Pennsylvania PBS continues educational support in time of remote learning

January 2021

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Education

Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) Representatives

discuss value of partnership with Pennsylvania PBS

“Being a part of this relationship and seeing the resources we’re highlighting and creating actually being used by teachers is really fulfilling.”

- Kelsi Wilcox Boyles, Education Program Specialist at Riverview Intermediate Unit #6

“One thing that’s really great about this partnership is how flexible we are as a group, because we’re always doing whatever we can to help the students. That’s our mission – to help students.”

- Sue Voigt, Educational Services Supervisor at Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15

“A lot of the educational programming was already there, but Pennsylvania PBS stations recognized that they have the capabilities of reaching students that aren’t connected or that don’t have internet or devices, kids that may have been struggling with the transition to remote or hybrid learning.”

- Stephanie Williams, IT Operations at NEIU19

Read the Full Q&A

Pennsylvania PBS and PA Department of Education (PDE) launch

'Educast: Datacasting for Education' Pilot Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed disparities across Pennsylvania with the use of remote learning. About 35,000 households in the state are estimated to lack access to high-speed internet, with another 350,000 under-connected Pennsylvanians. Datacasting offers a way to help bridge the digital divide.

While broadcasting refers to sending programming “over-the-air” across a geographic region that can be received by an antenna and played on a television, datacasting refers to using those same broadcasting signals to transmit educational data to be used on a computer. By supplying families with a small, inexpensive antenna and receiver, students will be able to download educational resources that are transmitted over the air waves without the need to connect to the internet.

Datacasting receivers and antennas are now in the hands of leadership at the Intermediate Units that cover the school districts involved in the state’s Connectivity to Learning pilot. The units are testing the devices and preparing programming over the next few weeks before the equipment is distributed to the end users in February.

Meanwhile, state-level work groups and district engagement groups are meeting to provide support and best practices around the pilot roll out. Thirty school districts across the Commonwealth will be involved in the pilot.

Congratulations National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Finalists & Winners!

Pennsylvania PBS won a Public Media Award for Battling Opioids in the Integrated Marketing Campaign category. This year, Battling Opioids was a finalist in the Integrated Marketing Campaign and News and Public Affairs Content categories.

PBS39 won four Public Media Awards for various programs. WVIA and WPSU were also announced as finalists in different categories of the 52nd Annual Public Media Awards presented by NETA. Each year, the Public Media Awards honor NETA members' work in education, community engagement, marketing/communications and content.

The Public Media Awards ceremony was held virtually on January 26th during the 2021 NETA Conference and CPB Thought Leader Forum.

Full List of Pennsylvania PBS Winners & Finalists

Learning at Home continues to help students

across the Commonwealth

It's a new year and Learning At Home is ready to help students through the second half of this school year! Working with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania PBS will continue to provide these educational videos and activities to support Pennsylvania students, teachers and families.

The February Learning At Home schedule is available in English and Spanish here and on our website.

Get the February schedule here

Join us every weekday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on your local PA PBS station!

Battling Opioids

Senator Gene Yaw serves Pennsylvania's 23rd district and is the Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Senator Yaw has been a panelist for many of the Battling Opioids programs -watch the video to learn why he values the educational work that Pennsylvania PBS stations do around the opioid epidemic.

Pennsylvania PBS presents the seventh collaborative program in the Battling Opioids television series. You'll hear from a Navy veteran who struggled with substance misuse, learn about the Behavioral Health Program at the Erie VA Medical Center, and understand why it's important to eliminate bias in the medical system to ensure that patients have access to all treatment modalities.

Battling Opioids Part 7 aired on January 28th on the Pennsylvania PBS stations. Watch it and previous programs on our website and social media platforms. Learn more by clicking below.

Learn More

Help is available - call Pennsylvania's Get Help Now Hotline or use the online chat

Get Help Now

1-800-662-HELP

(1-800-662-4357)

Pennsylvania PBS - Who We Are

Pennsylvania PBS (PA PBS) is the collective name for seven public media organizations located throughout the Commonwealth.

These include WHYY/Philadelphia, WITF/ Harrisburg, PBS39/WLVT/Bethlehem, WPSU/State College, WQED/Pittsburgh, WQLN/Erie, and WVIA/Scranton.

Our Vision

Inspired and empowered by its partners, Pennsylvania PBS will be a keystone in the civic, educational and cultural fabric of the Commonwealth.

Our Mission

To leverage, unify and amplify the education mission and collective impact of the 7 Pennsylvania PBS stations in the lives of all Pennsylvanians.

Pennsylvania PBS reaches over 12.4 million Pennsylvanians in large, diverse, rural and under-served communities.

Our Partners

PBS | NPR | APTS | 50 State