Exploring PBS Resources for K-12 Educators
Carrie Lowe
Multimedia resources such as Web sites and video can enrich student learning andbring concepts to life. However, finding ways to integrate these resources intoschool libraries or classroom instruction can be difficult, and locating the rightresource among the vast number of Web sites and videos can be daunting. PBS TeacherSource (http://pbs.org/teachersource) and the PBS VIDEOdatabase of America's History and Culture (http://pbsvideodb.pbs.org) allow library media specialists and teachers to find and use high-quality multimedia resources withease.1
What is PBS TeacherSource?
Most PBS programming features extended taping and broadcasting rights for educators,and the PBS.org Web site offers companion online content for most of these programs.
PBS TeacherSource helps educators navigate the array of available resources fromPBS. For example, TeacherSource contains more than two thousand free lesson plansin arts and literature, health and fitness, science and technology, and socialstudies. These are correlated to more than 230 sets of state and national curriculumstandards and can be searched by keyword, grade level, subject, or topic.
In addition, TeacherSource supports professional development through monthly articleswritten by subject area experts, lists of more than 1,200 recommended books andWeb sites, and advice on integrating technology into classroom instruction. TeacherSourcealso produces the PBS Teacher Previews newsletter, a free e-mail guide to theweek ahead in PBS programming and PBS.org Web sites. To familiarize yourself withTeacherSource, take the site tour (http://pbs.org/teachersource/siteguide/siteguide.shtm ).
What Makes PBS TeacherSource Different?
In addition to the lesson plans matched to relevant standards, there are teachingtips on how to use material in the classroom. The "TV for Teachers" section gives information on copyright, taping rights, and other essential topics.There are links to special resources for teachers, such as The NewsHour's EXTRAsite for teens and the PBS Kids site.
PBS's approach to educational resources is to help teachers and librariansseamlessly integrate online, video, and even print resources. An example ofthis is the material available for Ken Burns' Jazz series. The lessonJazz Is about Freedom (http://pbs.org/jazz/classroom/jazzfreedom.htm) uses video clips to provide a historical contextfor and understanding of both lynching and protest music. Further,students are directed to use primary source documents available through theNational Archives and Records Administration to learn more about the historyof lynching. Finally, they can create projects to organize and synthesize theinformation they find.
Another PBS TeacherSource teacher's guide that takes full advantage ofmultimedia is Journey into Amazonia (http://pbs.org/journeytoamazonia/teacher.html ) Online lesson plansincorporate information from a variety of resources -- including video clipsfrom the documentary, library materials, Internet sites, and more to createrich, complete learning experiences. Plus, the lessons suggest extensions forstudents, families, or classes who want to get more involved in Amazon rainforestconservation.
The integration of different sources of information (online, video, print, etc.)is a central tenet of information literacy. In this framework, students learnto extract information from the most appropriate source and view technology resourcesas tools in the information problem-solving process. This ability to sift throughavailable sources of information to find the proper one is a skill for lifelonglearning.
What Is the VIDEOdatabase of America's History and Culture?
The VIDEOdatabase is a new program offered by PBS to help schools establisha complete, definitive collection of PBS videos for classroom use. In total,the collection includes 332 videocassette volumes, with more than 21,000 minutesof PBS video. The video library features documentary programs such as TheCivil War; Lewis and Clark; Eyes on the Prize; Liberty! The American Revolution;American Visions; The Great War; and American Experience. All resourcesare indexed and searchable either in print (in the provided VIDEOdatabase index)or in the online index (http://pbsvideodb.pbs.org/main.asp?browser_detect=ns ).
Each video has a built-in timeclock at the bottom righthand corner of the screenso that an instructor can find a specific video clip illustrating a topic withouthaving to search through an entire video. Furthermore, the entire collection iscorrelated to state and national education standards in order to help instructorsconstruct meaningful and on-target lessons. The VIDEOdatabase adds about twenty hours of new videos each year and can be leased as well as purchased. Subscriptions come with in-service support and access to such ancillary content as primary source documents, images, and teaching guides. Educators can take a tour of this database as well (http://pbsvideodb.pbs.org/quick_tour/default.asp ). This Web tour samples the resources PBS makes available for educators.
To stay current, sign up for the PBS Teacher Previews Newsletter (http://pbs.org/teachersource/previews/subscribe.shtm), a free weekly e-mail publication that highlights upcoming programming, Web sites, and special events.7
Carrie Lowe is the Education Associate for the Public Broadcasting Service in Arlington, Va.
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