Repository of PBS digital education assets will enable PBS member stations to create offerings tailored to the needs of their local communities
ARLINGTON, Va., June 29, 2009 - PBS today announced the launch of the PBS Digital Learning Library, a PBS system-wide online repository of digital education assets from public broadcasting programs and services nationwide. The PBS Digital Learning Library will be a comprehensive source of "learning objects," including video, audio, images, games, and interactive simulations designed specifically for classroom use, delivered to teachers exclusively through local PBS stations. Services to deliver these resources to teachers and learners will be available in fall 2009.
As part of an ongoing, multi-year research initiative to identify and provide effective digital media in the classroom, PBS is aggregating its educational content to make it more accessible and practical for classroom use. With the support of content development grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the PBS Digital Learning Library will contain high-quality multimedia resources from PBS member stations and award-winning PBS broadcast programs, all aligned to national and local education standards and tagged for easy searching. The video resources will be provided in short segments that are more classroom-friendly than 30- and 60-minute television programs, and adapted to meet the needs of teachers and students in a 21st-century teaching and learning environment.
"PBS local stations and producers across the country have been developing high-quality digital media for the classroom for many years," said Kimberly Smith, vice president of education for PBS. "Until now, there has been no way to share these rich resources across the system. For the last two years, we have been working in partnership with our local stations on the planning and implementation of a repository focused on cataloging purpose-built, teacher-tested digital content. The PBS Digital Learning Library will aggregate a growing set of learning objects that teachers and students will be able to interact with, assemble, share, and modify to create truly engaging and transformative educational experiences. And the best part, access to these rich resources will be offered through customized digital services provided by local PBS stations."
As the main point of service to teachers, PBS member stations will adapt the resources in the Digital Learning Library to meet the needs of educators in their community and to offer new educational services and content. Today, a number of PBS stations offer digital education services, including Maryland Public Television's Thinkport (www.thinkport.org) and WGBH's Teacher's Domain (www.teachersdomain.org).
Over 20 member stations have been participating in a PBS Digital Learning Library pilot as content contributors and a number of the pilot stations are planning on launching digital education services. Stations participating in the pilot include: KAET, KET, KLRN, KNME, KQED, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Maryland Public Television, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, SCETV, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, ThinkTV (Ohio Digital Classroom), Utah Education Network, Vegas PBS, WGBH, WHRO, WOUB, WNEO, WNET, WPSU, WVIZ, WXXI, Wyoming PBS and NewsHour.
With the launch of the PBS Digital Learning Library, many more stations will have access to this wide range of digital content, beginning with the 2009-10 school year.
For more information or updates on the PBS Digital Learning Library, go to www.pbsteachers.org/dll.
About PBS Teachers
PBS Teachers (www.pbs.org/teachers) provides preK-12 educators a central Web destination to access PBS' educational services, including a searchable library of more than 9,000 local and national multimedia resources, and an online professional learning community where teachers can share ideas, collaborate, and discuss effective technology integration. Within the online community, educators can search for digital instructional resources, then easily bookmark, annotate, share and manage their tagged content. PBS Teachers is also home to the popular education blog Media Infusion (pbs.org/mediainfusion), which focuses on practical ways to integrate multimedia resources and technology into the classroom. Teachers can sign up for free membership in PBS Teachers to enjoy access to the PBS Teachers community and monthly webinars, and to receive discounts to ShopPBS for Teachers.
About PBS
PBS, with its 357 member stations, offers all Americans - from every walk of life - the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches more than 115 million people on-air and online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and Web site, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet.
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