Silver Spring, MD (Monday, February 7, 2022) — The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) and Discovery Education announced today a new educational initiative – Civics Connected. Civics Connected features engaging new digital resources that are aligned to standards for students in grades 5-12, and support educators’ efforts to integrate civic learning into instruction in any learning environment. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.
Among the resources available to teachers and students is the American Ideals Virtual Field Trip. Premiering on February 17th at 1 PM ET to help educators celebrate Presidents Day, the American Ideals Virtual Field Trip immerses students in the dynamic process of democracy celebrating the history of civic engagement in the United States. During the experience, students go inside the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum to discover how leadership, communications, and informed action unite people for the greater good. Throughout the Virtual Field Trip, students will hear from peers pioneering change in their communities. Learn more about this event and register here.
Civics Connected is part of Discovery Education’s effort to provide all learners standards-aligned resources, from multiple perspectives, that promote student engagement in civic life. Previous resources offered by Discovery Education include a Virtual Field Trip exploring the history of Veterans Day and the importance of service that included insights from Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) and a behind-the-scenes Virtual Field Trip to the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
“In a 1988 radio address, President Reagan said, ‘Since the founding of this Nation, education and democracy have gone hand in hand.’ To that end, a key question driving our nation forward has always been: how can we most effectively engage in our democracy? Well, the evidence of the past several decades, and in particular the last handful of years, shows the essential link between education and civic engagement. Our work here at RRPFI is dedicated to this very question,” said Anthony Pennay, Chief Learning Officer at The Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute. “In this new partnership with Discovery Education, we are thrilled to bring the powerful and lasting lessons found at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and our own U.S. history to classrooms across the United States while inspiring students to become passionate and informed leaders in their own communities.”
Accompanying digital materials created by Discovery Education’s expert curriculum and content designers help educators integrate this engaging virtual experience into any lesson plan. Included in the resources is an instructional educator guide. Additional civics-focused resources will launch in the coming months. The Virtual Field Trip and accompanying resources are available at CivicsConnected.com and on Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform.
“Civics Connected equips educators with the resources they need to show today’s students the awesome power of democracy,” said Beth Meyer, Vice President of Social Impact at Discovery Education. “We are proud to partner with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation on this initiative providing all learners another new perspective on the importance of civic engagement.”
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.
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About The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is the nonprofit organization created by President Reagan himself and specifically charged by him with continuing his legacy and sharing his principles – individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy and national pride. The Foundation is a non- partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion and the award-winning Discovery Center, as well as the Reagan Institute, which carries out the Foundation’s work in Washington, D.C.
The Reagan Library houses over 55 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President and his First Lady. The Reagan Library is open 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. seven days a week, closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and on December 4. www.reaganfoundation.org
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.
Contacts
Grace Maliska | Discovery Education | gmaliska@discoveryed.com