Overview
Once you log in to Science Techbook and access your course, easily navigate the curriculum.
How do I access my curriculum?
Select Science Techbook from the Curriculum Packs section of your My DE homepage.
You can also access Science Techbook from any page using the Global Navigation menu in the top left corner.
The following are key terms used in Science Techbook:
- Course: The overall course of study in an academic area.
- Unit: Thematic groupings of learning concepts.
- Concept: Individual topics of study.
Note that Science Techbook opens to the last course visited. If you have access to multiple courses, you may switch courses by using the drop-down at the top of the page.
How do I navigate the curriculum?
There are three ways to access the content of each course in K-12 Science Techbook:
- Overview
- Table of Contents
- Standards views
Overview
The default view is a browse-enabled, visual grid.
Table of Contents
This view provides a more linear, book-like navigation. Quickly access the Model Lesson, Concept Resources, and Standards from this view, as well as explore the course.
Select Standards from a concept to see the aligned standards for the concept or use the Expand All button to see all standards addressed in the Unit.
Select Print from your Toolbar to print the Table of Contents. Learn more about your Toolbar.
Standards
The course content can also be displayed in a Standards view. Select a standard, expand to the detail of the standard until blue hyperlinked text appears, and then select the standard content.
The concept(s) where that standard is addressed in K-12 Science Techbook displays, or you can view all concept resources that support the standard.
How do I navigate a Unit?
Select any Unit to see an expanded description of the unit of study and description of its Concepts.
When you select a Unit, you have access to the Unit Overview and Unit Assessments and Resources.
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Unit Overview: Access Concept descriptions, Model Lessons, and Concept Resources.
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Unit Assessments and Resources: Access summative assessments with questions similar to those students experience on computer-based, high-stakes tests.
How do I explore a Concept?
When you select a Concept, you can navigate between the following:
- Engage: Begins with the investigative phenomenon and a driving Can You Explain? question to ignite students' natural sense of curiosity along with pre-assessments to gauge their prior knowledge.
- Explore: Features text, hands-on experiences, and interactive resources that help students test predictions, collect evidence, and record observations and ideas related to the core science ideas addressed in the standards.
- Explain: Students are encouraged to verbalize and demonstrate their conceptual understanding of the investigative phenomenon, the 'Can You Explain?' question, or one of their own questions.
- Elaborate with STEM: Opportunities to expand on science ideas through critical thinking, exploration, and application through real-world STEM in Action and STEM Projects.
- Evaluate: Access Review and Assessment materials. If you'd like to create your own Assessment, you can use Assessment Builder. Learn more here.
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Model Lesson: From here, explore the Lesson Overview, The Five Es, Teacher Preparation, Hands-On Materials, or Assignments and Resources. Model lesson sections vary depending on the program you're licensed to.
What is the 5E instructional model?
K-12 Science Techbook follows the 5E Model of Instruction (5Es), a research-based instructional cycle that uses complex essential questions to guide the learning experience.
Each of the 5Es describes a phase of learning: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. The 5Es allows students and teachers to experience activities that build upon prior knowledge to construct meaning and demonstrate progress toward learning goals.
The inquiry learning cycle is not linear, so you can move between the 5Es for content and resources to best meet the needs of students. Resources in Discovery Education Science Techbook are organized around the 5E instructional model based on their use by the student: engaging with a concept, exploring resources, explaining understanding, elaborating though deeper investigation, and evaluating understanding.