Enhanced Content Library and New Content Management, User and Analytics Tools Help Educators More Effectively Manage the Use of Digital Media in Classrooms
San Antonio, TX, June 24, 2013 – As the demand for technology in the classroom continues to rise, PBS LearningMedia and local PBS member stations today announced a new custom service tier available for purchase by schools and districts nationwide. PBS LearningMedia, developed in partnership with WGBH, launched as a free service at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference two years ago to deliver thousands of high-quality digital resources for use in classrooms and with homeschoolers across the country. Now, the new PBS LearningMedia Custom Service includes enhanced features and functionality, along with more than 800 additional hours of added digital content drawn from PBS programming such as Ken Burns CIVIL WAR, NOVA, FRONTLINE and an array of PBS KIDS programs that further deepen educator and student engagement with digital media.
PBS will officially launch the custom service tier for PBS LearningMedia at the International Society for Technology in Education 2013 Conference being held June 23-26, in San Antonio (ISTE 2013 Booth #10270). Today, nearly one million educators have registered access to PBS LearningMedia and the new custom service tier enriches the free service by including tools to help administrators manage this media-on-demand service, thousands of valuable resources not available through the free service, plus the option for schools to manage and add content that meets the needs of local classroom instruction.
“The PBS LearningMedia Custom Service provides an innovative solution to administrators looking to manage costs and educators who are using technology to transform classrooms,” said Alicia Levi, Managing Director, PBS LearningMedia. “Teachers who have been using PBS LearningMedia in their classrooms report a higher level of student engagement and say PBS LearningMedia’s digital asset library helps fuel deeper discussions and understanding of science, history, social studies and other lessons. The custom tier of PBS LearningMedia offers a range of new tools, content and enhanced analytics that are designed to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement.”
Features of the PBS LearningMedia Custom Service include:
• More than 800 hours of additional content
• Robust user management tools
• Content management tools allowing for the upload and contextualization of local content
• Comprehensive analytics tools
• State standards alignment
The custom service provides an enhanced classroom experience and is available for purchase today. To inquire about how to purchase the service, contact PBS LearningMedia at LearningMedia@pbs.org or 1-800-572-6386.
About PBS LearningMedia
As America’s largest classroom, 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 LearningMedia, a partnership of PBS and WGBH Educational Foundation, is a free media-on-demand service available to educators nationwide. It brings together the best of public media and delivers research-based, classroom-ready rich media experiences that engage students in exploring curriculum concepts that align with National and Common Core State Standards. Drawing from critically acclaimed PBS programs such as NOVA, Frontline, American Experience, and PBS KIDS programs like Sid The Science Kid, as well as content from organizations including The National Archives Smithsonian, NPR and NASA, the free service offers teachers access to more than 30,000 videos, images and articles to enrich classroom instruction. Nationwide, more than 900,000 teachers have registered access to PBS LearningMedia. More information about PBS LearningMedia is available at www.pbslearningmedia.org or by following PBS LearningMedia on Twitter and Facebook.
# # #
Media Contact:
Melissa Mills, PBS; 703.739.8134; mkmills@pbs.org
Meredith Gandy, 646.568.3238; mgandy@360PR.com
