In what ways is science education leadership important to/in your organization?

ExploreLearning was founded in 1999 by educators looking for new ways to inspire students and help them succeed with math and science. Our innovative math and science solutions are now used in classrooms in every state and over 50 countries worldwide. Our diverse team – made up of educators, developers, scientists, mathematicians, instructional and visual designers, content experts, analysts, and more – works together alongside leaders in the science education space to bring teachers and students the highest quality learning experiences.

Science4Us (grades K-2) gives students a head-start in STEM with literacy-infused modules covering Inquiry, Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth & Space Science. Gizmos (grades 3-12) help students make connections and draw conclusions through 500+ interactive, inquiry-based math and science simulations.

At ExploreLearning, we are dedicated to partnering with leaders in the science community to create real-life, rigorous content for students. The ExploreLearning Collab Crew (https://web.explorelearning.com/collab/) is a partnership program where educators help our team develop new edtech product concepts and test them in real-world classrooms. Learn more about educators' experiences, like Dr. Ann Scott's, as part of the Collab Crew: https://www.explorelearning.com/resources/success-stories/collab-crew-anna-scott

We value continuous learning from science leaders and teachers so we can better support students using our STEM products. Our team stays current in the science education space through collaboration with others at national and local conferences, membership through regional organizations, and ongoing research.

How does your organization support science education leaders?

ExploreLearning promotes professional excellence with digital STEM tools teachers and administrators can easily implement to enhance and monitor student learning. We believe science educators need relevant, ongoing professional development and content-specific training. Our robust professional development team develops and delivers on-demand and in-person training to help educators use Science4Us (https://www.science4us.com/pd) and Gizmos (https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/support/) most effectively.

We are committed to continuous research and development to support science leaders with insights and evidence-based learning experiences. Our research and Science Solutions teams work to analyze how our products impact learning and to discover ways to improve our solutions and release new content. Read more research: https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/about-gizmos/research-behind-gizmos

In 2023, the Gizmos team released three new STEM Cases (Hydrologic Cycle; Smelling in the Rain: Designing Solutions to Improve Air Quality; Sound Off, Please!: Designing Solutions to Reduce Noise Pollution). The Gizmos development team also launched a new student progress monitoring heatmap tool that allows educators to view data insights as they relate to specific science and engineering practices in addition to skills (https://www.explorelearning.com/about-us/news/stem-cases-practices-view). Additionally, a new “model builder” widget allows students to lean into the engineering design process by both designing solutions and demonstrating their understanding of problems. These innovations support science education leaders to make the most informed decisions in their classrooms and schools.

Why did you want to partner with NSELA?

ExploreLearning supports NSELA’s mission of maximizing effective science teaching and learning in an ever-changing learning environment. ExploreLearning is dedicated to PD, research, and giving educators a voice in the science education space.

We want to partner with NSELA to collaborate with science education leaders and support teachers with content customized to their expressed needs. Additionally, we would like to learn alongside others, gain access to resources, and engage with the latest trends in the larger science community. ExploreLearning is dedicated to sharing best practices, engaging in joint initiatives and research opportunities, and continuously growing.

Ring in the new year with fresh ideas and best practices to transform STEM learning. Join the ExploreLearning team in this NSELA partner webinar. Register here.