(DURHAM, August 18, 2005) – More than 70 New Hampshire educators attended back-to-school professional development workshops offered by New Hampshire Public Television (NHPTV) last week. The three events, held at the NHPTV Broadcast Center in Durham, Crotched Mountain in Greenfield, and Plymouth State University, were designed to give educators an overview of the professional development and K-12 services available through the NHPTV Knowledge Network.Educators learned how to use Instructional Television programs in the classroom, and about online learning tools and resources available on the NHPTV Knowledge Network website. Participants included pre-school and high school educators, art teachers, school librarians, and a GED educator from the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Lakes Region Facility. One educator from the Seacoast area commented, “I was amazed with all the resources that are available. I will introduce my class to the Reading Rainbow Contest!” An educator from the Monadnock region said, “It was a great day. I was unaware of the number of resources available.”Kelly Clark, NHPTV’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Educational Services, began each event by introducing a video that demonstrated how NHPTV is making a difference in communities all over the state. The video features testimonials and footage of community partners, parents, children and educators, all of whom are using different resources from the Knowledge Network.“The goal of the back-to-school workshops, which the NHPTV Knowledge Network holds annually in August, is to encourage educators to become familiar with using our classroom resources,” Clark noted. “We’re leveraging the power of television and technology to provide New Hampshire educators and parents with the tools to help our children acquire the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.”Many of the services provided by the Knowledge Network are free, such as Instructional Television programming for the K-12 classroom, Ready To Learn Workshops for parents and childcare providers that focus on literacy and child development issues, and a website with hundreds of resources for K-12 students, educators and parents.The Knowledge Network Back-to-School workshops were made possible by support from the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation Network, NEA New Hampshire, Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, and Vermillion Printing. Another professional development event for educators is planned for January 2006 at the NHPTV Broadcast Center in Durham.The NHPTV Knowledge Network is committed to providing learners of all ages with technology-based programs, services and resources to enhance the learning experience. For more information about the NHPTV Knowledge Network, go to www.nhptv.org/kn.
About New Hampshire PBS: New Hampshire PBS inspires one million Granite Staters each month with engaging and trusted local and national programs and services on-air, online, via mobile, in classrooms and in communities. Beyond its award-winning television programs, New Hampshire PBS is a leader in education and community engagement. www.nhpbs.org
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