ScienceWerkz® Science Education Apps Garner Recognition From Middle School Teachers and After-School Program Leaders

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Werkz Publishing Inc. continues to receive acclaim for its ScienceWerkz^® suite of science education apps, which have been adopted by a growing number of middle schools and after-school learning programs nationwide. Among those that have implemented the award-winning education technology are the YMCA of San Diego County and Powdersville Middle School in South Carolina.

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More than 1,000 students in the San Diego area are using ScienceWerkz apps in after-school programs hosted by the South Bay Family YMCA and Palomar Family YMCA, as well as through the six-week summer YMCA Academy at Loma Verde Elementary that supports pupils from 15 schools. Instructors use the science apps to create their monthly lesson plans, which comprise three lessons each week and adhere to the 5E Instructional Model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—developed by Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS).

"ScienceWerkz helps create a more interactive environment for our leaders and students, and allows us to integrate the 5Es into our curriculum," said Edgar Tapia, After School Education and Safety (ASES) Director at the South Bay Family YMCA. "The apps have helped our staff members gain confidence in their ability to discuss and teach science concepts, providing a step-by-step process for developing lessons that are intentional and informative. Our students also appreciate and enjoy the science eBooks because they help science come to life through visuals, videos, and project demonstrations."

Tapia praises the ScienceWerkz apps for their ease of use and the intuitive way they help users gain comprehension, which is particularly important since many of the program's participants come from underserved populations and/or are English Language Learners. Rodger W. Bybee, science pedagogy expert and creator of the 5E Instructional Model, shares Tapia's high opinion of ScienceWerkz, applauding the science education apps for facilitating and enhancing student learning while bridging the digital divide.

"Open a ScienceWerkz app and you will see an active media approach that leverages emerging communications and collaboration tools, provides learning experiences that transcend the classroom walls, and uses relevancy-based digital tools to drive learning," noted Bybee. "There it is: a 21st-century response that helps make students' vision of 21st-century learning a reality."

Not only have Werkz Publishing's interactive workbooks found an enthusiastic reception within after-school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs, but they are also emerging as the science education tools of choice for teachers at schools nationwide. Powdersville Middle School in South Carolina is among those that have adopted the ScienceWerkz apps as supplemental instructional resources, having previously used Discovery Education Techbook™ materials.

Toni H. Carson, a seventh-grade science teacher at Powdersville Middle School, uses ScienceWerkz and other materials to supplement the curriculum she has developed based on the school district's guidelines. She cites user-friendly design and offline capabilities among the key reasons behind her preference for ScienceWerkz apps.

"I create a type of scavenger hunt for students to use as they go through the apps," said Carson, who notes that the science eBooks also help her to address English Language Arts (ELA) standards for using nonfiction resources, researching, and other requirements. "My students and I love that ScienceWerkz offers a variety of activities and doesn't require wi-fi once the content has been downloaded," she added.

"I'm honored that so many educators have publicly recognized the quality of our ScienceWerkz products as well as their engaging content and ease of use," said Werkz Publishing CEO Mark Salata, PhD. "Much of our business comes from word-of-mouth referrals, which reflects the high esteem customers have for our science apps. We even provide free downloads of several of our most popular titles so school administrators, teachers, and parents can explore our science education technology for themselves."

For more information on ScienceWerkz science education apps and free downloads of select titles, visit http://www.sciencewerkzapps.com.

About ScienceWerkz^®:

ScienceWerkz is a line of award-winning science education apps developed by San Diego-based Werkz Publishing Inc. in partnership with Singapore-based Amdon Consulting, Asia's leading education technology specialist.  Founded in 2012, Werkz Publishing aims to lead the digital learning revolution with dynamic education apps that engage, inspire, and empower students. The company's interactive science eBooks are available for Windows^® and Apple^® computers as well as iPad^® and Android™ tablets, and cover key topics in General Science, Chemistry, Earth Science, Life Science/Biology, and Physical Science. With ScienceWerkz, the subscription-based science apps may be used by educators for classroom learning or by parents and students for self-paced learning at home.

Media Inquiries:
Mark Salata, PhD
CEO, Werkz Publishing Inc.
1-866-276-4556, ext. 700
http://www.werkzpublishing.com/sciencewerkz/contact-us/

SOURCE ScienceWerkz