As schools across Rhode Island remain closed in response to COVID-19 virus, WSBE Rhode Island PBS and WORLD Channel have partnered together to support distance learning. The public media WORLD Channel will provide a daily, five-hour At-Home LearningService for students in grades 6-12. The content will air on WSBE Learn, digital 36.2.
From noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, WORLD offers science, history, and English language arts programs, and include related learning resources from PBS LearningMedia. This new custom schedule complements the ongoing PBS Kids early childhood and elementary programming that continues to air daily from 7am-12pm.
“Our mission at Rhode Island PBS has always been to provide the public with accessible learning resources,” said David W. Piccerelli, president of WSBE Rhode Island PBS. “We are proud to be advancing that mission by increasing access through WORLD Channel’s educational programs, and to actively assist our state’s goals of distance learning.”
The new broadcast programming will be supplemented with additional resources through Rhode Island PBS LearningMedia. The resources in PBS LearningMedia, developed in collaboration with educators, are aligned to curriculum standards in every state and contextualized for educational use. These resources include grab-and-go activities, lesson plans, interactive lessons and media that illustrate specific topics or themes, and support materials across subjects.
"Our Education Services team provides instructional resources all year long to educators, students, and parents," said Jon Rubin, director of Rhode Island PBS Education Services. "This unprecedented collaboration with the WORLD Channel enhances our services to our community in an easily accessible way - over the air - combined with strong online resources that support teaching and learning." Information about all resources from Rhode Island PBS Education Services may be found at ripbs.org/education.
The special WORLD Channel schedule on WSBE Learn continues through May 1, with possible extension as needed to accommodate Distance Learning plans.
WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; in Rhode Island on Cox 808; Verizon FiOS 478; Full Channel 989; and in Massachusetts on Comcast 294 or 312.