Classroom-ready, standards-aligned resources and updated features offer flexibility for today’s educators on the popular free platform
Arlington, VA – September 4, 2018 – Just in time for the new school year, PBS and WGBH, the public media station serving the Boston area, today unveiled the new PBS LearningMedia website, making thousands of digital resources more accessible to educators and students across the country. In response to teachers’ needs, the new features include simple browsing by curriculum area, state/national standards and grade; improved search functionality; a refreshed look and easier access to local PBS station resources.
PBS LearningMedia, a partnership between PBS and WGBH, sees more than one million unique users visit it each month during the school year to access free, high-quality, classroom-ready resources -- including videos, images, lesson plans, articles, primary sources and more. PBS LearningMedia offers access to trusted content to supplement their curriculum for any grade level. The platform offers a wide array of resources from the many genres that PBS stations are known for – from science programs and documentaries, to news and public affairs, history and the arts — and contextualizes them so that they are easy for teachers to implement. These materials also include content from PBS KIDS series that teach important foundational early learning skills, including literacy, STEM, social-emotional development and social studies.
“At PBS, we know that educators are among the most influential figures in children’s lives and that they know their students best,” said Sara Schapiro, Vice President of Education, PBS. “With the redesign of PBS LearningMedia, we started with teachers’ needs to create an easy-to-use, intuitive site that offers them the tools and flexibility to create high quality learning experiences for their students through enriching media that sparks curiosity.”
Since launching in 2011, PBS LearningMedia, has evolved to meet the growing needs of teachers and students across the country, and with this latest redesign, it is more accessible and easier to use than ever before. Last year, PBS LearningMedia integrated with platforms such as Google Classroom, Clever and Remind, making the site compatible with the tools teachers use most. These integrations ensure resources are easily accessible and make the user experience seamless. Educators who create a free account on the site are able unlock all features, including a complete teacher dashboard, rostering and assignment functionality, and access to all interactive lessons.
“We work closely with PreK-12 educators to develop PBS LearningMedia’s digital resources to support deep curricular integration. We are pleased to carry teacher voices into the updated site design, where they will be able to quickly identify and access relevant and engaging classroom-ready materials,” said Seeta Pai, Executive Director of Education, WGBH.
Educators can explore the new design and thousands of high-quality public media resources at pbslearningmedia.org.
About PBS LearningMedia
As America’s most trusted institution and number-one children’s educational media brand, PBS is committed to supporting teachers on their journey to spark students’ curiosity. PBS LearningMedia, a partnership of PBS and WGBH Educational Foundation, is an online destination that offers free access to thousands of resources from PBS stations and partners. These digital tools are designed to enhance classroom instruction -- from videos, images and interactives, to lesson plans, articles and primary sources. Available to all educators pre-K through 12th grade, PBS LearningMedia offers classroom-ready content aligned to state and national standards, compatible with the tools teachers use most, such as Google Classroom, and contextualized with supporting materials. Each month, more than one million unique users visit PBS LearningMedia to enhance teaching practice and support student learning. Learn more at pbslearningmedia.org.
Contacts:
Maria Vera Whelan, PBS; 703.739.3225; mverawhelan@pbs.org
Lindsay Hyman, Allison+Partners; 202.591.1127; pbs@allisonpr.com
