Discovery Communications : South Carolina’s State Board of Education Approves Discovery Education’s Chemistry and Physics Techbooks for Statewide Use

- Adoption of Chemistry and Physics Digital Textbooks Further Empowers South Carolina Educators to Create Modern Learning Environments -

SILVER SPRING, Md. (January 11, 2016) - Following a comprehensive evaluation, the South Carolina State Board of Education has approved the Chemistry and Physics editions of the Discovery Education Science Techbook™ for statewide use as a core instructional resource through its state adoption process. An award-winning digital textbook series, Discovery Education's Techbooks are aligned to rigorous standards, support a comprehensive curriculum, and include professional development. Currently, Discovery Education Techbooks are used by more than 3 million students in all 50 U.S. states and several Canadian provinces.

School districts across South Carolina now have the option to use State Board of Education approved instructional materials funding to purchase and integrate these digital textbooks, which are 100% aligned to South Carolina Academic Standards and Performance Indicators for Science, into teaching and learning. The award-winning Discovery Education Textbook series is a fully interactive digital solution that replaces traditional textbooks. Currently, all K-5 and 6-8 Discovery Education Science Techbook courses, as well as the Biology course for high school, have been approved as core instructional resources for classroom use statewide by the South Carolina State Board of Education.

Discovery Education's Science Techbooks were developed by a dedicated team of expert science educators with the input of teachers and administrators from around the nation. The Techbook's rich, standards-aligned content includes video, audio, text and interactives with hands-on activities, as well as virtual labs that help classroom teachers differentiate instruction and create rich and engaging learning experiences for all students. Techbooks are also a substantially less expensive option per student at nearly half the cost of a traditional textbook, with additional savings derived from a lack of textbook replacement or inventory costs.

The Science Techbooks also include valuable STEM resources. STEM Project Starters encourage students to connect math, technology, and engineering to their understanding of science concepts to produce creative solutions to real world problems. In addition, the STEM In Action resources help students connect their work to STEM careers, which promotes a clearer understanding of how skills used in school can be applied to jobs 'in the real world.' Embedded formative assessment opportunities that help educators monitor student progress are embedded into each Techbook, and like all Discovery Education digital textbooks, the Science Techbooks work on any device and can be implemented in any instructional setting.

Embracing a philosophy of three-dimensional learning, Discovery Education's Science Techbooks help educators integrate digital resources into their classroom practice. The Model Lessons within the Science Techbooks reflect the interconnectedness of the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) and Cross-Cutting Concepts (CCC) and illustrate what these mean in practice for educators. Students using the Physics and Chemistry Techbooks will become immersed in phenomenon-driven, relevant learning experiences, develop their own scientific explanations through a variety of activities such as exploring the overarching themes of science, learn to ask questions and make claims, and identify the cross-cutting connections between sciences.

Discovery Education understands that teacher engagement is critical to the implementation of successful learning initiatives. Therefore, research-based professional development that supports educators as they integrate new digital content and resources into classroom instruction is available to teachers using the Techbook. The Discovery Education Community, a global community of education professionals, further connects teachers and administrators around the world with social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events that inspire innovation and facilitates idea sharing.

A study conducted by independent research firm Merola Research, LLC found that usage of the Science Techbook is associated with higher science achievement scores in South Carolina elementary school students. After one year of implementation in the state's Rock Hill Schools, fourth grade students whose teachers used Discovery Education Science Techbook scored higher on average on the 2013 Science Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) than students whose teachers did not use Science Techbook. Additional research conducted by the Rock Hill Schools demonstrates three years of continued academic growth among 4 , 6 and 7 grade students. To view this research, visit: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/RockHill.

'Discovery Education thanks the South Carolina State Board of Education for their rigorous review and adoption of the Chemistry and Physics editions of the Science Techbook,' said Rob Warren, Vice President of Education Partnerships at Discovery Education. 'South Carolina's educators are among the nation's leaders in building dynamic digital learning environments, and the powerful and engaging high quality digital content recently approved by the state's board of education further supports that mission.'

For more information on the Science Techbooks available for use in South Carolina's classrooms, visit www.discoveryeducation.com/SCScience. For information on other services and resources from Discovery Education, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

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About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education's services are in half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries. Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.