DENVER - (May 10, 2007) - PBS TeacherLine, the national online professional development tool for preK-12 teachers offered locally through Rocky Mountain PBS, recently received two prestigious national awards.
Distance Learning Award
Wednesday, the United States Distance Learning Association honored PBS TeacherLine with a 2007 Distance Learning Award Monday evening in Kansas City, Mo. PBS TeacherLine earned the 21st Century Best Practice Award, which recognizes pioneering organizations in the field of distance learning that have challenged existing practice by developing new and innovative solutions for distance learning instruction and employee distance learning training programs.
Studies have documented the link between teacher quality and its impact on student achievement. Schools and districts need effective professional development to create and retain a national corps of highly qualified teachers - particularly in America's high-need, at-risk schools.
- To address this challenge, PBS TeacherLine has emerged as the leader in providing online professional development courses to preK-12 teachers nationwide. PBS TeacherLine offers more than 100 online courses in math, science, reading, instructional strategies and instructional technology to help teachers gain professional recognition and gain the knowledge and skills needed to improve student learning. The courses incorporate research-based design elements of effective teacher professional development, model teaching and learning strategies, build professional learning communities, and provide learner/facilitator satisfaction.
CODiE Award
Also, in late April, the Software and Information Industry Association gave PBS TeacherLine a CODiE Award for Best Online Instruction Solution. TeacherLine was selected from nearly 1,200 nominees ? the most in the history of the CODiEs. This award category honors the most outstanding educational Web site designed to provide instructional support for preK-12 students, teachers and administrators. The online teacher professional development offering was also a finalist in the Best Professional Development Solution.
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Established in 1986 by SIIA, the CODiE Awards program remains the standard bearer for celebrating outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital content and education technology industries. Award nominees are judged by journalists and industry peers and voted on by association members.
In the last year alone, PBS TeacherLine served more than 10,000 teachers.
To learn more, visit rmpbs.org/teacherline.
About PBS TeacherLine
PBS TeacherLine is committed to helping teachers acquire the skills they need to prepare students for a successful future. PBS TeacherLine provides high-quality, affordable professional development through facilitated, online courses, collaborative learning communities, and exemplary Internet-based resources. Currently, more than 100 courses across multiple subject areas are offered. Teachers can earn continuing education units, professional development points and graduate credits for course completion. The courses have been developed in conjunction with leading education organizations, including Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), Education Development Center (EDC), Concord Consortium, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and International Society for Technology Education. Created in 2000, PBS TeacherLine is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for $6,046,811. This represents approximately 85 percent of the total program funding. The remaining 15 percent is funded through in-kind support from PBS and through program income. For more information, visit www.pbs.org/teacherline.
About PBS
PBS is a media enterprise that serves 355 public noncommercial television stations and reaches more than 75 million people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is a leading provider of educational materials for K-12 teachers, and offers a broad array of other educational services. PBS' premier kids' TV programming and website, PBS KIDS Online (www.pbskids.org), continue to be parents' and teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet.
About Rocky Mountain PBS
Rocky Mountain PBS recently celebrated its 50th anniversary on the air. The network began in Denver in 1956 as Colorado?s first public television station. It is now Colorado?s only statewide television network, with stations in Denver (KRMA-TV/DT), Pueblo/Colorado Springs (KTSC-TV/DT), Grand Junction (KRMJ-TV/DT) and Durango (KRMU-DT). Rocky Mountain PBS is committed to serving its viewers and members with award-winning national and local programming and lifelong learning services for children and adults. Rocky Mountain PBS is also a digital technology leader, serving the majority of Colorado with a high-quality 24-hour digital signal. To learn more, visit rmpbs.org.
