Educational videos available statewide from Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech’s Institute for Connecting Science Research to the Classroom (ICSRC) is partnering with the university’s Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning (IDDL) to provide Virginia teachers and students access to an extensive educational video library via the Annenberg/CPB website.
This partnership allows K-12 teachers, students, and other interested parties free and seamless access to numerous educational subjects online at http://www.learner.org. A mirror website is now maintained by IDDL, containing more than 900 hours of educational video content that may be streamed on-demand to Virginia teachers and students in the classroom and at home.
Available on the website through Annenberg’s “Video-On-Demand” section are a wide variety of programs such as "Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives." This series to help biology teachers update their knowledge of recent developments and research in the field also provides students and adult learners with important information on genomics, genetically modified organisms, and a range of other topics. Users also can access a range of coordinated websites with interactive learning activities and download accompanying print materials.
The Annenberg Foundation collaboration stems from Virginia Tech’s participation in the Internet2-K20 Initiative. Annenberg selected the university based on its active participation in the use and deployment of Internet2 technology and its early adoption of the Internet2-K20 Initiative. This initiative brings together industry, government agencies, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, libraries and museums in a national effort to provide new technologies, such as advanced networking tools, to innovators across all educational sectors. ICSRC Associate Director John Wenrich initiated the Annenberg partnership through his role on the Internet2-K20 National Advisory Team. IDDL Director Tom Wilkinson and Net.Work.Virginia Director Jeff Crowder will make the sustained collaboration possible.
ICSRC connects the numerous independent laboratories, specialized centers and research projects at Virginia Tech to public school teachers and students in an effort to demonstrate practical applications of research to education. IDDL provides leadership, coordination, management and support to the distance and distributed learning activities at Virginia Tech. Net.Work.Virginia is an advanced, broadband network that connects the state’s colleges and universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, research facilities and state agencies. The Annenberg Foundation’s multimedia resources aim to enhance the professional development of K-12 teachers.
