Detroit Takes Science Education Digital

Detroit Public Schools (DPS) in Michigan has begun the transition to a digital science curriculum in its middle and high schools based primarily on content from Discovery Education. Following an intensive professional development program over the summer, some 200 teachers entered the new school year prepared to integrate the extensive audiovisual and other digital content offered by the company's services, streaming and Discovery Education Science (DES), into their regular curriculum.

The company's streaming service provides more than 155,000 digital items aligned to Michigan state standards, including full-length video programs, clips, articles, still images, and interactive activities, all searchable using keyword, content area, grade level, and more advanced filtering options. DES provides virtual labs, experiments, simulations of real-world scientific activity, and subject-specific video clips and reading passages.

"Academic rebirth is a cornerstone of Detroit Public School's master facilities plan," said Barbara Byrd-Bennett, DPS chief academic and accountability auditor. "The process of rebirth includes changing the way we engage students in learning. Student's today are different. They inhabit a digital world." She said the Discovery digital services "can provide the resources to both engage our students in learning and develop our human capital, so that we can evolve our curriculum and methods of instruction to meet the changing needs of 21st century learners."

In addition to the summer preparation, the company will offer DPS teachers professional development opportunities throughout the year to support and mentor their integration of digital content into the science curriculum, with focus on lesson planning and differentiated instruction.

"At DPS, we ask ourselves each day, 'Is it good for the kids?'" said Sherry Ulery, deputy chief of academic affairs for DPS. "After witnessing the growth of our teaching staff this summer and [seeing] the positive impact our efforts to incorporate digital content into our curriculum have had on student engagement, I can say that this initial step towards a digital curriculum is good for the kids."

Finally, teachers will have unlimited access to the Discovery Education Network, which connects educators worldwide so that they can share resources, collaborate, and discuss the entire spectrum of education.

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

Featured

  • laptop with an AI graphic, surrounded by books, a tablet, a smartphone with a graduation cap icon, a smart speaker, and a notebook with a brain illustration

    Michigan Virtual, aiEDU Partner to Expand AI Support for Teachers

    A new partnership between Michigan Virtual and the AI Education Project (aiEDU) aims to accelerate AI literacy and AI readiness across Michigan's K-12 schools.

  • hand signing an AI document

    More than 60 Organizations Sign White House Pledge to Support AI Education

    The White House has introduced the "Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education," asking companies and organizations to commit to fostering early interest in AI technology, promoting AI literacy and proficiency among America's youth, and enabling comprehensive AI training for educators.

  • shield with an AI microchip emblem hovering above stacks of gold coins

    Report: AI Security Spend Surges While Traditional Security Budgets Shrink

    A new report from global cybersecurity company Thales reveals that while enterprises are pouring resources into AI-specific protections, only 8% are encrypting the majority of their sensitive cloud data — leaving critical assets exposed even as AI-driven threats escalate and traditional security budgets shrink.

  • tutors helping young students with laptops against a vibrant abstract background

    K12 Tutoring Earns ESSA Level II Validation

    Online tutoring service K12 Tutoring recently announced that it has received Level II validation underneath the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The independently validated study provides evidence of K12 Tutoring's role in creating positive student outcomes through effective academic intervention and research-based solutions.