From: tflavell@pbs.org
Newsgroups: alt.education.distance,k12.ed.special,misc.misc,k12.ed.science
Subject: PBS School Programming Highlights +
Date: 26 Jan 93 17:05:15 GMT
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA

To: 	School Media Specialists, ITV Specialists, Education Liasons
Fr:	PBS Elementary/Secondary Service
Dt:	January 26,1993
Re:	PBS Programming Highlights and Other News

REGIONALS TO CONDUCT FOCUS GROUPS TO INFORM PBS & SYSTEM'S MULTICHANNEL 
PLANNING

With the launch of the Telstar 401 satellite in 1994 public television 
will have the technical capacity to dramatically increase it's service 
to schools.  Multiple channels of programming resources will be 
possible via Telstar 401, in addition to a two-way fully interactive 
communications network via VSAT.

In order for public television to make informed decisions about the 
best ways to harness this technology in the service of education, we 
need to know much more about how schools currently use technology, the 
impact that technology has on learning, the  obstacles to technology 
use, and the future role of technology given major school 
restructuring efforts currently underway.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's 1991 School Utilization 
Study provides an excellent snapshot of schools' use of technology.  
However, there are inherent limitations to this quantitative research 
which, by its "paper and pencil nature", paints a picture of a moment- 
in-time and therefore cannot fully reflect the diversity of schools, 
their changing educational needs nor the ability of rapidly changing 
technology to meet those needs.

In order to get a more complete picture of the current and future use 
of technology in schools, we need to be able to probe more deeply, to 
find out what's behind the numbers, to discover the best ways for 
public television to assist schools and communities in meeting the 
educational challenges they face.  This requires a qualitative 
research approach.

Since the success of new educational services/resources provided by 
public television will be measured by the extent to which those 
services are needed, valued and used by schools and communities, it 
makes sense then to establish a process for talking more directly with 
those for whom the services are intended.

PBS has asked the learning services vice presidents of three regional 
public television organizations (SECA, CEN, PMN) to work with member 
stations and agencies to convene focus groups of educators, 
administrators, school board members, and parents, to begin to this 
process.  By design, this process will operate from the bottom up, 
with educational needs as the driving force for the development of 
technology applications.

Each of the regional organizations will select 2-3 member stations and 
work with them to convene audio-bridge or in-person school focus 
groups.  The main topics to be explored are: (1) the impact of 
technology use in the classroom; (2) the barriers to technology use in 
the classroom; and (3) future plans for technology use in the 
classroom.  A technology profile for each school or district involved 
in the focus group audio bridges will also be compiled.

The regionals will provide a summary of these preliminary focus group 
discussions to PBS and others as necessary and appropriate, for 
multichannel planning purposes.  This is only the first round of focus 
groups.  There may be others based on the outcome of the first round.  
We hope you will stand ready and willing to support your regional in 
this important endeavor!


PBS E/SS PROGRAMMING CATALOG UPDATE: MARK YOUR BALLOTS!

On December 20th, E/SS mailed it's Catalog Update to all PBS station 
Education Service Directors.  This packet 
contains all revisions and additions which have been made since the 
PBS Elementary/Secondary Service Catalog (3-ring binder) was sent to 
them in March of 1992.  We have added three new leased-ITV series to 
our lineup which are available for use in '93-94 ITV 
schedules: UNDER THE MICROSCOPE; THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY 
SPECIALS; and PYRAMID (a companion to CASTLE & CATHEDRAL).  The Catalog 
Update includes entries for some free programs, and updated entries 
for other series.  Francis Thompson and Tom Flavell are standing by to 
assist you in making your ITV selections for the 93-94 school year.  
Please call them at (703) 739-5402 with questions.


PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

January Highlights

IN THE MIX, the 1992 CPB Gold Award winner for children's programming, 
premieres on PBS as a weekly one-hour show for teens January 30, 1993.  
IN THE MIX is a fast-paced, power-packed, magazine-format hour, mixing 
the hottest music videos with informatin teens want and need to know, 
spoofs with sober reality and serious thought-provoking coverage of 
major issues, put together in cutting-edge style.  Segments, produced 
in New york and in other locations around the country, include "What 
Do You Do When?", covering common frustrating problems with parents, 
peers, and teachers; "Celebs Up Close and Personal," talking with 
celebrities about growing up, coping (or not) with problems, and 
making it in show business; "What's Happenin'," showcasing hot topics 
like the latest hip hop dance moves, or looking at cross-sporting and 
how teens feel about competing with the opposite sex, etc.; "It's your 
Life," examining the rampant use of steroids among young people and 
the consequences, conflict resolution, coping with violence in 
schools, and more; "News You Can Use," covering topics like credit 
cards, expensive status-symbol clothes, mail frauds, and finding 
scholarship money while spotting scams.  The series is a mix of all 
the topics teens around the country have asked the producers to 
explore.  

WNYC already has program managers at 17 stations in the top 20 markets 
carrying the series.  If your station would like to add the series to 
its schedule, contact Cyndi Addison at 212-669-4384. WNYC will help 
your station maximize viewership with a national, high profile 
promotion campaign as well as an outreach component.  For example, 
informational segments will be backed up with printed materials; 
regular monthly features, such as "Teens Who Make A Difference," will 
encourage community/school participation; and periodic in-depth 
specials, similar to TEENS TALK AIDS, presented at FirstView in August 
1992, will be offered.  (TEENS TALK AIDS will be fed again by the 
National Program Service in 1993; look for a DACS message and/or 
update in this newsletter.)  For more information on the outreach 
component contact Vivien Stern, Outreach Director, at WNYC, phone #: 
212-669-8865, fax #: 212-669-4395.  For information on purchasing 
videotapes for institutional use, contact PBS Video at 1-800-344-3337.   

CLUB CONNECT premieres on PBS on January 30, 7 PM/ET.  This 
magazine-style series for teenagers, combines humor, advice, and 
learning in a lively infotainment format that promotes positive life 
choices and self-esteem.  Free resource materials on topics covered in 
the series, such as AIDS, the environment, racial sensitivity, 
fitness, and jobs, are available by writing or calling WTVS, 
313-876-TEEN or Club Connect, 7441 Second Boulevard, Detroit, MI 
48202).  In addition, some episodes may have teacher guides.  The new 
season, as well as seasons four, five, and six, are available on 
videotape for institutional use.  Contact PBS Video at 1-800-344-3337.     


February 1993 Highlights

BLACK HISTORY MONTH programming includes TRAVELS: BACK TO AFRICA 
(February 1, 8-9 PM/ET), EVENING AT POPS: SONGS OF FREEDOM (February 
4, 10-11 PM/ET), GREAT PERFORMANCES: KATHLEEN BATTLE AND WYNTON 
MARSALIS: BAROQUE DUET (February 5, 9-10:30 PM/ET), KINDRED SPIRITS: 
CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS (February 5, 10:30-11 PM/ET), 
GREAT PERFORMANCES: BLACK AND BLUE (February 17, 9-10:30 PM/ET), 
PIONEER OF COLOR: MAL GOODE (February 18, 10-11 PM/ET), GREAT 
PERFORMANCES: MILES DAVIS: A TRIBUTE (wt; February 19, 9-11 PM/ET), 
SHIRLEY HORN: HERE'S TO LIFE (February 21, 10-11 PM/ET/tentative), THE 
DANCING MAN -- PEG LEG BATES (February 25, 10-11 PM/ET), and ABBEY 
LINCOLN, YOU GOTTA PAY THE BAND (February 26, 10-11 PM/ET).  

THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE features SIT DOWN AND FIGHT -- WALTER REUTHER 
AND THE RISE OF THE AUTO WORKERS UNION on February 1, 9-10 PM/ET and 
RACHEL CARSON'S SILENT SPRING on February 8, 9-10 PM/ET.  AMERICAN 
EXPERIENCE is offered with Descriptive Video Service (DVS).  Contact 
PBS Video at 1-800-344-3337 to purchase videocassettes for 
institutional use.

THE NEW EXPLORERS: NAVY DOLPHINS: WEAPONS OF WAR? airs February 24, 
8-9 PM/ET.  This documentary, taped at the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal 
facilities, examines three decades of behavioral research and provides 
footage of the animals detecting mines and explosives on ships.  THE 
NEW EXPLORERS documentary offers 18-months off-air record rights.  

HEALING AND THE MIND WITH BILL MOYERS airs Monday-Wednesday, February 
22-24, 1993.  This series, which carries off-air record rights for 
educators through June 30, 1993, reports on new insights into 
mind-body connections, and on some of the people -- scientists, 
physicians, and patients -- who are describing new ways to think about 
"sickness" and "health." Today, many medical doctors are recognizing a 
dimension to healing that has nothing to do with pills or scalpels.  
Modern scientific research is revealing mind-body connections that 
just may produce a revolution in health care.  Bill Moyers explores 
this research and talks with those whose discoveries may dictate the 
future of medicine and reveals the role the mind plays in recovery 
from illness.

A special outreach videoconference to complement the HEALING AND THE 
MIND with BILL MOYERS series was broadcast on Friday, January 15, 
1993, from 11:30-1:00 PM ET.  A comprehensive community outreach 
resource guide has been developed for station use as well as Study 
Guide packets.  To receive the Study Guide packets, call (202) 393-2208.


March-June Highlights 

THE NEW EXPLORERS' third season offers 13 new programs beginning March 
28, 1730-1800.  Bill Kurtis travels the globe in search of scientists 
who are making remarkable progress in the process and usage of 
technology, medicine, research, scientific experimentation, and 
environmental conservation.  Each episode focuses on an individual or 
team who accomplish fascinating scientific work both in the research 
laboratories and in the field.  Off-air taping rights for the series 
are 18 months from date of broadcast.    

MASTERPIECE THEATRE: HENRY V encores March 7, 9-11 PM/ET.  

LIVING & WORKING IN SPACE will air March 31, 8-9 PM/ET.  From the 
producers of MATH: WHO NEEDS IT? and FUTURES, this program offers an 
insightful and often humorous depiction of work and play on the space 
frontier that awaits today's kids.  Through behind-the-scenes 
interviews with today's space professionals, LIVING & WORKING IN SPACE 
demonstrates the importance of math in a variety of careers, ranging 
from a space doctor and the designers of ground vehicles for Mars, to 
a woman who designs space clothes and a scientist called the "lunar 
lettuce man."  Celebrity artists, including Kathy Bates, Jaime 
Escalante, Tony Campisi, Jackee, Weird Al Yankovic, Pat Morita, and 
others are featured in vignettes spotlighting day-to-day activities 
that might need readjustment in a space environment.  Teacher's guides 
will be sent to math and science teachers and career counselors in 
every junior and senior high school in the nation.  Posters are 
included in the viewers guides.  Tie-in activities with NASA Labs and 
DOE Labs are planned.  For information on the educational materials 
contact Valerie Gordon at FASE Productions, 213-965-8794.  Alert your 
staff person in charge of video promotion to some **great** celebrity 
spots to be fed on an upcoming PBS promotion reel.

DANCING premiere has been changed to May 3.  The four two-hour 
programs will air May 3, 10, 17, and 24, 9-11 PM/ET.  Teachers may 
obtain a FREE Teacher's Resource Guide by sending their name, school, 
and address to DANCING Resource Guide, P.O. Box 245, Little Falls, NJ 
07424-9876.  Designed for high school classrooms, it can be easily 
adapted for lower grades as well as for adult courses in community 
schools.  The companion book to the series, Dancing, will be published 
by Harry N. Abrams, Inc. this fall, in time for holiday giving. 
Advance orders for this richly illustrated 256-page book can be placed 
by calling the publisher at 212-206-7715.  For outreach ideas contact 
WNET's Outreach Coordinator Lee Anna Jackson at 212-560-2978. 

THE DINOSAURS encores Wednesdays, beginning June 9, 8-9 PM/ET.  Note 
the broadcast rights have been changed from 4 releases/3 years to 6 
releases/6 years from first release.  


PEOPLE PATTER


CAROL OBERTUBBESING DEPARTS PBS: Carol Obertubbesing, Associate 
Director of the Elementary/Secondary Service, left PBS in 
December to join her husband Mike Epstein in Chicago, Illinois where 
he has been living and working for the past 3 years.

Carol has worked in the Elementary/Secondary Service (E/SS) since 1990 
assisting in the day-to-day management of E/SS, and serving as project 
coordinator for a variety of services designed to helps stations and 
schools make the most of PBS programming for classroom use.  Her many 
accomplishments include (among others):  

o   Managing E/SS's participation in ELECTION '92.  Carol facilitated 
    the development and distribution of the Election 92 Viewers Guide 
    for Schools, a landmark collaboration among WGBH, WETA and 
    Prentice Hall and avidly pursued the securing of extended school 
    rights for many Election '92 programs.

o   Serving as PBS Education's liaison with the Public Television 
    Outreach Alliance.  Carol has thoughtfully helped guide the PTOA's 
    efforts, and has coordinated PBS's involvement in various outreach 
    activities (including Election '92). In collaboration with PTOA, 
    Carol created the "Guidelines for the Development of Outreach 
    Projects" for primetime producers. 

o   Coordinating E/SS's participation in FirstView.

o   Serving as a liaison to the National Program Service in helping to 
    maximize the educational value and use of NPS programs.

o   Since January 1992, Carol has also been responsible for the 
    monthly ESS NEWSLETTER and for compiling the seasonal PBS Tune-in 
    Guides.

Carol has brought dedication, initiative, professionalism, 
multicultural awareness, much-needed station experience, and a very 
long last name (!) to PBS. She has been a supportive colleague and 
will be missed by the E/SS team and many others who have had the 
pleasure of working with her. We wish Carol much success and happiness 
in the Windy City, applaud her commitment to her own family, and her 
service to her public television family.

OAKIE CASTLEBERRY JOINS PBS TEAM: Oakie Castleberry of Alabama Public 
TV joined E/SS as Associate Director for Educational Services on 
December 15th. As Educational Services Director for Alabama Public TV, 
Ms. Castleberry created and managed the educational services/outreach 
arm of the state-wide network.  In that capacity she was responsible 
for the selection, purchase, scheduling, promotion and utilization 
support of instructional programming and related curriculum resources.  
She also designed and implemented the APT Video Service, a creative 
block feed of educational programming for schools.  

Oakie also leveraged her state network's investment in national (NPS) 
programming by developing and implementing educational outreach 
projects that linked national programming to community-based and 
statewide organizations and agencies involved in child care (Extending 
Mr. Roger's Neighborhood), home-schooling, and adult learning.  She 
has also doggedly pursued extended school rights for primetime 
programs and facilitated their effective use in Alabama classrooms.

In 1990, Ms. Castleberry was the recipient of the SECA Award of 
Excellence for Utilization.  She was the Executive Producer of the 
special, TUNED IN TO TEACHING, winner of the 1991 first place award 
for specials/documentaries given by the Alabama Media Professionals.
Oakie was also assistant producer of the "APT and Education" promotion 
spots, first place winners in state and national competitions given by 
the Alabama Media Professionals and the National Federaton of Press 
Women respectively.  The spots were also finalists in the 1991 PBS 
Promotion Awards.

In her new role at PBS as associate director of educational services, 
Oakie will assist in the day-to-day management of current K-12 
learning services (including instructional television services, the 
educational use of primetime and children's daytime programming, 
promotion and outreach) and in the planning, development and 
implementation of future learning services offered by PBS on Telstar 
401.  She will also edit the monthly ESS NEWSLETTER and will be the 
co-editor of the PBS LEARNING FILE.

END