The post Elevating Students, Empowering Teachers: How Airport Community Schools Transforms Learning with Mystery Science appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>
Airport Community Schools
Michigan
Picture this: it’s early September, and you’re strolling the halls of Wagar Middle School in Carleton, Michigan. You glance into Mrs. Erin Allen’s fifth-grade classroom and spot…dozens of students spinning like ballerinas, a blur of sneakers and giggles.
This is not a dance class, nor a rehearsal for The Nutcracker. It’s a Mystery Science lesson with an objective of helping students understand that the setting sun isn’t moving; the Earth is spinning. The fifth graders are using their bodies as kinesthetic models of the Earth to understand how the speed of the planet’s spin affects the length of a day.
“Students can’t tangibly touch the sun, moon, or stars—these are all giant concepts that are hard for fifth graders to understand,” said Allen, who begins each year with this particular lesson.
Curriculum Decisions, Powered by Educator Voices
Wagar Middle School is part of Airport Community Schools, the third-largest district in Monroe County, Michigan, and have used Mystery Science since 2019. When it comes to making decisions about curriculum, Airport Community Schools Director of Instructional & Special Education Support, Dawn Spears, believes that educator voices are essential to the process. “We always bring teachers in and get their opinion. We want to give teachers a voice, because that’s so important for reaching students. It’s a collaboration, never one person making all the decisions.”
Teachers regularly utilize the Mystery Packs, which are comprehensive kits that include all the hands-on materials necessary for a full year’s worth of inquiry-driven science lessons.
Hands-On and Hassle-Free
Prior to her current administrative role, Spears was a STEM teacher, so she understands the challenges that often occur in K-5 science education. “So often, I’d want to do something hands-on, but I’d have to go to the store and buy 50 rubber bands. Then the next day, back to the store to buy 50 paper clips. It was impossible,” she said.
Spears also recognizes that often in the elementary grades, core instruction in math and reading can take up a big chunk of the day. Having Mystery Packs, with standards-aligned lessons and organized materials at the ready, allows teachers to use science instructional time effectively. “Mystery Science fits perfectly with time frames, pacing, and hits the essentials that students need, without teachers having to get in the weeds.”
Immersive Learning: Tiny Ocean, Big Ideas
Mrs. Allen uses Mystery Science as the basis of the curriculum for all her fifth-grade science instruction and finds that students are fully immersed in learning from start to finish. One unit her classes find particularly engaging is “Tiny Ocean,” in which students create a model ocean to observe how salt seems to completely vanish when dissolved in water. The unit starts with a lesson video that hooks students from the start.
From there, students measure and graph quantities of the water and salt to provide evidence that, even though we can’t see it, the salt still weighs the same amount. They also create a model salt flat, allowing the water to evaporate and leave the salt behind. “They can see scientific principles in action, which is so cool,” said Allen.
Excitement = Engagement
Both Spears and Allen believe that engagement is key for all student learning—and Mystery Science is an excellent tool for driving success. “If you’re not excited to learn about something, it’s not going to be memorable,” said Allen. With Mystery Science, she finds that students often say, “Wow, is time up already?”
“It interests them and keeps their brain engaged. They’re excited to learn.”
The post Elevating Students, Empowering Teachers: How Airport Community Schools Transforms Learning with Mystery Science appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>The post This Professional Learning Hack Doubled HEB ISD’s Discovery Education Usage appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>
Hurst-Euless-Bedford (HEB) Independent School District
Bedford, TX
Professional Learning That Works: HEB ISD Sees 2X Growth in Discovery Education Usage
The instructional technology team at Hurst-Euless Bedford (HEB) Independent School District is on a mission to promote technology that enhances student success in and beyond the classroom. In a large district, this is no small task. But HEB’s team of six dedicated tech coaches gets creative in their professional learning approach and partners with Discovery Education for support.
PD in Your PJs: A Flexible, Engaging Solution to Professional Learning
HEB ISD has over 1600 teachers across 40 campuses, making time, distance, and physical space a challenge for the instructional technology team to do their job. The team took creative action and launched PD in Your PJs, a virtual professional learning series led by tech coaches Sarra Smith and Jeff Blankenship, designed to set educators up for success.
“We decided to bring the training to the teachers,” says Jeff. “In short bursts of learning, teachers get to hear us present and model technology tools, all from the comfort of home or wherever they might be.”
“The great thing about PD in Your PJs is that it becomes a catalyst for our one-on-one coaching,” explains Sarra. “At the end of the day, we just want teachers to feel confident using these tools so that they can engage their students.”
Bringing Discovery Education into the Equation
When the time came to train teachers on Discovery Education Experience, a PK-12 digital learning platform with high-quality content and engaging resources, tech coach Carly Farris went straight to their Discovery Education partner success manager, Tammy Norman, to host a PD in Your PJs session. Their goal was to introduce teachers to the wealth of tools in the platform beyond the videos that they love to use, and how it can enhance their daily instruction.
Tammy collaborated closely with Carly to determine the district’s needs and ensure the PD in Your PJs session was engaging and meaningful. “The role of a partner success manager at Discovery Education,” explains Tammy, “is all about being a thought partner with the district… walking through their challenges and successes and building effective implementations from that.”
The approachable, flexible format of the Discovery Education training made it easy for teachers to jump in and learn quickly how to use the high-quality instructional materials and time-saving tools like Studio and quizzes, leading to the highest participation of any PD in Your PJs session and more consistent use of Experience. “It truly is a team effort between HEB and Discovery Education coming together to have a really successful event,” says Tammy.
The Discovery Education Impact
Since the launch of PD in Your PJs, Discovery Education usage in the district has more than doubled, which the tech coaches attribute in part to the strong partnership with the Discovery Education team.
Teachers have discovered new ways to engage students with Experience using tools like Immersive Reader and ready-to-teach lessons. “Teachers get really excited when you show them what’s available in Experience and how to apply it in their classroom,” explains tech coach Jennifer Pettit. “They’re able to create unique learning experiences for their students.”
Success Through Collaboration
HEB ISD’s tech coaches and Discovery Education’s partner success team continue to collaborate regularly, building on their success with PD in Your PJs to deliver engaging, meaningful, and effective professional learning.
According to Jeff and the team, “we know that we’ve been successful when we see the actual application of technology within the classroom and it’s done with fidelity.” For Discovery Education, success means working in tandem with district leaders to support teachers, and in turn, promote student growth in and beyond the classroom.
Learn How Discovery Education Can Help You Achieve Your Goals
The post This Professional Learning Hack Doubled HEB ISD’s Discovery Education Usage appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]> The post Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD Partner Success Story appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>The post Discovery Education’s Impact on Student Achievement appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>At-a-Glance
Type:
Research Brief
Time Period:
2016 – 2022
Source:
Discovery Education Research & Analytics
Grade Level:
K-12
Products:
- Discovery Education Experience
- Science Techbook
- Math Techbook
Share This Report
Our award-winning K-12 platform, Discovery Education Experience, empowers educators with a vast collection of multimodal resources vetted and curated to support differentiated, scaffolded learning in any environment. Experience is built upon a theory of action about how best to enhance the K-12 teaching and learning experience. Based on this theory of action, Discovery Education produced a logic model that serves as a conceptual map for Experience.
Findings from multiple studies tell a consistent and promising story of how use of Discovery Education’s curricular resources is related to outcomes that matter across the country for students overall, and especially for racial/ethnic minorities and students impacted by poverty, disabilities, and limited English proficiency. Discovery Education access is, in fact, making a significant difference in teaching and learning.
Download the full research brief to learn more about how Discovery Education makes an impact on student achievement across multiple states and supports educators with innovative ways to connect and collaborate with one another.
The post Discovery Education’s Impact on Student Achievement appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>The post Agora Cyber Charter School Brings Virtual Learning to Life with Mystery Science appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>
Agora Cyber Charter School
Pennsylvania
At Agora Cyber Charter School, where students across Pennsylvania learn in a fully virtual environment, sparking curiosity and keeping learners engaged can be challenging, especially with evolving academic standards. But fifth-grade science teacher Krista Kowalok has found a powerful solution in Mystery Science, an engaging, hands-on program that brings science to life through real-world exploration and interactive problem-solving.
New Standards Bring New Challenges
When Pennsylvania introduced its new STEELS science standards, Agora Cyber needed a digital program that not only aligned with the new standards but also supported its virtual learning environment. Agora selected Mystery Science after careful evaluation—a choice that Krista Kowalok welcomed. With 13 years of teaching behind her and a passion for education, she knew Mystery Science would meet her needs, even with the challenge of implementing new standards.
“Not knowing all the new standards or how they should be taught can feel overwhelming,” Krista admits, “but Mystery Science simplifies everything. It makes it easy for teachers like me to use performance tasks and anchor phenomena that support the new PA science standards.”
How Mystery Science Sparks Daily Engagement
Mystery Science is now at the heart of Krista’s fifth-grade science curriculum. Through its integration with ClassLink, Agora’s learning management system, teachers can access and assign content effortlessly.
Krista begins each science lesson with a warm-up question to spark curiosity and discussion. She then uses Mystery Science’s step-by-step videos to expand vocabulary, reinforce concepts, and inspire thought-provoking, student-led conversations.
The program also incorporates Performance Tasks that use a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) framework to encourage critical thinking and strengthen writing skills. “When I use the graphic organizers in the Performance Tasks, my students write paragraphs with incredible depth,” Krista shares. “Their enthusiasm for science makes all the difference!”
Krista complements Mystery Science with virtual lab demonstrations using Explore Learning Gizmos. This combination of guided instruction and active exploration provides students with a balanced, engaging learning experience.
Shifting from Teacher-Driven to Student-Led Learning
After just a year with Mystery Science, Krista has seen a significant shift from teacher-driven to student-led learning. The program naturally fosters small-group discussions where students eagerly explore new concepts and debate real-world scenarios.
The Future of Virtual Learning is Bright
The success of Mystery Science in Krista’s fifth-grade class has inspired Agora to expand its use into grades k-4, creating a cohesive learning experience for all elementary students at the school. Krista is especially excited about the long-term impact on students’ critical thinking and communication skills. “Science is all about asking questions and searching for answers,” she says. “With Mystery Science, our students are mastering this process and gaining skills that will serve them for a lifetime.”
Krista Kowalok’s experience demonstrates how Mystery Science can significantly enhance virtual learning, all while supporting teachers with intuitive lessons and strong alignment to standards. By focusing on critical skills, collaboration, and high expectations, Agora Cyber Charter School is preparing its students to excel in an increasingly complex—and digital—world.
Krista Kowalok MA. Ed
Agora Cyber Charter School, PA
Krista Kowalok is a 5th grade math and science teacher at Agora Cyber Charter School, where she has taught for 13 years. Krista also has six years of teaching experience in a traditional classroom setting. She really enjoys using her science background and love of learning with her students in the hopes of inspiring them to become lifelong learners!
Learn How Discovery Education Can Help You Achieve Your Goals
The post Agora Cyber Charter School Brings Virtual Learning to Life with Mystery Science appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>The post Improving Literacy Through Science appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>An Argument for a Balanced Approach for All Students, Including English Learners
Thinking, reading, and writing are authentic and natural parts of doing science. Now more than ever, it has become vital that science educators instill literacy skills grounded in real-world phenomena and applications, empowering students who are ready for the future, and ready to transform it.
The post Improving Literacy Through Science appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>The post A Day in the Life of a Discovery Education Educator appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>Nurturing Curiosity for All Students
Follow a teacher through their school day and see how they use Discovery Education to meet students’ needs—sparking engagement, building skills, and nurturing curiosity at every turn.
You’ll explore:
-
Student needs in action — from differentiated learning to real-world connections.
-
Moments of impact — how lessons transform when curiosity leads the way.
-
Discovery Education in practice — programs and resources that fit naturally into the school day.
-
Ideas you can use — practical ways to inspire every learner, every day.
The post A Day in the Life of a Discovery Education Educator appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>
The post Prince George’s County Public Schools: Discovery Education Science TechBook Video appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>The post Science Techbook Logic Model: ESSA Evidence Level IV appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>At-a-Glance
Type:
Logic Model
Grade Level:
K-12
Source:
LearnPlatform by Instructure
Product:
Science Techbook
Share This Report
Discovery Education engaged LearnPlatform by Instructure, a third-party edtech research company, to develop a logic model for Science Techbook. LearnPlatform by instructure designed the logic model to satisfy Level IV requirements (Demonstrates a Rationale) according to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
To continue building evidence of effectiveness and to examine the proposed relationships in the logic model, Discovery Education plans to conduct an evaluation to determine the extent to which Science Techbook produces the desired outcomes. Specifically, Discovery Education has plans to begin an ESSA Level II study.
Because of the development of the logic model and the plan for an ESSA Level II study, Science Techbook meets Tier IV evidence requirements in compliance with ESSA.
Source
LearnPlatform by Instructure, Researcher Andrew Scanlan, M.A., Associate Director of Research Molly Henschel, Ph.D., and Research Contractor Elizabeth Allen, Ph.D. “Science Techbook Logic Model.” Discovery Education, August 4, 2023.
The post Science Techbook Logic Model: ESSA Evidence Level IV appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>The post Mystery Science Logic Model: ESSA Evidence Level IV appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>At-a-Glance
Type:
Logic Model
Source:
LearnPlatform by Instructure
Grade Level:
K-5
Product:
Mystery Science
Share This Report
Discovery Education engaged LearnPlatform by Instructure, a third-party edtech research company, to develop a logic model for Mystery Science. LearnPlatform by Instructure designed the logic model to satisfy Level IV requirements (Demonstrates a Rationale) according to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
To continue building evidence of effectiveness and to examine the proposed relationships in the logic model, Discovery Education plans to conduct an evaluation to determine the extent that Mystery Science produces the desired outcomes. Specifically, Discovery Education has plans to begin an ESSA Level III study.
Because of the development of the logic model and the plan for an ESSA Level III study, Mystery Science meets Tier IV evidence requirements in compliance with ESSA.
Source
LearnPlatform by Instructure, Researcher Andrew Scanlan, M.A., Researcher Justin Long, M.A., and Associate Director of Research Molly Henschel, Ph.D. “Mystery Science Logic Model.” Discovery Education, March 7, 2024.
The post Mystery Science Logic Model: ESSA Evidence Level IV appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>