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

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.