Discovery Education – Granted $1500
Virtual Learning Response Fund
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all facets of daily life. This impact is deeply felt by our nation’s classrooms. Teachers, first responders in their own right, need targeted support to meet this new reality. Continuity of learning for students has never been more critical, and its impact on the stability of families and communities, more profound.
In response, Discovery Education has launched the Virtual Learning Response Fund, in partnership with the National Afterschool Association, to address the need for targeted training for teachers adjusting to this new paradigm. At a time when we are doing our best to support family, friends and neighbors, we recognize that supporting a teacher’s connection to their students is a critical step.
The Fund will provide professional development support to educators to enable the successful transition to virtual learning environments and enhance their ability to deliver instruction to meet today’s needs. Bolstering these foundational skills in teachers will support student success now and equip educators with tools to manage what comes ahead.
Teachers prepare our nation’s students to achieve their full potential and successfully transition to the workforce. This is essential, no matter the setting.
Need
THE STATE OF K–12 EDUCATION DURING COVID-19
COVID-19 has forced school closures in almost all of U.S. Schools, resulting in close to 50 million students experiencing disruption in their learning, which can have lasting, detrimental impact. In most instances, educators are thrust into teaching environments that lack the tools, delivery methods, content, supports and peer networks necessary for success.
Response
HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Targeted, scaffolded, and research-based instructional support for teachers is critical to the intentional adaptation of practice necessary for successful transitions to teaching in virtual environments.
Further, teachers need structured and monitored peer-to-peer communities to strengthen skills, exchange ideas, and receive real-time feedback.
Result
STUDENT LEARNING
Empowered and confident teachers establish high quality continuous virtual learning, minimizing disruption and fostering student engagement necessary for continued achievement.
~90% of educators surveyed agree that Discovery Education makes teaching and learning easier for them and their students in a virtual environment.
March 18, 2020
Professional Development
The Virtual Learning Response Fund establishes a place for companies and foundations to join this systemic approach by providing targeted training at the school level to ensure student instructional needs are met. The Fund will support high-need communities to deepen the quality of teacher-to-student instruction, develop the skills teachers are required to learn rapidly, provide lesson planning support, and establish and deploy a network of professional trainers to walk with teachers through this journey.
How Discovery Education is Helping
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Discovery Education has made a large-scale commitment to K12 schools and teachers across the globe by providing access to comprehensive, free tools and foundational support for teachers, parents, and caregivers who are rapidly adjusting to meet student need through the end of this school year and beyond.
In addition, Discovery Education is offering a suite of no-cost resources for parents and caregivers to use at-home, called Daily DE.
Phone call notes
DC – education arm digital curriculum content directly w/ school
60% of schools
VHS, DVD, streaming platform
Digital platform for educators – textbooks, etc
Digital pivot in the fall
Teach educators how to use them
connectivity, tech support
4.5 million educator
Professional Development – Lesson plan
Prepare for the future, what happens next
National Educators Fund
