For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Della Cassia-248-320-5680
DATE: Friday, June 5, 2015
Detroit Public Television Partners with Local Organizations to Launch ‘Connected Learning’ Program
Provides students of all ages with engaging, interactive summer learning opportunities
DETROIT (June 5, 2015) – Studies have shown that students lose more than two months of learning over the summer. As the school year draws to a close, opportunities for hands-on learning and discovering are happening outside the classroom. This summer, Detroit Public Television (DPTV) in partnership with 16 local organizations will launch Connected Learning, a program that allows young people to document their learning outside the classroom by collecting electronic “badges” to store in an electronic “backpack.” This can be done while visiting some of Greater Detroit’s most interesting attractions.
The model of Connected Learning reimagines the experience of education in the information age. Using the power of today’s technology, it gives students a chance to document learning in their own community and to use their interests to guide their experiences.
Part of DPTV’s Be Summer Smart Initiative and with support from Community Telecommunications Network, the program is for all learners from pre-school to adult. For students, the badges can be used as they apply for future opportunities such as college or employment as evidence of their participation in extracurricular activities.
Partner organizations will offer opportunities to earn badges. The levels of badges vary. Students can earn Discovery, Guided, and Independent badges. Each site offers different criteria that will be met before a badge is awarded. Once evidence is completed the badges can be collected in their digital backpack.
Participating organizations include: The Ann Arbor Hands On Museum; Anton Art Center ; Arab American National Museum; Arts and Scraps; Back Alley Bikes; Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center; Charles Wright Museum; Detroit Historical Museum; Detroit Institute of Arts; Detroit Zoo; Leslie Science Center; Organization for Bat Conservation; Pewabic Pottery; Square One; University of Michigan Natural History; and Wayne State University and Game Start School.
“It has been very exciting working with these organizations. The learning opportunities are endless when we start thinking about the big picture,” said Tara Hardy, DPTV’s Ready to Learn Outreach Coordinator. “This is a chance to really make a difference in education and document learning outcomes.”
For more information about Connected Learning or to register, visit www.dptv.org/summer
About Detroit Public Television:
Detroit Public Television (DPTV)-WTVS-TV is the non-commercial, viewer-supported PBS member station serving the nation's 11th largest television market, with 1.5 million weekly viewers in Southeast Michigan and 1.2 million weekly viewers across Canada. DPTV is a leader in programming related to health and the environment, public affairs, arts and culture and children. It is also a leading national producer and distributor of programming for Public Television, and winner of a 2012 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Award, as well as the only dual PBS licensee / entertainment label in the country, operating as DPTV Media. For more information, visit www.dptv.org
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