Promoting Equity, Access & Cultural Awareness in Education

Aug 10, 2020 11:30 AM ET

Recent events in the United States have sparked nationwide protests and civil unrest, as communities band together to demand change. It is vital that discussions about inclusion, equity, and culture continue as part of efforts to engage and empower youth. As we all strive to make this world a better place, Discovery Education, along with its corporate and community partners, provide a number of no-cost, accessible, digital learning resources to help educators  help  their students process and understand what they see happening in the world.

  1. Show students that human rights advocacy is a frame-of-mind by introducing them to courageous activists from around the world and learn how to initiate the conversations that bring about real change. Speak Truth to Power inspires student activism to prevent and end human rights violations around the world by truly transforming student attitudes and behaviors towards themselves and the world. The program also features a Master Class Series to help educators identify best practices for integrating human rights education across disciplines.
  2. Inspire students’ sense of shared humanity by embracing the powerful stories of survivors and witnesses of genocide. Teaching with Testimony unlocks the power of testimony to inspire action among middle and high school students. The virtual field trip, Our Stories are Stronger than Hate, takes students on a dynamic learning experience to hear first-hand testimonies from impactful voices to learn that stories have the potential to change the future.
  3. Teach and learn about the world through a powerful new lens with exciting and relatable applications of data science. Discover Data provides students and educators with real-world applications of data with lessons. Discover resources like “Women & Gender Equity at 100,” which demonstrates how data analysis can provide statistical evidence of women’s impact upon society, engaging students in both critical thinking and the exploration of gender equality.
  4. Guide students toward attainable and highly rewarding careers while supporting a more inclusive pipeline of STEM professionals. The STEM Careers Coalition embraces equity in empowering the next generation of STEM pros through career exploration. The career videos, student activations, and career profiles featured in the STEM Careers Coalition portal can be used to provide students with first-hand introductions to a variety of STEM professions. The newly introduced Solutions Seekers series highlights the careers of STEM professionals who have pivoted their STEM skills to help contribute to the global effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
  5. Help each and every student lean into inspiration and innovation with exploratory STEM resources that reinforce equity. Girls Get STEM encourages students in grades 2-5 to create everyday connections to STEM. By modeling the success of women in STEM careers, elementary and middle school girls grow enthusiasm for STEM learning through a variety of videos, hands-on lessons, and a virtual field trip.
  6. Spark career-driven STEM exploration with a searchable database of 150+ hands-on student activities. Siemens STEM Day offers an extensive library of easy-to-use resources for students in all grades, as well as career profiles and five-minute refreshers to help educators explore best practices for implementation of the activities.

As part of the essential movement toward equity and cultural awareness, Discovery Education has also curated a custom channel in Discovery Education Experience–the award-winning K-12 learning platform–full of enriching dynamic digital resources addressing an array of topics, like systemic racism, implicit bias, human rights, and the role of dissent and protest.

By listening to the voices of changemakers and rights defenders, examining how voting supports rights and equity, and revealing the power of radical empathy, these curated resources help students see how one single voice can change a nation and the world for the better. These resources are fantastic ways to embrace and encourage equity, access, and tolerance for all students.