STEM

Illinois School District Adopts Digital STEM Curriculum for Next Generation Standards

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 08/01/16

Troy Community Consolidated School District 30 (TCCSD) has adopted a new digital STEM curriculum for use by students in grades K-8 district-wide.

The Illinois district is in one of 18 states to have adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and will deploy STEMscopes NGSS from Accelerate Learning beginning in August.

"Developed in conjunction with Rice University, STEMscopes provides digital resources, supplemental print materials and hands-on exploration kits that build student engagement and excitement for learning," according to a news release. "As with all of Accelerate Learning's STEM solutions, inquiry-based investigation is at the core of STEMscopes NGSS. It fosters student understanding of science through meaningful hands-on investigations, engineering challenges, content connection videos, claim-evidence-reasoning assessments and more."

"When looking for a new science curriculum we wanted something that did more than just align to the NGSS," said Daniela Fountain, director of curriculum at TCCSD, in a prepared statement. "An inquiry-based approach was important to us, as well as something that was digital, but also hands on. And finally, we wanted something that addressed the needs of all student levels, and that would transition with them as they progressed through their years in our district. STEMscopes NGSS is the only product that met each and every one of our needs. Our teachers are also thrilled with how intuitive the program is. STEMscopes NGSS allows teachers to feel confident coming out of the gate on the first day of school."