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]]>What’s driving conversation today in education? From the local school board meetings to the parent-teacher conferences, we know educators get a lot of feedback. Regardless of what is trending, listening to learning communities is a core focus at Discovery Education, as we know it is for education leaders. Our new report based on surveys from over 1,500 superintendents, teachers, parents, and students underscores our core focus, and we can’t wait to share the results with you.
The Education Insights Report by Discovery Education, created in partnership with The Harris Poll, pinpoints three game-changing opportunities to shaping the future of education:
- Prioritize student motivation and engagement by focusing on what makes them curious
- Integrate life and workforce readiness into the everyday classroom
- Embrace innovative supports to meet the needs of today’s teachers and students
It also serves as a roadmap for transforming education as we know it. Here are my key takeaways from this revealing report, and why, at Discovery Education, we are more confident than ever about the future of education.
Curious Minds, Engaged Students
Curiosity is the engine of learning. By focusing on keeping students curious, we keep them engaged in active learning. Even though most educators agree on the importance of curiosity, many feel that it’s difficult to prioritize alongside other pressures. At Discovery Education, we believe that by nurturing students’ interests through tools including student-led learning, exciting multimedia content, and hands-on activities, teachers can simultaneously instruct and inspire students to think critically, make meaningful connections, and achieve ambitious learning goals.
Prepping for Life, Not Just Exams
The classroom experience needs to go beyond textbooks to prepare students for what comes after school—to show the connection between what we’re teaching and why it matters. Yet less than two-thirds of students feel their schools are preparing them for future workforces. While we’ve long delivered solutions for building students’ interpersonal skills, we recently launched Career Connect, a new tool to bring professional voices into the classroom and ensure students are ready for whatever path they choose to take after graduation.
A Call for Individualized Learning Support
of teachers see a wider variation of knowledge and skills among students compared to five years ago.
Our research found that two-thirds of teachers (66%) observe a wider variation of knowledge and skills among their students compared to five years ago. They’re hungry for support that will help them tailor instruction and build their own confidence as educators. We believe teachers need tools that can help them reach each student individually, without putting more work on their plates. We hear every day from our partners that our DreamBox solutions for math and reading increase learning, motivation, and confidence through AI-powered adaptive learning paths unique to each student.
Keep the Conversation Going
As a former superintendent and principal, I believe that all progress begins with knowledge and understanding. We hope the sentiments uncovered by our Education Insights report will lead to productive dialogue and collaboration across K-12 communities at every level. I’m energized by the passion, dedication, and motivation expressed by every group we surveyed. It’s that commitment to learning growth and achievement that leaves me deeply confident about the opportunity for today’s education leaders to solve the challenges ahead. The Discovery Education team will be there every step of the way.
Let’s keep the conversation going. Watch Our Virtual Town Hall On-Demand to dive into this report with other education leaders. We’ll meet for an interactive session to share reflections, ideas, and leave feeling inspired.
Dr. Todd Wirt
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]]>The Discovery Education team recently attended the Council of the Great City Schools’ 68th Annual Fall Conference in Dallas, Texas. Hosted by Dallas ISD, the event joined educators from large urban schools under the inspiring theme "Leading Innovation & Transformation, We Do Urban Education." The conference featured a series of compelling sessions where education professionals shared concrete ideas and strategies to solve their biggest challenges together. We listened carefully to what district leaders had to say, and were excited at how closely their priorities align to key findings in our new Education Insights Report. Read on to learn more.
High-Quality Instructional Materials: Content Matters Because "Skills are Boring"
A popular session was “Big Things Happen Here: Using High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) to Drive Achievement in Urban Schools.” Among the highlights were Charissa Govan and NaTonya Huff from Dallas ISD reaffirming that “content matters because skills are boring.” This simple, yet profound statement captures the heart of effective teaching—specifically that engaging, meaningful content is the right vessel to deliver skills mastery and standards mastery.
Embedding foundational skills into engaging content makes them more accessible, relevant, and exciting to learn. But don’t forget to lead with the standard(s) being taught so that the critical connection can be made as students are engaged with their learning.
Making the Connection
A key finding from The Education Insights Report shows ~90% of students are motivated to learn new things, while nearly half of teachers (46%) report student engagement has declined compared to 2019. This means the desire to learn is there, yet it’s not being realized. Researchers believe that by focusing on what makes their students curious, teachers will see greater student motivation and engagement. The report offers several ways to accomplish this.
Open All Lines of Communication to Align Goals
The Discovery team also attended the session, “How the Harvard Accelerating Board Capacity Summer Institute is Strengthening Urban School Board Members.” Presented by individuals from districts like Cleveland and Boston along with Harvard, this insightful conversation focused on how school board decisions do not always align to a district’s goals. This can lead to purchasing programs that don’t move the needle for student achievement. If school boards take an academically centered ROI approach to programs, with invaluable input of their educators, they can move the needle in the right direction.
Making the Connection
Another key insight from the report found that only 25% of teachers say the district provides support to make teaching engaging. Yet, 86% of superintendents say they do provide those necessary supports. This disconnect aligns with that between the district and the school board. Collaboration is key to solving these challenges, as leaders and educators agree, so let’s open the lines of communication with all stakeholders.
Focus on Targeted Professional Development
Equally enlightening was the “Jolly Ranchers: Developing Urban School Leaders Through Principal Pipelines” session. Presented by Jefferson County Public Schools and Philadelphia Schools, the discussion focused on leadership pathways and the critical importance of supporting stable and qualified teachers and principals.
Making the Connection
According to the report, teachers’ top four PD interests focus on student engagement, meeting individual student needs, new trends in education, and stress reduction. These also align with teachers’ top reported challenges. By focusing on these areas, school and district leads can ensure they are supporting a stable, qualified, and happy workforce.
Overall, the conference provided the Discovery Education team with rich insights to bolster urban education initiatives. Participation in thought-provoking sessions and exchanges with fellow educators reinforced our commitment to fostering transformative educational experiences. We left Dallas energized and equipped to continue driving excellence in urban education.
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]]>The 2024 ASU+GSV Summit was filled with exciting conversations and reflections about innovation in education and workforce development. The Discovery Education team enjoyed hearing the latest buzz at ASU+GSV—read on to learn more about our top three takeaways from the 2024 Summit!
1. The journey from K-12 to career is more important than ever.
During the ASU+GSV Summit, attendees learned ways that education leaders and innovators are reimagining career education like never before. To create a prepared workforce, career exploration must be emphasized during the K-12 journey. One session highlighted the importance of encouraging dreams and providing students space to dream about what their career could hold. Preparing to enter the workforce starts with exploration and interest in a career, then leads to actual skill-building and entrance to workforce readiness programs.
One notable session about bringing workforce readiness to K-12 schools emphasized the role middle schools can play in career exploration. Early and frequent introduction to various careers can allow students to select and prepare for a career quickly. With an increased emergence of Career & Technical Education programs at the high school level, middle schools have a unique opportunity to help students learn about careers so they can join preparation programs in high school and be ready for entrance to the workforce earlier than ever before.
2. New technology is paving the path of education’s future.
Education has always been a growing and changing landscape, but this year’s ASU+GSV Summit showed that the future of education is filled with new technology. Education leaders are searching for the right software and tools to support their teachers and students, and many sessions highlighted just how much new technology is available for schools to consider.
Game-based assessment was called out as an exciting innovation reaching classrooms. Game-based learning and assessment immerses students in an authentic game environment where the learning is an integral part of their enjoyment in the game. Discovery Education Senior Curriculum Designer David Wees participated in a panel discussion about how technology helps vary concepts and create “levels” for students to pass through in game-based assessments.
AI was an extremely popular topic at the 2024 Summit. Many speakers expressed a positive outlook about its emergence and encouraged educators to acknowledge its existence and embrace it in ways that fit schools’ needs! Experts at ASU+GSV suggest that educators should introduce students to responsible AI usage during their time in the classroom. Some other important points made about AI were:
- Consider how AI use will pair with other existing technology in your district
- Support teachers on usage of AI and help them feel confident when discussing it with students
- Adapt lessons to account for use of AI
- Show students how to use AI appropriately
3. Higher education is scaling and changing, too.
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