- Discovery Education´s Digital Resources and STEM-focused Professional Development System to Create Authentic Learning Experiences for Middle School Students -
Silver Spring, Md. (July 5, 2018) – New Mexico’s Hobbs Municipal School District (HMS) today announced that it has expanded its relationship with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, by selecting the organization to support the acceleration of STEM education in the district’s Heizer Middle School. Through Discovery Education’s unique, combination of award-winning digital resources and STEM-focused professional development, educators in the Heizer Middle School will soon be creating dynamic learning experiences that bring STEM education to life for the district’s middle school students.
Devoted to providing a world class education to the children of the community it serves, the Hobbs Municipal School District was recently recognized as one of three most improved academic districts in the state of New Mexico by Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera. Seeking to continue the district’s upward trajectory and accelerate student engagement in the critical field of STEM education, Heizer Middle School teachers will soon be empowered to create digital STEM learning environments using Discovery Education’s Streaming Plus and STEM Connect digital services.
Discovery Education Streaming Plus is a comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas that helps build students’ mastery in interpreting, understanding, and evaluating information. Students can access a variety of digital assets such as images, primary source documents, podcasts, articles, and videos, then are empowered to become content creators with a suite of content creation tools that help teachers and students safely and easily collaborate in real-time on virtual projects. Teacher resources include lesson plans, instructional strategies, and content collections organized around themes, as well as a collection of STEM resources designed to fuel a cultural shift in teaching and learning.
Discovery Education’s STEM Connect enhances core curriculum and brings STEM to life in classrooms. A cutting-edge, web-based, interdisciplinary K-8 supplemental resource built on a 4Cs STEM skills framework, STEM Connect helps students develop the creative, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills they need for success beyond graduation. 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.
These new resources will be used alongside the Math and Science digital textbooks, or Techbooks, from Discovery Education which were recently purchased by the school system.
“Engaging middle school students in STEM education is critical, as a good STEM education helps grow the communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative skills that are important to each student’s future success,” said T.J. Parks, Hobbs Municipal Schools Superintendent. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with Discovery Education on our joint mission to support the success of all learners.”
To facilitate the integration of dynamic digital resources into classroom instruction, educators from Heizer Middle School will also participate in a professional development initiative from Discovery Education called STEMFormation. A three-year system for professional learning designed to build and sustain a culture of STEM teaching and learning, STEMFormation helps create a shared STEM vision, develops educators and administrators, cultivates inquiry-based, transdisciplinary instruction, and prepares our future workforce.
Educators at Heizer Middle School will also be supported by the Discovery Education Community as they transform students’ learning experiences with dynamic digital media. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Community connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing and inspiration.
“The team at Discovery Education is inspired by the work of the talented educators at the Hobbs Municipal School District’s Heizer Middle School, and look forward to kicking-off the latest phase of this partnership soon,” said Phillip Mikula, Director of Educational Partnerships at Discovery Education. “Together, we will build exciting digital learning experiences that will accelerate student engagement in STEM education and serve as an example for other districts in the region looking to build vibrate communities of STEM teaching and learning. ”
For more information about Discovery Education’s Techbooks and other 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
As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery Inc., 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. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.
