[December 08, 2016]

Coeur d'Alene School District Chooses Technology from PASCO Scientific to Help Support New Mission in Science Education

Recognizing that a sound grounding in science strengthens many of the skills students need and use every day, Coeur d'Alene Public Schools (CDPS) recently established a new, comprehensive science philosophy to foster scientific literacy. To help facilitate this new approach, CDPS has begun using lab- and inquiry-based solutions from PASCO® Scientific in all grade 6-8 science classes.

"By 'scientifically literate' we mean we want students to master scientific principles and processes that will help them solve problems, think critically, work cooperatively, and use technology effectively in all subjects. To accomplish this, we determined that every course must foster inquiry-based experiential learning, and incorporate lab-based experiences and new technologies to strengthen positive attitudes about science," said Mike Nelson, director of curriculum and assessment for CDPS. "PASCO Scientific's solutions provide the perfect platform for this approach. Its materials are user friendly, the quality of the equipment is top notch, and everything integrates seamlessly with ou Chromebooks."

At the heart of the district's new middle school science program are district-created science materials and texts based on open educational resources (OER) and supplemented by SPARKvue®, an easy to use science application that delivers data collection, visualization, and analysis tools in a content-rich, standards-based science learning environment.

To infuse technology into the curriculum and provide rich, hands-on learning experiences, students will use a variety of PASCO's award-winning wireless sensors. By simplifying lab setup and removing the clutter of cables, the sensors allow students to perform experiments that were difficult or impossible before, and spend more time exploring. With prices starting at $39, the wireless sensors are not only affordable, but the technology also helps schools save money by eliminating the need for a separate device to connect sensors to a computer, tablet or smartphone. Students can simply transmit the data directly from the wireless sensor to their device.

"When we did our first training in August, even the most reticent of our teachers was energized and saw the potential of the sensors to dramatically improve instruction and learning in our schools," said Nelson. "With ongoing training and guidance from PASCO's support team, we will build on that growth and graduate students who are prepared to succeed in life."

For more information, visit www.pasco.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161208006002/en/

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