Michigan’s Saline Area Schools’ New Partnership With Discovery Education Focuses on Helping District Students Develop “4C” Skills
Silver Spring, MD (October 3, 2019) — Michigan’s Saline Area Schools (SAS) today announced a new multiyear partnership with Discovery Education focused on helping district students build proficiency in the “4C” (Communication, Creativity and Innovation, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving) skills needed for post-graduate success. Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms.
The acquisition of the essential “4C” skills today’s students need to become productive citizens in an increasingly global society is a top priority at SAS, and is a key goal of the district’s Strategic Framework. To attain their goal of developing life-long learners capable of shaping their preferred future, SAS is redesigning learning spaces to drive deeper, and more authentic and engaging learning. Alongside this effort, the district is thoughtfully infusing technology into those learning spaces in a fashion that empowers students to access mixed and multi-media digital content anytime, anywhere, on any device and at any pace.
Following a rigorous review, SAS selected a number of Discovery Education’s digital resources for use by district teachers and students in grades 6-8. Among the digital resources now available in SAS classrooms are:
Discovery Education Experience. Discovery Education Experience supports instruction across all K-12 curricular areas. Through curated, personalized, one-of-a-kind digital curriculum resources delivered to the educator based on their preferences, Discovery Education Experience helps busy teachers save time and more easily differentiate instruction. The experiential and highly relevant content within Discovery Education Experience helps students relate to and better understand subject matter, driving deeper engagement and learning. In addition, the service’s up-to-date, high-quality, and ever-growing digital content collections, as well as a library of immersive virtual field trips, are drawn from trusted partners.
Discovery Education Experience’s engaging content is complemented by a rich library of creative, research-based instructional strategies for integrating digital media in meaningful, effective, and practical ways. Aligned to McREL International’s 6-Phase Model of Learning, these strategies foster skill development, complement different types of content, and are conveniently paired with content at the point of use. The new Discovery Education Experience also offers embedded content creation and real-time collaboration features through the Studio suite of tools.
STEM Connect. STEM Connect is a cutting-edge, web-based, interdisciplinary K-8 supplemental resource. STEM Connect helps students develop the creative, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills they need for success beyond graduation, and was recently awarded the prestigious CODiE award by the Software and Information Industry Association. Featuring flexible, modular learning units, STEM Connect provides students an easy-to-follow educational experience that includes real-world challenges, career connections, and hands-on activities.
Discovery Education Science Techbooks. A full digital curriculum, the Science Techbook utilizes an inquiry-based format built on the Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate (5E) model, each Science Techbook includes rich, standards-aligned content such as video, audio, text, interactives with hands-on activities, and virtual labs that help educators differentiate instruction and provide a rich and engaging learning experience for students. Additional student features include bilingual text-to-speech and leveled reading tools and note-taking and highlighting capabilities.
Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook. The Social Science Techbook 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. This revolutionary digital curriculum is standards-aligned and features exciting content that strengthens literacy, critical thinking, and citizenship skills. From stories of ancient cultures to current events, this comprehensive digital textbook takes concepts off the pages and brings lessons to life.
“The entire team at the Saline Area Schools is dedicated to helping each student develop individual excellence on the pathway toward achieving personal goals,” said Saline Area Schools’ Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Steve Laatsch. “Our new partnership with Discovery Education plays a critical role in bringing the technology in our classrooms alive with high-quality curated content, and I look forward to seeing our educators create exciting digital lessons that engage all students.”
In addition to receiving dynamic digital content from Discovery Education, SAS educators will be assisted in growing their classroom practice by the Discovery Education Community. A global community of education professionals supported by Discovery Education, the Discovery Education Community connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration.
“Discovery Education is excited to work with the tremendous team at the Saline Area Schools,” said Alissa McLean, Discovery Education Partnerships Manager. “The district’s ambitious plans to prepare students for college, career, and citizenship position them as a nationwide leader, and Discovery Education is proud to be a part of their efforts.”
For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Facebook, follow us on Twitter at @DiscoveryEd, or find us on Instagram and Pinterest.
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About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources, and the largest professional learning network of its kind, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning, creating immersive STEM experiences, and improving academic achievement around the globe. Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the U.K. and reach over 5 million educators and 51 million students in more than 90 countries. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to empower teachers with customized solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.DiscoveryEducation.com.
Contact:
Discovery Education
Stephen Wakefield
Email: SWakefield@discoveryed.com
Phone: (240) 463-2894