Hardin County Schools is Leading Kentucky’s Transition to Dynamic Digital Learning Experiences for Science Instruction Through New Partnership with Discovery Education

SILVER SPRING, MD (Thursday, February 24, 2022)—Kentucky’s Hardin County Schools (HCS) is taking a leadership role within the state through an innovative new partnership supporting science instruction with dynamic digital resources. In collaboration with Discovery Education—the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place—HCS is integrating a suite of award-winning, flexible digital resources into teaching and learning across the district’s elementary and middle schools. With these resources, district educators are empowered to build real-world learning experiences that connect students to the world around them while preparing them for future success. 

Located in central Kentucky, the Hardin County Schools consists of 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools, and is dedicated to helping all students learn in a safe environment that prepares them for college and career. In support of that goal, the district sought to enhance science instruction by providing teachers and students digital resources offering more personalized learning opportunities, STEM, and career/technical learning resources, as well as the ability to improve literacy all in a one platform accessible from wherever students are.   

Following a careful review of available solutions, HCS selected Discovery Education to support science instruction across the district’s elementary and middle schools. Among the resources now available to HCS students are:  

The Discovery Education 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 educators an enhanced learning platform which facilitates engaging, daily instruction in any learning environment.    

Discovery Education’s team continues adding, contextualizing, and organizing exciting new content and timely and relevant resources to the platform each month in response to current events and the ever-evolving needs of educators. These resources, sourced from trusted partners, are aligned to state and national standards, and help educators bring the outside world into teaching and learning every day.   

The K-12 learning platform is designed to work within the school systems’ existing infrastructure and workflows and provides safe, secure, simple access methods for educators and students. 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.  

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 and Canada and delivered through Discovery Education’s K-12 platform, the Science Techbook drives engagement with exclusive phenomena and interactive content. Virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM activities, and a variety of instructional supports enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction, in person or at a distance. Digital teacher editions also provide flexible pacing options, embedded teacher notes, and Pathways for Learning to address diverse learners.   

STEM Connect.  

An interdisciplinary K-8 resource, STEM Connect blends dynamic digital content with ready-to-use lessons and hands-on activities to enhance core curriculum and cultivate valuable design thinking skills that prepare students for the future. Built on the 4Cs framework and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, STEM Connect purposefully integrates across disciplines and provides all the necessary resources to introduce real-world challenges and design thinking skills to students. With modular lesson plans, improved navigation, and enhancements to core features, STEM Connect gives teachers more flexibility for online or in-person instruction while students grow from local problem solvers to imaginative, global solution seekers.  

“A strong background in STEM is a foundation on which any student can build a successful future,” said Brandy New, Hardin County Schools’ Director of Innovation. “We are excited to partner with Discovery Education as their resources will open up a new realm of STEM learning opportunities that were previously unavailable to district students.” 

Discovery Education will provide HCS’s educators with dedicated professional learning to help the school system recognize the full return on their edtech investment. Through these interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional development will maximize the power of these resources, increase student engagement in learning, and support students’ continued academic development. 

Additional funding to support HCS’s partnership with Discovery Education comes from the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Singleton Foundation.  

HCS’s Discovery Education also provides K-6 teachers access to the Discovery Education Community. 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 talented team at the Hardin County Schools is developing a new way to engage students in STEM education, and Discovery Education is proud to supporting this work,” said Kyle Talavera, Discovery Education’s Associate Manager of Educational Partnerships. “We look forward to working side-by-side with the Hardin County team to ensure the success of this powerful partnership.”    

For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.    

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 140 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company 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. Explore the future of education at  www.discoveryeducation.com.    

eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.

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