The SC Department of Education purchased digital learning resources from digital textbooks and educational resource company Discovery Education, based in Charlotte, to support teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The department acquired four Learning Management Systems, a Learning Objects Repository and a set of digital learning resources, according to a press release.
Funding for the programs, totaling more than $ 15.3 million over a three-year period, is being provided through federal pandemic relief.
“Buying these three platforms and the perfect ability for every South Carolina teacher to access them and incorporate high quality content into their classes can be a game changer for our state,” said SC Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman at communicated. “COVID-19 presented enormous challenges to teaching and learning, but this digital platform will help to level the playing field of K-12 education this school year and beyond.”
A Learning Management System is a software structure through which educational content is delivered and managed. Students and educators receive licenses to access content and complete assignments. The education department presented four platform options: Canvas, Schoology, Blackboard and Google Classroom, with student and employee licenses fully funded by the state for the next three years.
A repository of learning objects serves as a digital library of educational content, including Bill Nye: The Science Guy National Geographic episodes and documentaries, which can be shared through the learning management system. The education department chose SAFARI Montage, with access for all paid teachers until 2023.
“The South Carolina Department of Education is providing each school district with a statewide Learning Objects Repository filled with high-quality digital educational video resources to support teachers, students and parents at home and at school during these challenging educational times, ”Andrew Schlessinger, CEO and co-founder of SAFARI Montage, said. “This will go a long way towards supporting educational equality across South Carolina, providing all public school students with easy access to the excellent digital content they need for meaningful remote learning. All school districts will be able to customize LOR for their own district to ensure that many of the digital resources in their purchased courses are also accessible in one place. “
All SC students and teachers will also have access to the Discovery Education Experience, a collection of high quality content, professional learning resources and digital classes.
“Discovery Education is honored to be selected by the South Carolina Department of Education to support the education of elementary and high school students across the state,” said Anna Strassner, senior educational partnership manager at Discovery Education. “With our headquarters near Charlotte, many of us at Discovery Education call South Carolina home and send our kids to the state’s top schools. We look forward to working in our own community to bring our powerful and engaging digital resources to teachers and students across the state. “