March 2021
Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education Representative
discusses growth and impact of partnership with Pennsylvania PBS
Since students in Pennsylvania transitioned to remote and hybrid learning models, Pennsylvania PBS and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) have worked together to continue providing educational content and opportunities to students and educators across the Commonwealth.

Judd Pittman is the Special Consultant to the Secretary of Education on STEM. With the transition to remote learning, Pittman has worked directly with Pennsylvania PBS on several collaborative projects with the goal of doing just that.

In this Q&A session, he discusses the development, growth, and impact of the partnership between Pennsylvania PBS and PDE.


“We are so committed as a collective to supporting learners, educators, and families that it’s just awesome to be able to work with the Pennsylvania PBS community. I think the value of this partnership will be in how long we can continue to collectively influence the reimagining of learning post-pandemic.”

- Judd Pittman, Special Consultant to the Secretary of Education on STEM
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania PBS offers resources for educators
PBS39 and Penn State Lehigh Valley partner to offer statewide self-paced course on distance learning and PBS digital resources
PBS39 and Penn State Lehigh Valley are partnering to offer "Distance Learning with PBS Digital Resources." It's a self-paced course designed to provide Pre-K through 2nd grade educators anywhere in Pennsylvania with an overview of PBS LearningMedia resources and guidance as to how they can incorporate these resources into their teaching practice, especially with distance learning.

Pennsylvania teachers will learn how to design and create themed classrooms by blending strong pedagogy with various digital resources and how to bridge all these applications together to benefit student learning in their distance learning classrooms.

Registration is $25 and closes on March 31, 2021. A limited number of scholarships are available.
Social Emotional Learning Day 2021
Governor Tom Wolf proclaimed March 26, 2021 as Pennsylvania Social Emotional Learning Day. This is the same day as International Social Emotional Learning Day.

Social Emotional Learning refers to the process of learning and applying the skills of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.

Pennsylvania PBS stations recognize the importance of Social Emotional Learning, especially with less social interactions as a result of quarantines and stay at home orders.

This month, WQLN partnered with IU15 and Early Learning Resource Center Region 1 to offer a free webinar called "Exploring Emotions," which discussed Social Emotional Learning. Pennsylvania PBS has also hosted webinars in the past that focus on Social Emotional Learning with resources for educators. The station also launched Ready, Set Music in 2020. The program uses songs and paired activities to help children explore and express their emotions.
WHYY continues N.I.C.E Initiative
WHYY is continuing work on its N.I.C.E. initiative. It’s a two-year effort to map and facilitate the future of grass-roots content creators in the Philadelphia area. WHYY’s News and Information Community Exchange has been mapping and facilitating local creators who share content, sources, wisdom and audiences with WHYY and each other. WHYY calls N.I.C.E. a “mutual aid journalism collaborative” that aims to organize, support, and develop grass-roots news and information content creators. 

N.I.C.E is managed by WHYY’s Community Outreach Organizer, Eric Marsh Sr., who says the initiative is an opportunity for WHYY to “sit down at the table” with community members to help better represent their audience. Partners of N.I.C.E come from all areas of broadcasting including newspapers, radio stations, blogging and digital content production. The first eight members joined the N.I.C.E team last Fall, and WHYY plans on including more talented creators in the future.

Celebrating Holocaust Remembrance Day
Holocaust Remembrance Day is Thursday, April 8th. Learning at Home recognizes this important date with programs and specials that help students reflect on the historical significance of the Holocaust. Programs on April's Learning At Home schedule include: "We'll Meet Again - Surviving the Holocaust", "Eva: A-7063", and "My Grandparents' War". “The Last Survivors” from Frontline is available to stream from PBS.
Celebrating Earth Day 2021
Learning at Home celebrates Earth Day on April 22nd with special programs that highlight the wonder of the world around us and the importance of working to protect it. Students of all ages will find something to help deepen their understanding and appreciation of our precious environment. Support material from PBS LearningMedia allows young conservationists to dive even deeper. Program's on April's Learning At Home schedule include: "Greta Thunberg: A Year To Save the Planet", "Growing a Greener World", "Into The Outdoors", and "Florida Keys: Protecting Paradise".
Learning at Home continues programming for students
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 through Learning At Home.

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

Join us every weekday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on your local PA PBS station!
Pennsylvania PBS - Who We Are

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


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