PBS exec visits WGVU Public Media

Alicia Levi, vice president of education at PBS, visited WGVU Public Media to discuss the success of PBS LearningMedia and future K-16 educational initiatives.

Levi spoke at the WGVU Engage luncheon September 16 at the Eberhard Center. 

PBS LearningMedia is a free media-on-demand content platform designed to support technology and digital resource integration into the classroom. WGVU Public Media and the College of Education formed a partnership last year to offer the service to students and professors.

Levi praised Grand Valley for the rare partnership. "Kids are growing up with digital media and can leverage its content in ways that we can't," Levi said. "They are digital natives and expect it in the classroom. Our focus continues to be on engaging and inspiring students to learn, not just entertainment."

Levi said technology is an amazing tool for the 21st century classroom and they seek to understand what educators want and the challenges they face. "We focus on teachers first; they are the gateway," she said. "PBS LearningMedia offers trusted, quality content that is research based."

The College of Education uses the custom service to train future teachers on how to successfully incorporate digital media to fuel deeper discussions and understanding of curriculum topics. More information is available at www.pbslearningmedia.org. 

The WGVU Fall Preview will be held September 17, from 6:15-7:30 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Lesli Rotenberg, general manager for PBS Children's Media, will be the featured speaker.