PBS Learning Media by PBS & WGBH Foundation is a colorful website containing media that is organized by subject matter, language, and grade level. There are tools for teachers such as lesson builders, quiz materials, and storyboard tools. Homework support is available for students. Resources such as peer reviewed articles, essays, and content summaries are included for each learning object.each learning object is aligned to educational standards.
Type of Material:
The Collection includes a variety of multimedia resources including videos, animations, interactive activities, quizzes and assessment activities.
The website also contains a suite of interactive tools:
Lesson builder
Quiz maker
Storyboard
Puzzle builder
These can be used to create or compile customized learning experiences.
Recommended Uses:
The learning objects on the websites can be used in class as a part of a lecture or assigned as homework assignments.
Technical Requirements:
The user should have Flash Player installed on their system
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The purpose of the site is present media content for use by students and teachers to explore different topics. Each learning object posted on the site has its own learning goals which are described in the About the Activity section.
The site provides K-12 teachers with a multimedia resource repository to support classroom teaching as well as interactive tools to assist them in developing customized learning experiences for their students.
Target Student Population:
The student population is Pre-K through college and teachers who teach at grade levels Pre-K through college.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Helpful but not required:
Knowledge of common core state standards for subjects
Knowledge of national standards for subjects
The first three views of resources are free -- after that, an account must be created (accounts are free.)
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
• High quality videos and animations with accompanying support materials
• Well designed interactive activities and tools
• Content aligned to common core and national standards for subject areas
Concerns:
The background essay does not have references which would demonstrate that it is informed by scholarship. The content in several subjects is not comprehensively covered. However, this is understandable given the scope of the project.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
• Flexibility to filter content by subject and grade level
• Website shows where all resources are linked to common core state standards and/or national standards where applicable
• Ability to combine resources to create customized learning experiences for different student groups
• Assessment tools can be linked to customized resource combinations
• Customized resource materials can be collected and saved to a personal dashboard for reuse
Concerns:
None
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
• Flexibility in selecting subject and grade level combinations
• Resources already aligned to national and common core state standards
• Template examples provided
• Customized materials can be collected and saved to a personal dashboard
• Training videos and webinars provided which show how to use website resources; conferences are also available
• PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators are teacher -ambassadors for the website
The website is easy to use. The menus are visually distinctive and simple to use.
Concerns:
None
Creative Commons:
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