Science Teaching

What Science Teaching does

The International Science Teaching Foundation (ISTF), operating as "Science Teaching," is a UK-registered non-profit organization headquartered in London with a general office in Barcelona, Spain. The foundation develops and distributes two core digital educational platforms — Science Bits and Math Bits — that provide multimedia, constructivist lesson content for middle and high school science and mathematics teachers. Both products are structured around the 5E learning model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) and enriched with interactive simulations, virtual experiments, 3D models, animations, and inquiry-based projects, with teacher-side tools for student progress tracking and competency-based grading.

ISTF monetizes through school- and center-level subscriptions or licenses for Science Bits and Math Bits (annual billing cadence, pricing available only on request), revenue from published educational books, and professional development services delivered via educational advisors, workshops, and online courses. The foundation's go-to-market combines a self-serve digital platform (science-bits.com and math-bits.com) with an assisted sales motion led by educational advisors supporting school adoption. Reach is reported at approximately 270,000–300,000+ students across 30+ countries, and Science Bits has accumulated over 20 international awards including the United Nations World Summit Award and the WISE Award from the Qatar Foundation.

The foundation also operates complementary non-core lines including the Entre Aguas podcast, the Eureka science magazine, online courses (such as researchED-aligned masterclasses), and a research publication program, and in late 2025 entered a strategic partnership with SeedScience to pilot Science Bits-based teacher training in Tanzania, Uganda, and Ghana. The organization is privately held as a non-profit with no disclosed parent company, outside investors, or funding rounds, and operates with approximately 18 employees.

Name

Science Teaching

Legal name

International Science Teaching Foundation

Website

https://science-teaching.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Science Teaching Foundation is a UK non-profit that develops Science Bits and Math Bits, multimedia 5E-model educational platforms used by middle and high school teachers across 30+ countries to deliver constructivist science and math instruction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Technology / STEM Curriculum Platforms

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Math & STEM Learning Technology (incl. Coding/Robotics Platforms) (EDAJAMAG)

Keywords

• STEM educational platform
• Multimedia science lessons
• Constructivist learning model
• Teacher professional development
• Secondary school curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Educational Platform Subscriptions/Licenses: Schools and educational centers subscribe to access Science Bits and Math Bits digital educational resources. The platform offers licensed access with username and password for registered users.
2. Book Sales: Sale of educational books including 'How do We Learn', 'Learning to Learn', and other titles published by the foundation.
3. Professional Development Services: Training and support services provided to teachers and schools implementing Science Bits and Math Bits programs, including educational advisory support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The International Science Teaching Foundation (ISTF) develops and distributes Science Bits and Math Bits, multimedia educational platforms providing research-based lessons for middle and high school science and mathematics teachers. Built on the constructivist 5E learning model, these platforms deliver interactive simulations, virtual experiments, 3D models, animations, and guided inquiry projects, supported by tools for student progress tracking, competency-based grading, and ongoing professional development for educators.

Product overview

The International Science Teaching Foundation operates two core educational technology products: Science Bits and Math Bits. Both are multimedia educational programs for secondary school teachers based on the constructivist 5E learning model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate). Science Bits focuses on science education (Biology, Geology, Physics, Chemistry) while Math Bits covers mathematics. Both share the same platform environment, methodological approach, and management tools, allowing them to be intertwined for integrated STEM education. The organization also publishes books (including 'How Do We Learn' and 'Learning to Learn'), operates the Eureka science magazine, hosts the Entre Aguas podcast, and offers online courses on evidence-based teaching strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Science Bits: A multimedia science education program for middle and high school teachers based on the constructivist 5E learning model, promoting research-based STEM education.
• Math Bits

Products and services

• Science Bits A multimedia science education program for middle and high school teachers, providing research-based lessons in Biology, Geology, Physics, and Chemistry, structured around the 5E constructivist learning model. Enriched with interactive simulations, virtual experiments, 3D models, animations, and guided inquiry projects. Includes tools for tracking student progress and personalized teacher guidance.
• Math Bits A multimedia mathematics education program for secondary school teachers developed with mathematics education researchers. Provides constructivist 5E model lessons with interactive activities focused on concept construction and systematic individual practice tools featuring elaborative feedback for students.
• How Do We Learn (book) A book exploring the science of learning, presenting how people learn based on cognitive psychology research, published by the International Science Teaching Foundation.
• Learning to Learn: By Knowing Your Brain (book) A guide for students on learning strategies based on cognitive science, helping students improve their learning skills and academic performance through evidence-based approaches.
• researchED Online Course Online course for Spain featuring six masterclasses, interviews, and complementary materials by national and international experts in evidence-based education.
• Learn to Learn: Evidence-Based Learning Strategies (online course) Online course teaching cognitive science-based learning strategies to help students improve academic performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools implementing Science Bits show significant improvements in student science competencies compared to comparable schools not using the program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SeedSciencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025ISTF and SeedScience have formed a strategic partnership to promote sustainable teacher training in Africa. The partnership aims to reach more than 600 students in Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana through a pilot project using the Science Bits science education program. This alliance focuses on teacher training and educational program implementation in developing regions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Newsela: Digital content platform providing leveled instructional content and assessments across subjects for K-12 schools. Comparable to ISTF in offering subscription-based, research-backed digital instructional content to secondary school teachers with multimedia learning objects.
• PhET Interactive Simulations (University of Colorado Boulder): Free, research-based interactive science and mathematics simulations for K-12 and higher education. Overlaps with ISTF's interactive simulators and virtual experiments offering, targeting similar constructivist learning outcomes but distributed free of charge.
• Labster: Provider of virtual laboratory simulations and 3D science experiments for high school and higher education. Comparable to ISTF's interactive simulators and virtual experiments in offering immersive science learning experiences to schools.

Direct peers

• Khan Academy: Non-profit digital education platform offering free STEM lessons, practice exercises, and instructional videos to K-12 students and teachers worldwide. Closely comparable to ISTF in mission (non-profit, K-12 STEM), audience (secondary school teachers and students), and digital delivery model.
• Discovery Education: Provider of K-12 digital curriculum, multimedia science content, and professional development services to schools globally. Directly competes with Science Bits in the school-delivered digital science curriculum space, with overlapping customer base of secondary teachers and similar subscription revenue model.
• Twinkl: UK-based educational publishing platform offering teaching resources, lesson plans, and digital activities for K-12 teachers. Compares to ISTF in subscription-based delivery of teaching materials to primary and secondary school educators, with geographic overlap in the UK and Spain.
• BrainPOP: Subscription-based K-12 educational platform offering animated videos, quizzes, and interactive activities across science, math, and other subjects. Comparable to Science Bits and Math Bits in delivering multimedia, interactive STEM content to schools and secondary teachers.

Broad incumbents

• IXL Learning: Large-scale K-12 personalized learning platform covering math, science, English, and social studies with subscription licensing to schools. Comparable to Math Bits and Science Bits in delivering adaptive, research-based STEM content to schools via subscription.

Regional players

• Vicens Vives: Spanish educational publisher providing textbooks, digital resources, and STEM materials for K-12 schools. Comparable to ISTF's Science Bits and Math Bits in serving Spanish secondary schools with curriculum-aligned STEM content, with strong regional presence.
• SM Educación (Grupo SM): Spanish-language educational publisher offering textbooks and digital learning resources across K-12 curricula. Comparable to ISTF in providing curriculum-aligned science and math content to schools in Spain and Latin America, with similar school-adoption go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISTFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ISTFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalScienceTeachingFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/istfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-teaching

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Science Teaching