Live Satellite Distance Learning - A Definition
Live Satellite
Distance Learning by Prince William Network (PWN) is the live, interactive
broadcast of high-interest educational programs to school sites and school
districts regionally or nationally. Programs are accompanied by a study guide
and Internet support prepared by teacher-based instructional design teams. The
guide and Internet provide resources and activities that help prepare students to
get the most out of each interactive learning broadcast. Proper prepping of
students raises their level of anticipation, participation, and interactivity
with the program guests by phone, fax, or e-mail and takes advantage of student
interest in technology-based learning. Scheduling
Live Satellite Distance
Learning special events like this Lyceum seldom fit into the school-bell
schedule. But teachers across the country who value the exciting learning which
occurs make special arrangements for their students to participate live by
scheduling "in-school field trips" on the day(s) of broadcast.
The Live Satellite
"Lyceum"
In ancient Greece, the grove where Aristotle taught was called the
Lyceum - a gathering place where important public discussions were held. The Live
Satellite Lyceum is a distance learning format in which PWN gathers special
program guests like authors, scholars, etc. around a topic and creates an
interactive teleconference.
How To Receive The Live Broadcasts
Anyone with a
moveable C-Band satellite dish can participate in our live broadcast programs.
All you need is to arrange for the operator of the satellite receiver to reserve
the time for the broadcast and a TV. (You should have a VCR to tape the live
broadcast for your future use.) You may want access to a telephone for students
to call in questions to the toll free number during the program. If you do not
have a satellite dish, your local cable company or public television station may
be able to provide access to the programs. Please contact these organizations
early. Also, check with district or regional media centers for access to the
programs. Video tapes are available if you cannot receive the programs.
You must register to receive satellite coordinates.
Prince William Network
PWN is the distance learning arm of Prince William
County Public Schools in northern Virginia. PWN consistently wins national awards
for its K-12 distance learning programs and is best known for its Live Satellite
Field Trips, Kennedy Center Performing Arts Series, and special event programs
like the Lyceum on To Kill a Mockingbird: Then and Now.
Prince William Network's Partners:
National Council of Teachers of English
(NCTE) brings to this project
excellent NCTE lead teachers and resources in the planning and writing of this
16-page Teacher Study Guide, which appears here and in the April issue of NCTE's
English Journal magazine (circulation 60,000).The
American Film Institute (AFI), the nation's leading film art and culture
organization, is helping reunite actors and members of the creative team from To
Kill a Mockingbird. AFI's partnership encourages English teachers working
through NCTE's Assembly of Media Arts to continue bringing the study of American
film classics alongside literary works in the English curriculum.
National Endowment for the Humanities, recognizing that TKM has become
intertwined in the fabric of our nation's literary, social, civil and cinematic
history, has awarded a "Technology In The Humanities" Humanities Focus Grant to
Prince William Network. This made possible the planning, collaboration, research
and writing for the Teacher Study Guide and the Lyceum.
