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Research Impact: Product: Science Techbook

Florida Study Shows Correlation between Discovery Education and Student Achievement

 

The Relationship Between Discovery Education and State of Florida Grades 3-12 Achievement

Research & Impact

At-a-Glance

Type:

Executive Summary

Time Period:

2018-2019; 2021-2022

Source:

McREL International

Grade Level:

3-12

Products:

  • Discovery Education Experience
  • Science Techbook
  • Social Studies Techbook

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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Discovery Education’s market presence and academic achievement in the State of Florida. The study used a correlational design, where the outcomes of interest were school average state assessment scores in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies for Spring 2019 and 2022; and the focal predictor was if a school had a Discovery Education license or not (i.e., treatment or comparison).

The research question this study aimed to answer was whether or not schools with one or a combination of Discovery Education products report higher achievement scores than schools who do not have access to any DE product. The results showed instances where Discovery Education had positive effects on student achievement. 

Texas Study Shows Correlation Between Discovery Education and Student Achievement

 

The Relationship Between Discovery Education and Texas Grades 3-12 Achievement

Research & Impact

At-a-Glance

Type:

Executive Summary

Time Period:

2018-2019; 2021-2022

Source:

McREL International

Grade Level:

3-12

Products:

  • Discovery Education Experience
  • Science Techbook
  • Social Studies Techbook
  • Mystery Science

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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Discovery Education’s market presence and academic achievement in the State of Texas. The study used a correlational design, where the outcomes of interest were school average state assessment scores in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies for Spring 2019 and 2022; and the focal predictor was if a school had a Discovery Education license or not (i.e., treatment or comparison).

The research question this study aimed to answer was whether or not schools with one or a combination of Discovery Education products report higher achievement scores than schools who do not have access to any DE product. The results showed instances where Discovery Education had positive effects on student achievement. 

North Carolina Statewide Study Summary of Findings

 

North Carolina Statewide Study Summary of Findings

Research & Impact

At-a-Glance

Type:

Case Study

Time Period:

2016-2017

Source:

Discovery Education Research & Analytics

Grade Level:

K-12

Products:

  • Discovery Education Experience
  • Science Techbook
  • Math Techbook

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Discovery Education Research & Analysis compared partner schools in North Carolina to non-partner schools to study the extent to which achievement on state summative assessments is related to partnership with Discovery Education.

To accomplish this, Discovery Education compared the published school level data for the state of North Carolina for the 2016-2017 school year to a list of Discovery Education partners for the same time period, resulting in an analysis of achievement of DE partner schools vs. non-DE partner schools.

There are 34 performance indicators that show that partner schools perform better than non-DE partner schools. This positive correlation between DE partners and better scores found in the overall sample also holds for several different demographic subgroups.

Grade-Level Proficiency Results
% of students who met the state’s GLP benchmark (2016-2017)

An Implementation Study of the Impact of Science Techbook in Sahuarita, Arizona​

 

An Implementation Study of the Impact of Science Techbook in Sahuarita, Arizona

Research & Impact

At-a-Glance

Type:

Executive Summary

Time Period:

2022-2023

Source:

McRel International

Grade Level:

6-8

Product:

Science Techbook

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Discovery Education retained the services of McREL International to study the use and impact of its Middle School Science Techbook in Arizona’s Sahuarita Unified School District (SUSD) during the 2022-23 school year. The purpose of the study was to answer two research questions: 1. What is the correlation between Techbook use and change in science aptitude? 2. What are the successes and challenges for teachers in using the Techbook?

To answer these questions, a science aptitude assessment was administered in fall 2022 to serve as a baseline academic performance predictor, and then again in spring 2023 to serve as the dependent variable in the analyses. Semi-structured individual interviews were also conducted in the fall and spring. Finally, an implementation survey was administered in February 2023 to gauge teacher perception on the implementation and use of Science Techbook. The quantitative results meet the Every Student Succeeds Act’s (ESSA) Tier 3 level of evidence: Promising Evidence.

Source

Kramer, B., Rentz, B., Merth, R., Ryan, S., Kriescher, D. (2023). An implementation study of the Discovery Education Science Techbook for middle school in Sahuarita, Arizona. McREL International.

Science Techbook Logic Model: ESSA Evidence Level IV​

 

Science Techbook Logic Model: ESSA Evidence Level IV

Research & Impact

At-a-Glance

Type:

Logic Model

Grade Level:

K-12

Source:

LearnPlatform by Instructure

Product:

Science Techbook

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Discovery Education engaged LearnPlatform by Instructure, a third-party edtech research company, to develop a logic model for Science Techbook. LearnPlatform by instructure designed the logic model to satisfy Level IV requirements (Demonstrates a Rationale) according to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

To continue building evidence of effectiveness and to examine the proposed relationships in the logic model, Discovery Education plans to conduct an evaluation to determine the extent to which Science Techbook produces the desired outcomes. Specifically, Discovery Education has plans to begin an ESSA Level II study.

Because of the development of the logic model and the plan for an ESSA Level II study, Science Techbook meets Tier IV evidence requirements in compliance with ESSA.

Source

LearnPlatform by Instructure, Researcher Andrew Scanlan, M.A., Associate Director of Research Molly Henschel, Ph.D., and Research Contractor Elizabeth Allen, Ph.D. “Science Techbook Logic Model.” Discovery Education, August 4, 2023.

Sahuarita and Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Partnership Impacts Grade-Level Proficiency​

 

Sahuarita and Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Partnership Impacts Grade-Level Proficiency

Research & Impact

At-a-Glance

Type:

Evaluation Study

Time Period:

Jan 2020 – Oct 2020

Source:

Decisive Data Insights

Grade Level:

K-8

Products:

  • Discovery Education Experience
  • Science Techbook

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Sahuarita Unified School District (SUSD), located just south of Tucson, Arizona, serves 5,800 students enrolled in PK-12 grades. The district has been the recipient of funding via the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation (FCX Foundation), whose goal is to build resiliency in communities where it has a presence.

This evaluation is the first study that seeks to understand the impact of various SUSD initiatives funded by the FCX Foundation, and was led by researcher Dr. Brett Kramer of Decisive Data Insights. The study began with stakeholder engagement. The research team then collected performance data across the funded projects, analyzed the data to determine partnership effects, and tied those effects back to larger measures to inform the direction of future investments.

The investment in Discovery Education led to an increase in math, science, and reading proficiency. And, with 18 positive effects across grade and subjects, it can be concluded that use of Discovery Education led to better academic outcomes in every subject and grade level, to some degree, than what would have been attained without its use. 

Discovery Education’s Impact on Student Achievement​

 

Discovery Education's Impact on Student Achievement

Research & Impact

At-a-Glance

Type:

Research Brief

Time Period:

2016 – 2022

Source:

Discovery Education Research & Analytics

Grade Level:

K-12

Products:

  • Discovery Education Experience
  • Science Techbook
  • Math Techbook

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Our award-winning K-12 platform, Discovery Education Experience, empowers educators with a vast collection of multimodal resources vetted and curated to support differentiated, scaffolded learning in any environment. Experience is built upon a theory of action about how best to enhance the K-12 teaching and learning experience. Based on this theory of action, Discovery Education produced a logic model that serves as a conceptual map for Experience.

Findings from multiple studies tell a consistent and promising story of how use of Discovery Education’s curricular resources is related to outcomes that matter across the country for students overall, and especially for racial/ethnic minorities and students impacted by poverty, disabilities, and limited English proficiency. Discovery Education access is, in fact, making a significant difference in teaching and learning.

Download the full research brief to learn more about how Discovery Education makes an impact on student achievement across multiple states and supports educators with innovative ways to connect and collaborate with one another.