Arlington, Va. (Apr. 28, 2008) – PBS TeacherLine® Peer Connection, the online suite of multimedia resources and tools designed to support instructional coaches, has been named a finalist for the Association of Educational Publishers’ Distinguished Achievement Award in the professional development category for best instructional Web site.

PBS TeacherLine Peer Connection features a media-rich library of instructional strategies and resources. This includes videos on best practices and research-based articles that are accessible from one searchable location that coaches can easily and quickly share with teachers to help them accomplish their goals. Through discussion boards, resource sharing, and other tools, the product fosters an online community that brings together coaches, teachers, and practice groups for effective collaboration and teaching.

Instructional coaches who are responsible for onsite, job-embedded professional development for their peers, need high-quality resources and training to deliver on specific district initiatives and student performance goals. To assist educators with instructional coaching responsibilities, PBS TeacherLine, the premier provider of online professional development courses for educators, offers PBS TeacherLine Peer Connection. The product enables coaches to build a customized, practical professional development program for teachers whether they approach coaching in a face-to-face, online, or blended model. Tutorials show coaches how to be a “guide on the side” while facilitating adult learning and building a community of learners.

The Distinguished Achievement Awards are given annually by the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) to recognize the top products in the educational publishing industry. The AEP awards program has become the hallmark for excellence in the education industry. Award entries are evaluated by an expert panel of educators, editors, designers, and technology specialists based on numerous criteria including efficacy, usability and overall education value.

AEP is the nonprofit professional association for publishers of supplemental educational materials. Founded in 1895, the organization’s membership represents the breadth of educational content developers and service providers delivering progressive products in both print and electronic formats to today's schools and colleges.

Award winners will be announced at the 2008 AEP Awards Banquet and Gala on June 6, 2008, at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C.

More Information

For more information about PBS TeacherLine Peer Connection, visit www.pbs.org/teacherline/peerconnection.

For more information about PBS TeacherLine, visit www.pbs.org/teacherline. A full course catalog is available online.

To learn more about PBS, go to www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet.

About PBS TeacherLine

PBS TeacherLine is committed to helping teachers acquire the skills they need to prepare students for a successful future. PBS TeacherLine provides high-quality, affordable professional development through facilitated, online courses, collaborative learning communities, and exemplary Internet-based resources. Currently, more than 90 courses across multiple subject areas are offered. Teachers can earn continuing education units, professional development points and graduate credits for course completion. The courses have been developed in conjunction with leading education organizations, including Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), Education Development Center (EDC), Concord Consortium, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and International Society for Technology Education. Created in 2000, PBS TeacherLine is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for $6,046,811. This represents approximately 85 percent of the total program funding. The remaining 15 percent is funded through in-kind support from PBS and through program income.

About PBS

PBS is a media enterprise that serves 355 public noncommercial television stations and reaches more than 75 million people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is a leading provider of educational materials for K-12 teachers, and offers a broad array of other educational services. PBS’ premier kids’ TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online (www.pbskids.org), continue to be parents’ and teachers’ most trusted learning environments for children.

Contacts

PBS
Kevin Dando
703-739-5073
kdando at pbs dot org
www.pbs.org

PBS TeacherLine
Tim Lum
703-739-5252
tlum at pbs dot org
www.pbs.org/teacherline

C. Blohm & Associates, Inc.
Charlene Blohm
608-839-9800
charlene at cblohm dot com
www.cblohm.com

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