Itron and Discovery Education Launch National Effort to Advance Conservation, Applied-Learning, Technology and STEM Education
‘Conservation Station: Creating a More Resourceful World’ to Inspire Middle School Students Across the Country to Explore Energy Needs, Resource Utilization and Pathways Toward a More Sustainable Future
SILVER SPRING, Md., Monday, October 8, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Itron, Inc., which is innovating the way utilities and cities use energy and water, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced Conservation Station: Creating a More Resourceful World – a new initiative developed to engage and educate middle school students on the relationship between energy and water through the lens of conservation. Designed to provide access to digitally immersive and educational experiences, this inaugural Smart Cities Virtual Field Trip will premiere LIVE from Itron’s Innovation Center in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT. Students, educators, parents, school communities are invited to register for the event at learntoconserve.com. Also, participants are encouraged to join @DiscoveryEd, @ItronInc and other experts for a LIVE Twitter chat by submitting questions ahead of time using #SmartCitiesVFT.
“Itron is thrilled to partner with Discovery Education to inspire a new generation of sustainability and conservation leaders around the world,” said Vice President of Global Marketing and Public Affairs for Itron Marina Donovan. “Itron is a technology innovator and provider of critical infrastructure services, and ‘Conservation Station’ will provide powerful pathways for our nation’s most talented pioneers – our youth – to begin to imagine how they themselves might solve for the most pressing resource challenges of our time.”
The Smart Cities Virtual Field Trip will transport students beyond the walls of their schools and learning centers for a behind the scenes tour of Itron’s Innovation Center, where they will learn about what makes a city smart and how sustainable communities play an essential role in conservation. Students will also learn the relationship between energy and water, including how innovative urban technologies are solving today’s conservation challenges. The Smart Cities Virtual Field Trip will visually connect for students how technology is helping protect sea turtles in Florida, while restoring power outages that may be caused by local lightning storms.
“We are proud to partner with Itron to introduce ‘Conservation Station,’ a dynamic digital program that helps students make the connection between STEM and a more sustainable future,” said Senior Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer for Discovery Education Lori McFarling. “Through immersive experiences that engage young learners in the spirit of innovation, this program supports educators in their work to ignite students’ understanding of how to use STEM to build a better world.”
Conservation Station: Creating a More Resourceful World aims to encourage a national dialogue on the importance of students’ understanding of current and future energy needs, resource utilization and conservation. The program material dives into the relationship between energy and water and how innovative technologies are working to conserve both resources through the core pillars of resourcefulness: effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability. During the spring of 2019, Itron and Discovery Education will launch the first annual Week of Resourcefulness, which will provide educators with a brand-new STEM investigation activity every day of the week. Each guide will be designed for teacher-directed, activity-based learning and will explore unexpected connections at the heart of the energy-water nexus. The initiative will provide accompanying take-home companion guides for students to continue learning outside the classroom.
“As an educator, I’m thrilled to utilize engaging educational tools that challenge my students to think about the world’s current energy and conservation needs – while inspiring them to produce 21st-century solutions that encourage resourcefulness,” said Stonegate Elementary School 5th Grade Teacher Brandon Wislocki of Irvine’s Unified School District, Calif. “I look forward to engaging my students in a ‘Conservation Station Smart Cities Virtual Field Trip’ classroom immersion to help reinforce how STEM and technology can be applied to environmental careers that help protect the planet.”
For more information about Discovery Education’s digital content and professional development services, visit discoveryeducation.com. Stay connected with Discovery Education on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest @DiscoveryEd.
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About Itron:
Itron enables utilities and cities to safely, securely and reliably deliver critical infrastructure services to communities in more than 100 countries. Our portfolio of smart networks, software, services, meters and sensors helps our customers better manage electricity, gas and water resources for the people they serve. By working with our customers to ensure their success, we help improve the quality of life, ensure the safety and promote the well-being of millions of people around the globe. Itron is dedicated to creating a more resourceful world. Join us: www.itron.com.
Itron® is a registered trademark of Itron, Inc. All third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated.
About Discovery Education:
As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at discoveryeducation.com.
Contact:
Charmion N. Kinder, Discovery Education
Alison Mallahan, Itron, Inc.
