PBS LearningMedia, a digital library of media content contributed from public media producers and partners from around the country, has thousands of free assets and is a resource that can serve as a valuable tool for educators to engage students. This new series offers strategies for navigating and making use of this growing repository. Watch this video to get an overview of PBS LearningMedia and learn the basic functions and features of the site.
One of the most popular resources in PBS LearningMedia, a new interactive game from Annenberg Learner, is taking California teachers on a ride. Amusement Park Physics was inspired by the Annenberg Learner series, The Mechanical Universe, and answers the question, "How do physics laws affect amusement park ride design?"
Amusement Park Physics
Subject: Science
Grade Level: 9-12
In this interactive game, players are tasked with building a conceptual roller coaster using physics concepts that help design real roller coasters. At the amusement park, players also learn why bumper cars are a good way to look at Newton's second and third laws of motion, and why people get sick on rides.
Photo by peve.de/Flickr
Educators and parents are turning more frequently to open educational resources including online games and educational apps to engage 21st century learners. Summer can be a great opportunity to blend a child’s interest in science or history with their fascination for digital games. And studies show that summer is a crucial time for students as much learning is lost during the hot months. PBS LearningMedia, launched a year ago, has a robust collection of free interactive games to experiment, manipulate, and investigate with this summer.
Below are a sampling of games from PBS LearningMedia.
Amusement Park Physics How do physics laws affect amusement park ride design? Find out by designing your own roller coaster in this interactive from Annenberg Learner. Discover how physics laws are used to design a variety of amusement park rides. Understand how physics keep riders safe while providing a thrill.
PBS LearningMedia is the next generation digital library from PBS and affiliates designed for educators to engage students in media-rich learning environments with videos, audio, and interactives. With over 20,000 resources, and more being added weekly, LearningMedia is the place to reimagine classroom learning, transform your teaching, and engage your students in new ways.
There are many ways to go about searching for different resources, but what are the most effective ways to use this library? Here are my top 5 favorites from a list of ten ways suggested by Iowa Public TV to incorporate PBS LearningMedia into teaching.
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