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California's PBS Stations Announce Educational TV Schedule and Digital Learning Resources

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 03/16/20
PBS LearningMedia

Public broadcasting stations in California have announced plans to support students sequestered at home because of COVID-19 by delivering schedules of daily education television programs that mesh with state learning standards. The organizations have also compiled a set of free digital learning resources accessible from home.

The programming will be produced by KQED, PBS SoCal and the Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest school system in the country in terms of enrollment.

In Northern California, the KQED schedule will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and includes specific blocks of time for grades pre-K through 12. Subjects will cover English language arts, social studies, science and math.

In Southern California, students will be able to access different programming based on grade level:

Elementary student broadcasts will include Peg + Cat, Martha Speaks and Sesame Street. Middle and high school programming will include programs like NOVA, American Masters and Shakespeare Uncovered. Additional PBS programs are also available to stream on the free PBS Video and PBS KIDS apps.

Educators can also access videos, lesson plans, hosted training sessions and self-guided how-to resources through PBS LearningMedia. KQED has also begun delivering real-time webinars for teachers on how to start using these learning platforms. PBS LearningMedia webinars are offered twice daily and KQED Learn webinars are offered twice weekly. (Scroll to the bottom of the PBS Learning web page to find "Teacher Events.")

"These school closures bring unique challenges for teachers, parents and caregivers in how to keep teenagers and kids engaged and learning" said KQED President and CEO Michael Isip, in a statement. "As a community-based public media station and as a hub for digital learning resources, [we] can play a critical role in helping create a learning environment with trusted and quality resources outside of the classroom and at home."

Find more resources for schools during the COVID-19 crisis here.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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