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]]>Data-driven instruction has become a key element in today’s teaching strategies, empowering educators to make informed decisions that enhance student learning outcomes. But what does it really mean to use data to drive instruction? And how can educators ensure they’re using it to its fullest potential? It starts with understanding the true value of learning data. Then, knowing how to apply that value in the right places, at the right time.
By examining various types of educational data and understanding its value, teachers and school leaders can better understand student needs, tailor their instruction to meet those unique needs, and make adjustments that foster growth for every student.
Key Types of Data in the Classroom to Drive Instruction
Grasping the value of data starts with understanding the different types available and their unique value. Below, we’ll look at the key types of educational data educators should be leveraging:
Formative assessments like quizzes, class activities, and exit tickets, happen during learning to monitor student progress and inform ongoing instruction. By regularly analyzing their results, teachers can identify which concepts students are mastering and where they might need additional support. This real-time insight is invaluable in that it allows for just-in-time adjustments to lesson plans and slows, or even stops, knowledge gaps from widening. Having an instructional tool with embedded formative assessments can be even more invaluable, like DreamBox Math, DreamBox Reading, and Reading Plus because they track critical learning data to inform instruction.
Summative assessments
Summative assessments, such as end-of-unit tests or state exams, provide a broader view of student achievement over time. This data helps educators evaluate overall instructional effectiveness at both the classroom and district levels, identifying long-term trends that may call for curriculum adjustments, targeted interventions, and specialized professional learning.
Integrating both formative and summative assessments into everyday instruction can help ensure the data is not only real-time but also provides an actionable insight at the most impactful moment for each student. Here are a few tips to build assessments, specifically for math, into everyday instruction.
Student behavior is closely tied to academic performance, and tracking behavioral data—such as attendance, participation, and engagement—offers critical insight into what may be affecting a student’s success in the classroom. This data helps educators understand the root causes of challenges, whether they are behavioral or academic.
Student Growth Data
Student growth data tracks individual progress over time, focusing not just on where students currently stand but on how far they’ve come in their learning journey. Unlike one-off assessments, growth data reflects the incremental progress students make throughout the year, highlighting both achievements and areas of opportunity.
4 Ways K-12 Leaders Can Leverage Data for Smarter Decisions
Educators have access to more data than any time in history, but is it leading to data-informed decisions? Check out four key strategies to leveraging data that help educators make smart decisions that impact teachers, students, and their educational communities.
Data-Driven Decision-Making in Practice
While data-driven instruction is incredibly impactful, its application varies across different educational settings. From classroom teachers adjusting lessons to school leaders shaping curriculum changes, it’s important that educators understand the value that each data type brings so they can effectively recognize patterns, identify problems, and implement the right solutions.
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In the Classroom
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At the School
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Across the District
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At the classroom level, data-driven instruction enables teachers to respond quickly to their students’ needs. A teacher might analyze formative assessment data after a quiz and notice that most students struggle with a specific concept. This data helps teachers quickly identify when to reteach or reinforce the concept using different strategies to ensure student mastery before moving forward. |
On a school-wide level, data can help identify broader trends and inform instructional strategies across grade levels or subjects. For example, a principal might review behavioral and academic data to pinpoint patterns of chronic absenteeism in a grade. By identifying this trend early, school leaders can implement targeted interventions—such as monitoring programs or parental engagement workshops—to support students at risk of falling behind. |
At the district level, administrators rely on data to make informed decisions about resource allocation and curriculum planning. Imagine a district where summative data shows declining math scores across schools. District leaders could use this data to evaluate potential causes of the problem and design a solution to address it. For example, the district could consider new math curriculum or invest in additional resources, like an intervention program. |
Benefits of Data-Driven Instruction
When educators understand the available data and, importantly, how each data set interacts with and informs other data, data-driven instruction can yield significant benefits, including:
Personalized Learning
Data-driven instruction allows teachers to tailor lessons and assignments to meet each student’s unique needs. The Intelligent Adaptive Learning in DreamBox Math is just one example of how teachers can ensure that every student receives the targeted support or enrichment they need because they have data that can identify exactly where students are in their math journey.
Early Identification of Struggling Students
Data can act as an early warning system, helping educators spot subtle yet critical shifts in student learning patterns. By regularly analyzing student data, educators can identify those who may be struggling before it’s too late. Whether it’s through behavioral data or early assessment scores, teachers can step in and provide interventions to prevent students from falling further behind.
Targeted Group Instruction
Data empowers educators to confidently make decisions grounded in evidence. Rather than having to “teach to the middle” or rely on anecdotal evidence, teachers and administrators can deliver targeted instruction and support to the right students, at the right time. For example, if a teacher sees from assessment data that only a small group of students is struggling with a particular concept, they can offer targeted small-group instruction while the rest of the class moves forward.
Efficient Resource Allocation
For administrators, data-driven decision-making allows for the strategic allocation of resources. This means investing in programs, tools, or support staff where they are most needed. For example, if a district identifies one school with a high number of students falling behind in math, resources like math specialists or tutoring programs can be provided to that school to offer targeted support.
Improved Collaboration
When educators across a district have access to the same data, collaboration naturally improves between classrooms and schools. Teachers can share strategies based on data insights, principals can align school-wide goals, and district leaders can make decisions that benefit all schools in the system.
Data in the Classroom is Essential to Successful Learning
Using data to drive instruction isn’t just a trend—it’s an essential strategy for empowering educators and students alike. By harnessing the power of data through understanding their innate value, schools can create more personalized learning experiences, improve student outcomes, and make informed decisions that benefit the entire school community.
Discovery Education and Otus have joined forces to deliver a powerful combination of proven teaching & learning solutions and state-of-the-art data analytics. With clear, actionable insights at both the classroom and district levels, it’s easier than ever to make strategic, data-driven decisions that improve student outcomes.
Kendell Hunter
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]]>The post Spring 2025 Virtual Field Trip Lineup appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>This Spring, supercharge students’ curiosity and wonder with an incredible lineup of Virtual Field Trips! We’ll be exploring super storytelling with DC and Warner Bros. Studios, experimenting with magnets with Sesame Workshop and the U.S. National Science Foundation, and getting pumped up about health with the NBA.
Check out the line up below and be sure to save the date so your students don’t miss out on these incredible interactive learning experiences!
Check Out the Spring 2025 Premiere Schedule
From supercharged storytelling to hanging with NBA greats, we’ve got something for everyone. Sign up today to gain access! Every Virtual Field Trip can be watched on-demand at any time, starting on the premiere dates.
The Superpower of Story: A Virtual Field Trip to Warner Bros. Studios
Premieres Friday, April 18
Grades 6-12
Transport students on this exclusive Virtual Field Trip to DC headquarters at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA! They’ll step into the world of DC Super Heroes, uncovering the secrets of how stories evolve from bold ideas to iconic comics to jaw-dropping blockbuster films. Sign up today to unlock access starting on April 18!
Meet the Magnets: A Virtual Field Trip to the U.S. National Science Foundation Mag Lab
Premieres Tuesday, May 6
Grades: 1-5
Join Discovery Education and Sesame Workshop as we explore the National High Magnetic Field Lab! Meet the Magnets Virtual Field Trip helps young learners connect STEM concepts to the world around them, and includes standards-aligned resources for teachers. Sign up now to unlock access starting on May 6!
Total Health: A Virtual Field Trip with NBA and WNBA
Premieres Thursday, May 15
Grades: 3-8
Dive into total health with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how players from the NBA Timberwolves and WNBA Lynx maintain their health on and off the court! Students will get special access to state-of-the-art facilities, learn from health and fitness experts, and meet Timberwolves Center Rudy Govert! Sign up now to unlock access starting on May 15.
In Case You Missed It
Check out the Virtual Field Trips that are currently available to watch on-demand!
White Bird: The Courage of Kindness Virtual Field Trip
Grades: 6-12
White Bird: The Courage of Kindness offers students a multi-media journey to explore kindness, courage, and resilience. Through historical testimonies, fictional characters from the film White Bird, and contemporary perspectives, students learn how kindness impacts our world.
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]]>The post Unlocking Potential in 2025: A New Era of Discovery Education appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>For over 20 years, Discovery Education has empowered educators to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. As education evolves—shaping how students learn, increasing demands on teachers, and adding complexity to classrooms—we have evolved too, continuously innovating to meet these changing needs. This year, we’re introducing updates designed to make teaching more effective, engaging, and personalized—ensuring educators have the support they need to create lasting, meaningful learning experiences. And while many of these updates support educators, others are designed for students, nurturing their natural curiosity and joy in learning.
With every advancement, improvement, and new offering we bring, one thing will remain constant: our commitment to being the most trusted learning partner, equipping educators and engaging students to succeed in a dynamic world. We’ve listened closely to students, teachers, school leaders, district administrators, and the broader educational community as they have shared their challenges, celebrations, and concerns, and these meaningful conversations have informed our work for the back-to-school season.
Innovative Tools to Enhance Teaching and Learning
Teachers tell us they spend countless hours on assessments, lesson planning, and differentiation. In fact, 94% of educators seek tools that give them time back to focus on students. We’re helping streamline these tasks with new enhancements in Experience, including:
Personalized Content Recommendations
There are thousands of amazing, standards-aligned resources in Experience. Now, finding the perfect resource for any lesson is even easier. Our new Curriculum Aligned Resources feature allows educators to quickly access handpicked content to enhance their core curriculum. Teachers can also get recommendations based on their unique profile and preferences to suggest relevant resources specifically curated for their classroom.
AI TeacherTool | Assess
Our new AI-powered assessment generator allows educators to create standards-aligned assessments in minutes. Teachers can easily customize by reading level, question type, and Bloom’s Taxonomy—all while leveraging Discovery Education’s trusted, cross-curricular resources.
Improved Integrations
With the new Google Add-on, Discovery Education Experience now integrates seamlessly with Google Classroom, making access to quality content easier and more efficient for educators and students. The new integration offers simplified assignments, more focused access for students, and time-saving workflows for lesson planning.
Enhancing Math Engagement and Support for Educators
Over 90% of teachers believe that personalized instruction can improve learning outcomes, such as test scores, learning retention, and academic performance. As educators work furiously to address declining math scores, we’re making sure they have the right support to differentiate math instruction and drive student outcomes.
Improved Accessibility
DreamBox Math lessons now integrate assistive technology, keyboard navigation, and multiple modalities to ensure all students can engage independently. Learn more about these updates HERE.
Enhanced Engagement
We are rolling out updates to some of the most popular lessons in DreamBox Math to make it easier for students to start, play, and complete lessons successfully. Students will find clearer, always-available instructions, updated scaffolding, enhanced visuals, easier interactivity, and added real-world context for mathematical concepts.
Refreshed Middle School Math Environment
We know that students will feel more engaged and excited about algebra readiness when they can work in an age-appropriate environment. The new middle school environment has a sleek new look and introduces an upgraded lesson chooser, making it easier for students to navigate assignments and personalized lessons. Check out the new middle school experience HERE.
Helpful Curriculum Guide
The new in-product interactive curriculum guide enables educators to explore and align lessons with state standards for targeted instruction. Learn more about the curriculum guide.
Building Future-Ready Classrooms
Students crave access to content that excites and inspires them. And, when educators spark connections showing how daily lessons apply inside of class and beyond, they can make learning meaningful. In fact, 80% of students believe that content that connects to real-world experiences is essential for their day-to-day learning.
Career Connect Available to All Experience Partners
Career Connect brings industry professionals right into classrooms, allowing teachers to request virtual visits from employee volunteers. The feature provides experiential knowledge that reinforces educational concepts as it relates to real-world problem solving and innovation.
New Career resources in Experience will help educators show students the real-world relevance of their daily learning while building career awareness, exploration, and preparedness. These resources provide a strong connection to K-8 instruction, ensuring that career readiness begins early and empowers students to imagine endless possibilities beyond the classroom.
New, Exciting Lessons Across Our Programs
- New Experience Lessons: Experience’s vast library of curated educational content continues to grow to meet the needs of modern K-12 classrooms. For back-to-school, educators will find even more instructional resources with an Enhanced Instructional Strategy Library and Model Lessons. Students and teachers will also have access to new K-2 civics lessons, ELA Fix-It Models for middle school, and new DE Original videos for ELA and social studies.
- DreamBox Reading Expands to Grade 5: DreamBox Reading’s adaptive engine, already providing personalized reading instruction for PreK-2 students, will now support literacy development for grades 3-5. New lessons include foundational phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies, helping older students master essential reading skills.
- More Mystery Science Fun: Mystery Science will feature new resources, including open-and-go lessons and vocabulary supports on topics like matter and water. Plus, we’re updating Anchor Layers on all units.
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]]>The post How Schools and Corporations Can Work Together to Build Student Career Readiness appeared first on Discovery Education.
]]>In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, preparing students for their future careers is more critical than ever. While textbooks and standard curricula provide foundational knowledge, connecting students with industry professionals can ignite curiosity, inspire career exploration, and build essential career readiness skills. Here’s how educators and corporations can work together to bridge the gap between classrooms and the workforce, especially when using platforms like Discovery Education’s Career Connect.
The Importance of Career Readiness
Career readiness is about equipping students not only with the academic knowledge they need but also with the practical skills and insights that will enable them to thrive in their chosen fields. Enhancing student career readiness involves engaging students with real-world experiences and professional insights. This approach helps students understand the relevance of their studies and envision potential career paths.
According to the Hechinger Report and surveys from American Student Assistance, a nonprofit focused on career readiness, about two-thirds of high school graduates said they would have benefited from more career exploration in middle or high school. Additionally, 80% of high school guidance counselors said their students were “overwhelmed” by decisions about college and career. By incorporating career readiness programs earlier in education, we can better align student skills with employer expectations, ultimately enhancing employability and career confidence and success.
Why should corporations get involved in fostering students’ career readiness?
Build a Stronger Workforce for the Future: Corporations play a crucial role in shaping students’ career readiness by sharing insights and opportunities. By collaborating with educational institutions, they can provide valuable resources and mentorship that bridge the gap between academia and the workforce. This partnership not only equips students with essential skills but also helps companies cultivate a talent pool that meets their future needs.
Strengthen Employee Engagement Through Volunteerism: Corporations have a unique opportunity to contribute to student career readiness by encouraging their employees to share their expertise with students. Employee volunteerism programs provide a win-win situation for both the community and the company. Companies that support skills-based volunteer programs benefit from increased employee engagement and retention, while students gain valuable insights into potential career paths. A virtual platform like Career Connect is designed to connect skilled industry volunteers with K-12 classrooms, offering a streamlined solution for educators and professionals to collaborate.
How can schools engage students with industry professionals?
Implement a career readiness program: Introducing students to industry professionals through a career readiness program can profoundly impact their future career choices. For example, when students hear directly from a software engineer about their daily challenges and successes, they can better understand what a career in technology entails. This firsthand knowledge can spark a student’s interest in a particular field and motivate them to pursue related studies.
When developing a career readiness program, here are key steps to consider:
1. Assess Student Needs: Before launching a career readiness program, it’s essential to understand the specific needs and interests of your students. Conduct surveys or focus groups to gather insights into the careers they’re interested in and the skills they want to develop.
2. Partner with Corporations: Reach out to local businesses and corporations to explore potential partnerships. Many companies, like those who partner with Discovery Education, are eager to support education initiatives and can provide valuable resources and expertise.
3. Utilize Platforms like Career Connect: Leverage platforms like Career Connect to facilitate interactions between students and professionals. These platforms offer many resources and simplify the process of organizing and scheduling sessions.
4. Prepare Students: Ensure that students are well-prepared for their interactions with professionals. Provide them with background information on the professionals they’ll be meeting and encourage them to develop thoughtful questions.
5. Collect Feedback: After each session, gather feedback from students and professionals to assess the program’s impact and identify areas for improvement. Continuous evaluation and refinement will help ensure the program’s success.
Building student career readiness is a collaborative effort that requires the support of educators, corporations, and the community. By leveraging the expertise of industry professionals and utilizing innovative platforms, we can inspire the next generation of professionals and equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
The post How Schools and Corporations Can Work Together to Build Student Career Readiness appeared first on Discovery Education.
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