Minnesota’s Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Public Schools (GFW) has recently announced a new partnership with Discovery Education, the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place, to support the creation of engaging science lessons in K-12 classrooms districtwide. In this new multi-year collaboration, educators in every GFW school will integrate Discovery Education’s suite of innovative digital resources into instruction to create dynamic learning experiences that will awaken students’ natural curiosity about science and the natural world.
Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale.
Nestled in the prairie of south-central Minnesota and serving students from the communities of Gibbon, Fairfax, Winthrop, and surrounding townships, GFW uses advanced technology applications to access educational resources worldwide. Parents cite small class sizes, school-aged childcare, early childhood programs, and co-curricular programs as the desirable features of the school district. With a mission to grow future world-class leaders, GFW aims to provide all learners with an equitable and quality education that meets students’ individual needs with future-forward instruction.
As part of its continuous effort to prepare students for success beyond graduation, GFW sought digital resources that would drive deeper engagement in science. These resources needed to be simple, accessible for all teachers and students, easily integrated into the district’s robust science program, and aligned to Minnesota state and NGSS standards.
After carefully reviewing potential solutions, GFW selected Discovery Education to provide their district with the dynamic digital resources needed. Among the resources coming to GFW schools are:
Discovery Education’s 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 an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction in any environment. These resources, sourced from trusted partners, are aligned with state and national standards and help educators bring the outside world into everyday teaching and learning. Through expanded, lasting partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Brightspace, and Clever, integrating Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform into existing IT architecture is easier than ever.
Pivot Interactives: Pivot, which joined the Discovery Education family of services in 2022, makes teaching science with active learning and scientific phenomena engaging and accessible. Launched in 2012 by two visionary educators, the platform provides users with over 10,000 authentic, interactive video-based science interactives crafted by Pivot’s expert curriculum team and teacher community. These resources, tied to state and national standards, are infused with research-based teaching practices and are simple to integrate throughout the instructional cycle.
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 for elementary students drives engagement with exclusive, interactive digital content and companion printed resources. The virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) 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, 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.
Commenting on the collaboration, the Superintendent of GFW Public School, Dr Jeff Horton, said:
At GFW, we work to ensure all students can reach their full potential and become successful, responsible citizens in a diverse society with innovative technology and strong teacher support. This new partnership with Discovery Education supports all educators as they engage students in our science curriculum.
In addition to digital resources, all GFW educators using Discovery Education services will receive dedicated professional development from Discovery Education’s team of experienced learning experts. These learning opportunities for teachers help school systems recognize the total return on their EdTech investment. Participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction through these interactive professional development sessions. Effective professional development maximizes the power of these resources, increases student engagement in learning, and supports the continued academic growth of all students.
All GFW educators now also enjoy access to the Discovery Educator Network. A global network of education professionals, the Discovery Educator Network connects members across school systems and worldwide through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea-sharing and inspiration.
Katelin Greer, National Partnerships Coordinator of Katelin Greer, commented:
We at Discovery Education are thrilled to partner with GFW Public Schools to provide an equitable and quality education to all students. The district’s thoughtful use of available funding is already being emulated across the region, and we look forward to supporting this important initiative as it unfolds.
Discovery Education works with professional, networking, and advocacy groups to attract diverse and skilled candidates. The platform offers popular employee events sponsored by its DE&I council. It 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.
