition, DENSI attendees engaged in a series of interactive workshops led by the Discovery Education professional development team and other DEN members that focused on creating digital content and integrating mobile and web-based tools into instruction. Participants collaborated with fellow educators on a variety of educational technology projects, and shared ideas and best practices with their peers. Participation in the DEN Summer Institute is open to educators recognized by Discovery Education as STAR Discovery Educators – active members of the DEN and proven leaders in transforming teaching and learning. “I am honored to have been selected to participate in DENSI 2016. This experience has allowed me to learn from and connect with other enthusiastic educators from around the world who share a passion for using innovative methods to enhance student learning,” said Dave Tchozewski, Director of Information Technology at Jenison Public Schools in Michigan. “I am excited to share these new, creative strategies and techniques for advancing student achievement with my colleagues, and to help our educators integrate them into classroom instruction for the 2016-2017 school year.” After participating in the DEN Summer Institute and STEMmersion, educators will return to their schools equipped to transform teaching and learning with new strategies and techniques for integrating digital resources and STEM into curriculum and instruction. “The exceptional group of educators selected to participate in the 2016 DENSI and STEMmersion have demonstrated their leadership and commitment to improving students’ learning experiences through innovative technologies and effective STEM instructional strategies,” said Lance Rougeux, vice president of learning communities and innovation for Discovery Education. “The resources and strategies they have learned during these experiences will increase their students’ engagement and achievement, and better prepare all learners with the critical skills they need to succeed beyond the classroom.” For more information about Discovery Education’s STEMmersion, the DEN Summer Institiute or other Discovery Education initiatives, visit www.discoveryeducation.com. About Discovery EducationDiscovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 3 million educators and over 30 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools 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.