What exactly is PBS LearningMedia, and how does it work?

PBS LearningMedia is a free online service provided through a partnership between PBS and WGBH Educational Foundation. LearningMedia provides PreK–12 educators nationwide with access to more than 30,000 digital resources that offer rich supports for teaching and learning in and across the disciplines. It represents one of the most promising collections of K–12 educational assets on the Web, containing educational media from PBS programs and national organizations such as the National Archives, NASA, and the Smithsonian. PBS LearningMedia offers teachers and students access to video, interactive, audio, document, and image resources, along with lesson plans and learning activities, all of which are linked to National and Common Core State Standards.

 

Reasearch Study

In July and August, teachers worked closely with the EDC study team members to design and develop a supplementary curriculum guide in specific subject areas. Because the examination of student impact included in this study design will be conducted within a timeframe that is less than a typical school year, it is necessary to orchestrate within the study timeframe teacher and student experiences that adequately cover target content. Within the context of a research study, there is often little or no time available for this ramp-up period, and the Experience Guide and accompanying professional development can help educators engage with new or different materials with minimal preparation and practice.

 

The research activities that will accompany this work will include the distribution and collection of pre- and post- student surveys, the completion of pre- and post- teacher surveys, and the completion of weekly online instructional logs. We also will collect information through bi-monthly observations and informal interviews to document the curriculum implementation process.

 

The PBS LearningMedia impact study is being carried out between July 1, 2014, and November 30, 2014.

 

The study will address three key questions:

• What is the impact on teachers’ knowledge and skills?

• What is the impact on classroom practices?

• What is the impact on student learning?

 

Thank you for your participation in this important work. We couldn’t do it without you!