Educational Systems Programming at NAU Educational Systems Programming at NAU Educational Systems Programming, or ESP, is a unit in the Office of Strategic Initiatives, a department engaged in distance learning and cyberspace entrepreneurial activities at Northern Arizona University . ESP began its work in 1990 with creation of educational and training programs in a variety of electronic media. With the television teacher and in-studio class, animated graphics, printed support materials, web site, and CDs, the programs offer an interdisciplinary approach to foreign language instruction which focuses on communicative skills and culture. Lessons have been broadcast by C-band satellite, carried on local, regional, and state broadcasting systems, seen on The Learning Channel, and are currently sold on videotape. Direct broadcast satellite delivery is pending.
Cultural videos focus on Mexico, and are geared for two different audiences.
The Mexican Holiday Video Series explores three beloved holidays for a general audience while A Weekend in Mexico City offers youngsters in Grades 1-4 a charming travelogue adventure. This alliance enabled NAU, in partnership with Oklahoma State University, to become a recipient of a U. S. Department of Education Star Schools Project grant which supported development of the Geonauts program. This, in turn, led to a partnership with ETC, a subsidiary of cable giant TCI, and resulted in programming on The Learning Channel during the 1996-97 school year. Today's return to the original ESP nomenclature more accurately reflects the current educational mission. The future holds promise with expansion into direct broadcast satellite delivery, the home market, and new product and program development to offer enhanced foreign language and educational opportunities to learners regardless of their locale.