Transitioning to Digital Content: 3 Recommendations

By staff writers, eSchool News, April 13, 2013 — As a concept, using digital content in the classroom is nothing new. But making the leap from using traditional print textbooks to fully integrating digital content in the classroom can be intimidating. During a webinar sponsored by the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), some experienced digital content advocates shared how they implemented changes in their schools and districts.

In “Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook,” a recent SETDA report, the group issued three recommendations to help school leaders and policy makers guide and implement the use of digital content:

• Complete the shift from print-centric textbook adoption practices to digital resources within five years, beginning with the next major textbook adoption cycle

•  Develop a vision and roadmap for completing the shift, eliminate unnecessary or ineffective policies and regulations, invest in infrastructure and devices, and ensure effective implementation of digital learning policies

•  Ensure a vibrant marketplace for digital and open content

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Featured Resources: The Science of Movement and Importance of Exercise

Springtime offers the perfect backdrop for promoting physical activity and engaging students in immersive learning experiences. Use these resources from PBS LearningMedia to explore the science of movement and to highlight the importance of exercise in their daily lives:

Mixie’s Boogie Buffet  (Grades 1-4) What better way to kick off a lesson on exercise than to get students up on their feet with this “Fizzy’s Lunch Lab” interactive?

Power Your Body with Exercise  (Grades 5-8) Invite students to examine the changes that occur in the body in response to physical activity.

Increasing Physical Activity in Schools (Grades 13+)  High levels of physical activity  support learning on-task behavior and the development of life-long wellness.  Learn how to increase the activity level at your school using this self-paced lesson.

Titanium Chairs & Cheetah Legs  (Grades 6-12) Introduce students to the specialized wheelchairs, prosthetics and other high-tech tools that allow Paralympic athletes to compete.

The Truth About Exercise (Grades 6-13+) An obesity expert proposes that the best way to lose weight and improve health is to increase your “NEAT” level.  Ask students to investigate his theory.

PBS LearningMedia is honored to be counted among this year’s recipients of the 2013 SIIA CODiE Award for both “Best Education Reference Solution” and “Best K12 Solution” in the Education Technology category!

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Hispanic History, Culture & Spanish Speaking Skills

Expand  students’ understanding of Hispanic history and culture while helping to develop their Spanish language skills with resources from PBS Learning Media.   These  featured interactive games, video clips, and lesson plans  are designed to engage learners and enhance curriculum.  If you’ve  yet to do so, you can  create a free account on PBS LearningMedia to search, save, and share your favorite resources.

The Storm that Swept Mexico: Revolutionary Art
Grades 9-12 | Video | Visual Art and History
Explore the Mexican Muralist Movement and consider the role of art as social commentary using this video resource from Latino Public Broadcasting.

Rough Riders
Grads 6-12 | Video | Spanish American War
Use this resource to enhance lessons on the Spanish American War, Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, and New Mexico’s path toward statehood.

Baseball and Social Change: The Story of Roberto Clemente
Grades: 5-8 | Blended Lesson | Literacy Skill Development
Invite students to examine the relationship between culture and identity through the story of baseball legend Roberto Clemente.

Hispanic Exploration in America
Grades: 4-12 | Media Gallery | Teaching with Primary Resources
Gain insight into the Hispanic exploration, colonization, and conquests in North America by examining a collection of primary sources from the Library of Congress.
*If you like this resource – you might like this online course.

The Red Balloon
Grades K-2 | Lesson Plan, Games | Spanish Vocabulary
¡Pruébalo! Develop your students’ Spanish language skills using this collection of videos and interactive games from “Oh Noah!”

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Boosting Student Performance — It’s About Relationships

By Meris Stansbury, Associate Editor, eSchool News, May 8, 2013 — “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like,” says Rita Pierson, a veteran educator and recent TED Talks Education speaker. According to Pierson, connecting with students on a real, human level is the key to improving student performance.

Pierson, who’s been a professional educator for 40 years, has worked at every level of the public school spectrum from elementary through high school. Having been in education for such a long time, she says she’s witnessed many changes, all aimed at school improvement and boosting student performance.

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PBS LearningMedia: New Content Collections

We hope you like the new look and feel of the PBS LearningMedia site ! You can also view it on your tablet or phone for an optimized experience and explore great new content collections like these:

Freedom Riders

NOVAscienceNow

NOVA: Making Stuff

Between the Lions

Environmental Public Health

Thanks for your patience if you notice bugs with this enhanced site, which PBS is working hard to fix.  And when you find a classroom resource or want to share your experience with PBS LearningMedia,  please leave a comment.  We appreciate hearing from you!

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Free Professional Development Resources from PBS LearningMedia

PBS is eager to support your efforts both inside and outside of the classroom.  At PBS LearningMedia you can explore hundreds of free professional development resources.  Here is just a sampling:

Reading Buddies: Anna  (For K-2nd grade teachers / Video / Reading fluency)
Watch as an older student models fluent reading with a kindergarten-aged English language learner (ELL). Notice strategies such as page-turning prompts that make the experience more effective.

Setting Up a Book Corner  (For PreK-2nd grade teachers / Video / Classroom) In this teacher training video, Theo the Lion interviews Kimberly Triplett of the Early Childhood Institute at Mississippi State University who describes how successful book corners have been set up in learning environments, childcare centers, and home daycare facilities.

Benefits of Curriculum Mapping   (For K-13+ / Video  / Video Sequence)  With this resource group, teachers can explore the benefits of curriculum mapping. This group includes a review of how curriculum mapping can influence a school, a video example of a horizontal curriculum map, and a video example of the optimal group configuration for the read-through of a curriculum map.

Build a Rubric  (For 9-13+ / Video)  Rubrics provide students with clear expectations and consistent feedback. Build a customizable rubric that can be used for any writing activity your class might be completing.

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New Courses from PBS TeacherLine

With the potential challenges of winter weather, online courses can be the best way to meet your professional development needs.  Offering courses with the quality you expect from PBS,  TeacherLine’s Winter Term begins on January 23rd. You can explore the full catalog of online courses to discover what courses will serve your teaching practice.  In addition to the many courses that educators continue to value, here are two new ones:

MATH522: Teaching Math (Grades K-2): A Special Collection from Annenberg Learner
For K-2nd grade teachers | 45 Hours | Syllabus | Sign Up
This inquiry-based course offers math teachers a deep-dive into the NCTM process standards. During the course, teachers will explore ways to expand their practice, and develop lesson plans for each of the five standards.

SCIE572: The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to Environmental Science-A Special Collection from Annenberg Learner
For 9-12th grade teachers | 45 Hours | Syllabus | Sign Up
This course helps to provide a background for understanding and discussing the different Earth systems: geophysical systems, the atmosphere, the oceans, and natural ecosystems. Examine the unique characteristics that make our planet habitable and investigate the effects of human activity on different natural systems.

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Careers in Science

What better time to discuss careers and goal setting with your students than on the cusp of a new year? This month, PBS LearningMedia features a collection of resources focused on STEM careers that’s both motivating and insightful.  Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find from PBS’s digital media library for preK-13+ educators:

I Want to Be A Scientist!  (PreK-1, Video Group) Inspire curiosity around careers in science as your early learners follow Sid and his classmates on a trip to the Science Center where they meet a real-world biologist, a chemist, an engineer, and an astronaut.

Scientist Profiles (Grades 4-6, Videos): Robotic Life Scientist Inspired by “Star Wars,” this MIT professor works on the development of robots that display personality. Take a look at this fun, high-tech career (Spanish version also available.)  Game Designer:  Do your students love video games and sports? So does David Ortiz. Show them how computer science, design, and math influence his work as a video game designer.

 Designing a Roller Coaster  (Grades 5-12, Video and Discussion)  Introduce your students to roller coaster designer, Chris Gray. Learn how the forces of gravity and potential energy impact his work as an engineer and help him manufacture a thrilling roller coaster experience.

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Sneak Peek at Enhanced Version of PBS LearningMedia

PBS LearningMedia is your destination for easy, instant access to tens of thousands of classroom-ready, digital resources including videos and interactives perfect for the Interactive Whiteboard, plus audio and photos, and even in-depth lesson plans. You can search, save and share and, best of all, this digital media content library is free for educators!

PBS LearningMedia is launching an enhanced version of the site in a few weeks, and you can get a sneak peek of the preview site now. We hope you like the new look and feel of the PBS LearningMedia site and suggest that, if possible, you try viewing it on your tablet for an optimized experience. Explore great new content collections like these:

• Environmental Public Health
• Freedom Riders
• American Masters
• Martha Speaks
• From the Top at Carnegie Hall

While you may notice bugs in this preview site, PBS is working hard to fix them as they’re discovered, and we thank you for your patience as PBS LearningMedia is improved.

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Save the Date: “The World of Water” Teacher Conference

Keynote Speaker Fabien Cousteau

Save the Date!  On Friday, April 5, 2013, Wilbraham & Monson Academy will sponsor “The World of Water”, a half-day professional development conference focused on the incorporation of water and economics learning into the classroom.

The highlight of the day will be a Keynote speech from Fabien Cousteau, son of Jean-Michel Cousteau and grandson of the late Jacques Cousteau, entitled “What’s Good for Water is Good for Business”.

Registration will open in the coming weeks, but please mark your calendars.  We hope you will join us for what looks to be an exciting day!

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