PBS Teachers and Classroom 2.0 host a series of free webinars for educators on digital media and technology in education. The new fall line up of PBS Teachers LIVE! webinars includes topics on science, digital storytelling, geography, social studies, education in the digital age, and online professional development and teaching resources. The series features leading education experts, authors, or PBS producers discussing timely and relevant curriculum-related topics, and sharing ways to use digital media to create rich learning experiences for students.
The full schedule is listed below and is available online. All webinars start at 8 p.m. ET and are moderated by Steve Hargadon, founder of Classroom 2.0. Teachers can participate in the webinars after signing up for free membership in PBS Teachers. Membership provides preK-12 educators with access to the PBS Teachers online community, all of PBS's educational services, and a searchable library of more than 9,000 free local and national standards-based teaching activities, lesson plans, on-demand video assets, and interactive games and simulations.
PBS Teachers was recently named a "Landmark Website for Teaching and Learning" by the American Association of School Libraries for exemplary dynamic content and curricular relevance. For more information on PBS Teachers LIVE!, visit www.pbs.org/teachers/webinar.
The first fall webinar is "Transforming Schools: P.O.V.'s 'The Principal Story'" on Sept. 1, 2009, at 8 p.m. with special guests Kerry Purcell, one of the principals featured in the film; David Mrazek, one of the filmmakers; and Eliza Licht, director of community engagement and education for P.O.V./American Documentary. "The Principal Story," airing on Sept. 15, paints two dramatic portraits of the challenges facing America's public schools-and the great difference a dedicated principal can make. The film takes the viewer along for an emotional ride and examines what effective educational leadership looks like in the 21st century. The speakers will discuss the making of the film, the critical work involved in transforming schools, and the wide array of high-quality educational resources available from P.O.V. to support educational leadership and reform.
PBS Teachers LIVE! Fall/Winter Schedule (as of Aug. 13, 2009)
September 2009
-Sept. 1: Transforming Schools: P.O.V.'s "The Principal Story"
Speakers: PBS producers and educators
Curriculum Connection: all subjects
-Sept. 21: Dig into Early Science Instruction With "Dinosaur Train"
Speakers: PBS KIDS producers, scientists and educators
Curriculum Connection: science
October 2009
-Oct. 7: Teaching About Place with Ken Burns' "National Parks: America's Best Idea
Speakers: PBS producers and curriculum experts
Curriculum Connection: geography, social studies, science
-Oct. 22: Welcome to the New PBS Teachers Web site
Speakers: PBS Teachers staff
Curriculum Connection: all subjects
November 2009
-Nov. 10: Education in the Digital Age: FRONTLINE's "Digital Nation"
Speakers: PBS producers and educators
Curriculum Connection: all subjects
December 2009
-Dec. 10: PBS TeacherLine: Online Professional Development for Educators
Speakers: PBS TeacherLine staff and educators
Curriculum Connection: all subjects
January 2010
-Jan. 26: Middle Level STEM Education featuring digital education resources from "Design Squad," "Fetch" and "DragonflyTV"
Speakers: PBS producers and educators
Curriculum Connection: science, technology, math
Source: PBS Teachers, pbsteachers.org