"Learn 360" - coming to a classroom near you

The Providence Journal education columnist Julia Steiny took a tour around Learn 360, the multimedia-rich library of on-demand videos and lesson plans being offered to Rhode Island schools through WSBE Rhode Island PBS Education Services.

Here are some highlights of Julia's experience with this new classroom tool. To read her full column, click this link to the original post on projo.com.

Today, any school that still offers classes in “technology” or “computer skills” is so 20th century. Technology is an integral part of everyday life and almost all jobs. As such, it should be embedded into every student’s regular lessons and assignments...

But embedding technology in all subjects is not typical throughout Rhode Island. It should be...

...So for years, [Rhode Island PBS] has arranged group discounts for the state’s schools, with companies that supply teachers with just such libraries of Web-based educational materials. When their contract with their last vendor became prohibitively expensive, [Rhode Island PBS] switched to a similar service, “Learn 360,” whose mission includes remaining affordable to schools in lean times...

Every quarter, Learn 360 uploads new material to its “content database.” Currently, they have more than 8,300 digital videos, as well as speeches, images, articles and audio files...

...Teachers can integrate materials into podcasts, presentations, activities and even quizzes and tests. The software will automatically grade any test that is true or false or multiple choice. The teacher can also post an essay prompt. Kids can do the work at school, in a computer lab at the library, or at home....

Impressively, most of the clips, songs and even the still shots are mapped against Rhode Island’s own standards, the Grade Level Expectations... Among other things, it’s an easy, interesting way to become familiar with our standards.

To experiment with this service, log on to Learn 360 for a 30-day free trial. Or get a password from your school, if it’s already part of the Learn 360 group.

School administrators can sign up for the 2010-2011 academic year, or get more information about Learn 360 by calling Dr. Maria Velasquez, Rhode Island PBS education director, at 401-222-3636, ext. 365. The cost is $500 per year for public schools with more than 200 students, and for private and parochial schools; it costs less for small public schools.