Cyberbullying can be very damaging to adolescents and teens. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Also, once things are circulated on the Internet, they may never disappear, resurfacing at later times to renew the pain of cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying can take many forms:

• Sending mean messages or threats to a person's email account or cell phone
• Spreading rumors online or through texts
• Posting hurtful or threatening messages on social networking sites or web pages.

Despite the potential damage of cyberbullying, it is alarmingly common among adolescents and teens. According to cyberbullying statistics from the i-SAFE foundation:

• Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyberbullying.
• More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online.
• Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet.
• Well over half of young people do not tell their parents when cyberbullying occurs.

With these growing statistics, it's important for all teachers to recognize all forms of bullying and to identify ways to address bullying to their students. Here is a list of resources to help teachers with bullying. Help raise awareness to your students and help curb the growing epidemic affecting many children, schools, and communities.

Bullying in Iowa

Join students from Marshalltown, Iowa as they analyze and define the characteristics of bullying. Learn more about cyber bullying and efforts being made to help curb bullying in schools.

In 2012, Governor Terry Branstad's Bullying Prevention efforts called for students to develop their own videos expressing view points from across Iowa on the impact of bullying in their community. Here are highlights from the student videos.

The Sioux City Schools opening up their district to a documentary film crew to look at the issue of bullying. Following the film, the district, community and media joined forces to combat the problem.

Students can remember a time when physical fights and bullying were common at Harding Middle School in Des Moines. Learn how the once troubled school has created a positive culture where students are thriving.

Cyberbullying

Recognize what cyberbullying is and understand how bullies use the Internet to threaten others. Find out steps one can take to deal with a cyberbully. Recognize the dangers posed by cyberbullies and discover steps for dealing with kids who bully online.

FRONTLINE: Growing Up Online

In Growing Up Online, FRONTLINE takes viewers inside the very public private worlds that kids are creating online, raising important questions about how the Internet is transforming childhood. "The Internet and the digital world was something that belonged to adults, and now it's something that really is the province of teenagers," says C.J. Pascoe, a postdoctoral scholar with the University of California, Berkeley's Digital Youth Research project.

Dignity for All Students

New York State's Dignity for All Students Act became law on July 1, 2012. This act goes further than any in the state's history to specifically spell out what constitutes a “safe and supportive” learning environment. The law deems students have the right to attend school free from bullying and harassment on the basis of an individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Not in Our Town

Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness, is a documentary about a town coming together to take action after anti-immigrant violence devastates the community. Also included in the group are two stories from Not In Our School: Class Actions about students and their communities standing together to stop hate and bullying. Teachers can use the associated lesson plans and viewing guides to support the videos and enhance their lessons on tolerance and acceptance.

Conflict Resolution

Role-play situations reflecting conflicts that may occur between you and your peers. Practice problem solving skills in considering what to do in confrontations with a bully.

Each Lab is unique, and focuses on a different area of active research. But all of them illustrate key concepts with engaging and informative videos and guide participants as they answer scientific questions or design solutions to current problems. Experts in the field are available as well to answer users’ questions and to propose new routes of investigation.

The Energy Lab

For something we use every day, energy is a pretty mysterious concept. This Lab investigates what energy is, how it can be converted into useful forms, and why some sources are running low. In our Research Challenge, you'll use scientific data to design renewable energy systems for cities across the U.S.—and compete with others to see whose designs can produce the most power.

The Sun Lab

Despite its apparently steady glow, the Sun is a churning mass of superhot plasma that regularly produces powerful flares and storms that can knock out power and communication systems here on Earth. This Lab explores what makes the Sun so volatile and gives you access to the same data, images, and tools that scientists use to predict solar storms—so that you can predict them for yourself.

Learn more at pbs.org/nova/labs

By leveraging the timely and relevant content of the weekly Market to Market program, this project will build upon core subject content and emphasize the skills, knowledge and expertise today’s students must master to compete globally and become successful 21st century citizens. The project will target students in grade 9-12 nationally, and will connect with learning outcomes in the subject areas of agriculture, STEM, social studies, language arts and others. These online resources will be freely available for all educators.

We’re seeking input from teachers like you to help inform our planning for this project. Please take a few minutes and complete a short survey about your curriculum needs, relevant student characteristics, and high-interest content connections to the themes covered in Market to Market programs.

Access the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/markettomarketclassroom

IPTV has hundreds of resources ranging in subject areas from history to the arts and literature that help shed light on the significant contributions of the Americans who strived for equality.

Independent Lens
Independent Lens announced three new films that examine the history of African American activism, each from a unique perspective.

Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock - Daisy Bates was a complex, unconventional, and largely forgotten heroine of the civil rights movement who led the charge to desegregate the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 -Swedish journalists came to the United States to document the anti-war and Black Power movements of the late 60s and early 70s. The Black Power Mixtape combines music, original 16mm footage, and contemporary audio interviews from leading African American artists, activists, musicians, and scholars.

More Than a Month - Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a 29-year-old African American filmmaker, goes on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month.

Iowa Pathways: African Americans in Iowa
Iowa Pathways offers several resources highlighting the contributions and historical roles of African Americans in Iowa.

Alexander Clark Documentary
In the 1860s, shortly after the Civil War, a black teenager from Muscatine, Iowa, tried to enroll in the local high school. She was denied admission because of her color. Her father sued and won. And when the school board challenged the decision in the Iowa Supreme Court, he won again. Because of those actions, Iowa's schools were desegregated more than 85 years before the rest of the nation officially outlawed school segregation. Despite his historic court victory, his prominent anti-slavery role, his recruitment of black soldiers for the Union side in the Civil War and his appointment as the U.S. ambassador to Liberia, Alexander Clark has been all but lost from history. After a chance occurrence 35 years ago, another Muscatine man, a white man, launched a campaign to restore Clark's place in history. The cause came to consume his life.

Being Heard Lesson Plan
The Harlem Renaissance in New York during the 1920s and 30s nurtured the talents of African-American writers such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and James Weldon Johnson. Through their work, these creative individuals helped define and enrich the black experience in the U.S. In this activity, students examine the work of contemporary authors who use their writing to express opinions about the struggle against prejudice and oppression in our society.

American Masters:

Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man: Ralph Ellison wrote about the experience of being ignored, bringing to light a powerful meditation on race and social structure. American Masters offers a lesson plan for students to examine their own communities to bring to light groups that might be considered "invisible.” Students are then asked to connect their own personal experiences to an understanding of larger societal structures.

Ella Fitzgerald: In this lesson plan, students will learn the basics of jazz appreciation. While hearing performances by various artists including Ella Fitzgerald, students will learn about jazz styles, the roots of jazz, and the characteristics of different types of jazz. They will also consider the culture of jazz and its relationship to African-American culture and history. Students will be able to better understand the connection between music and culture.

Sidney Poitier: Sidney Poitier nurtured his career by refusing roles that detracted from his human dignity, opting instead for roles that demonstrated his intelligence, wit, and talent. His depictions of blacks on stage, in film, and on television was and remains revolutionary because they show that black men can be proud and powerful characters without subjecting themselves to humiliation. In addition to his acting, he established himself as a writer and director, a thinker and critic, a humanitarian and diplomat. In this lesson, students will learn how theatre affected the Civil Rights Movement.

Lena Horne: Race played a critical role in Horne's life. She struggled with how to be a black woman, to make connections with her family and colleagues, and how to find herself as a human being and contributor to the larger world. In this activity, students participate in activities that focus on the role of race in the entertainment world and make connections to Horne's life story.

American Experience: Freedom Riders
Freedom Riders is the powerful, harrowing, and ultimately inspirational story of six months in 1961 that changed America forever. From May until November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives—and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment—for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. The story of the Freedom Riders offers students a window into the Civil Rights Movement that allows them to identify more closely with the sacrifice and courage that was needed to secure civil rights for all Americans.

African Americans in Education on PBS LearningMedia
Explore the experiences of historical figures who fought for American Civil Rights, analyze the various kinds of music that came out of the south and later developed into blues, jazz, R&B, and hip hop, or examine the societal and cultural ideals of Americans at different points in history. PBS LearningMedia offers hundreds of resources pertaining to slavery, race, individuality, identity, music, literature, and more.

Programs:

Adult Basic Education (ABE) – assists students with limited or “rusty” academic skills in working toward building their academic competency.  Tier 1 classes are life-skills focused and are designed for students with learning challenges who want to build on their current abilities.  Tier 2 classes are academically oriented and are useful for students who want to improve on skills that could help them in their daily lives or who need help in passing college-entrance, work-related, or GED exams.  Tier 3 classes are job oriented and allow students to work on resume writing, interviewing, and personal-presentation skills.  ABE classes are available in Calmar, Cresco, Decorah, Dubuque, Dyersville, Manchester (on request), Oelwein, Peosta, and Waukon.  Brush-up services are also available to current college students at both campuses and all five centers.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) -- helps newcomers to the English language communicate more easily and helps them feel comfortable in American culture. Basic, intermediate, advanced, and/or multi-level classes are available in Cresco (on request), Decorah, Dubuque, Dyersville, and Postville.

General Educational Development (GED) -- opens doors to higher-paying jobs or college to adults who have not finished high school.  The State of Iowa GED diploma certifies that you have reached a level of educational development comparable to that of a high-school graduate.  GED tests are available in English, Spanish, large print, or on audiotape, and accommodations can be requested.  Online preparation is available to those with appropriate computer skills.  Look on our website for English GED class sites in Calmar, Cresco, Decorah, Dubuque, Dyersville, Elkader, Manchester, Monona, New Hampton, Oelwein, Peosta, Postville, Waukon, and West Union.  Spanish GED classes are taught in Decorah, Dubuque, Dyersville, and Postville.

Integrated Basic Education Skills Training (IBEST) – works with credit or non-credit healthcare students to help them complete their college courses.  An Adult Literacy instructor sits in on the classes and is available to students before and/or after classes to review the basic skills needed to succeed.  IBEST classes (currently CNA, Dosage Calculations, Anatomy and Physiology) are available in Calmar, Dubuque, and Peosta.

 Call 563/557-8271 (or toll-free at 888/642-2338) x105 for information. You may also look us up on the web at www.nicc.edu under "Continuing Education Students".

To enroll in this course, scholarship recipients will need to submit a $100 refundable deposit to IPTV prior to the start of the course.  The $100 will be refunded to participants upon the completion of the course.  If for any reason, participants do not complete the course, the $100 deposit will not be refunded.

Course Description: 

Teach global climate change using a problem-solving approach and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) methodology to engage middle-school students and help them understand the causes and effects of climate change. Learn about the differences between climate and weather and how actions and nature affect the environment. Enhance content knowledge of climate change and learn how to effectively implement STEM instructional strategies using resources from NASA and WGBH’s Teachers’ Domain.

Course Information: 

The PBS TeacherLine "GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL" online course enables teachers to strengthen their subject area knowledge and instructional skills to engage students in critical lessons on climate change, while teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts.  Teachers will learn how to use a problem-based learning approach and STEM methodology to integrate media-rich educational resources from NASA, PBS, and other online sites into classroom instruction.  This course will integrate reading, videos, resources, and content from PBS with current data collected by NASA and other affiliated organizations.

Course Requirements: 

This is a 6 week online course that will take approximately 45 hours for completion.  There is a course facilitator in charge of the materials and discussions.  Learners are expected to log into the course at least three times a week to complete the assignments and read and respond to discussion boards.  Learners should plan on nine hours per week online to complete all course work.

IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED IN THIS OPPORTUNITY AFTER READING THIS ENTIRE EMAIL, PLEASE EMAIL KELLY NESHEIM YOUR INTEREST BY SEPTEMBER 25.  
Kelly K. Nesheim
Professional Development Coordinator
kelly.nesheim@iptv.org
(515)242 - 6279
IN THE EMAIL PLEASE INCLUDE THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE, A MAILING ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER.  
Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions.

Course Goals:

In this course, teachers will gain knowledge about climate, weather, the evidence supporting global climate change, the controversies surrounding the issue, how to use STEM, Web 2.0 tools, and problem-based learning strategies as methods for teaching students in a 21st century classroom. By the end of the course, teachers will

• Collect resources to help students better understand climate change.
• UseSTEM teaching techniques to investigate climate change with their students
• Integrate NASA resources into instruction.
• Connect global climate education with existing standards and curriculum.

Adult Basic Education (ABE) 
IHCC offers classes for adults who are interested in basic skill improvement which includes job-related and life coping skills, reading, writing, math and English. Students may register on their first day of class and study at an individualized pace with qualified instructors. The Comprehensive Adult student Assessment System (CASAS) is given to all students when they enroll in classes. Students may earn CASAS certificates which document the learning process for adult students functioning academically below the General Education Development (GED) level.

Community English
Community English classes are designed to help adults, who are limited in English proficiency achieve competence in the English language.  Oral communication for life situations is the foremost goal followed by grammar, writing, reading, and listening.  IHCC offers daytime and evening Community English classes in Ottumwa and Fairfield.

Citizenship classes are available weekly in Ottumwa.  Computer Literacy classes are taught by bi-lingual instructors and are offered weekly in Ottumwa.

General Education Development
Students who enroll in the GED program will prepare to take the following tests: literature, writing, math, science, and social studies.  Upon successful completion of the GED test, adults are eligible to receive the Iowa High School Equivalency Diploma issued by the Iowa Department of Education.  GED classes are located at various sites within the counties Indian Hills serves.  Educational resources, books and study guides are available for students to use in the classroom.  A testing, diploma, and processing fee is required for the battery of five tests.  GED online testing is now available in Ottumwa. A student has two years to successfully complete the full battery of tests or a reactivation fee is assessed.  A student must meet certain requirements if he/she is less than 18 years of age.

I-Pathway GED Online Classes
I-Pathway online classes are a teacher supported on-line instructional tool. Students have a teacher just like in a regular classroom and the teacher provides support and instruction online every step of the way.  The student works through lessons and tests at their own pace.  The I-Pathway program provides instant scoring of most student lessons.  The instructor will grade assignments, give instructions and provide feedback to the student.  Students who enroll in this program can move through the GED very quickly.

Education to Career (ETC)
Education to Career classes will help students transition to post-secondary education or the workforce by bridging the gap to their educational and career goals.  Let us help you develop and sharpen your skills for success and gain the confidence you need to succeed. Classes are held daily on the Indian Hills Community College North Campus.  Students who enroll in this class will improve their math and writing skills, learn about campus resources, explore career and program opportunities available at IHCC, and improve computer skills and job seeking skills.  Students will also receive assistance in applying for Financial Aid, Scholarships, Admissions and enrolling in classes.  The National Career Readiness assessments are free for students enrolled in this program.

Pre C.N.A.
Pre-C.N.A students gain insight in the C.N.A. career and are introduced to medical terminology.  This class will aid the student as they prepare for certification.

National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
Classes focus on reading for Information, locating Information, and math.  Students will test to earn a certificate that will show an employer their basic skill level in these areas. 

Through many of theaward-winning STEM-related television programs – Cyberchase, Curious George, and Sid the Science Kid – PBS continues to play its historic role as both a standard-bearer and innovator in digital content and professional development guided by research and actively supporting classroom teachers, home educators, and childcare providers.

The PBS KIDS websites are full of great content and activities that teachers can use to enhance teaching and learning. Below, you will find summaries of programs and online resources that revolve around science, technology, engineering, and math. We hope these will help you get acquainted with our free educational content, use it in your teaching, and share it with colleagues. If you want to find more lesson plans, videos, and educational resources, be sure to check out PBS LearningMedia.

Science

Curious George

This Web site for the Curious George PBS television series offers early childhood educators the opportunity to extend the learning of the on-air episodes. Online video, educational games, a teacher's guide and activities reinforce early learning concepts in math, science and engineering.

Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman

This reality series for kids presents a variety of challenges that participants must solve collaboratively using their science knowhow. The website offers fun games and activities that test and expand users’ science knowledge.

Sid the Science Kid

Sid the Science Kid is designed to further develop children's natural wonder and build a strong foundation for early science exploration through engaging episodes and online resources that explore topics such as tools and measurement, transformation and change, the senses, simple machines, and backyard science.

Dragonfly TV

This program provides children with opportunities to explore science and to share the excitement of scientific discovery. The website includes a wealth of science-related games, activities, and streaming video.

EekoWorld

This site teaches children about environmental science and includes two immersive interactive games as well as lesson plans for grades K-4.

Wild Kratts

Students can go on a virtual creature adventure to explore wildlife and habitats in an immersive online world.

Technology

ZOOM

This program and website promotes activity-based learning about science and engineering. The site offers a wide variety of games and activities to enhance children's knowledge and enthusiasm about science.
Engineering

Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman

This reality series for kids presents a variety of challenges that participants must solve collaboratively using their science knowhow. The site offers fun games and activities that test and expand users' science knowledge.

Engineering

Design Squad

Engineers have led a technological revolution that has improved the quality of our lives, yet many kids and adults alike do not understand how the technology they use in their daily lives works. They are also unclear about the engineer's role in society or even what an engineer does. Design Squad Nation is one of the few places on TV where kids can learn about engineering.

Math

Cyberchase

This award-winning series features exciting adventures that teach core math and science concepts. The Super Cyberchase Science theme page highlights resources that promote math and science connections, and The Inventor's Workshop game introduces students to basic principles of physics and engineering.

The Democracy Project (Grade 3-6)

This website offers various lesson plans and math activities that relate to the American democratic process, including exercises about the electoral process, national economy, and mapping.

PBS Parents Guide to Early Math

This bilingual Web site features math teaching tips, fun learning activities, recommended books, and a child development tracker with early math milestones for kids in preschool to second grade.

South Carolina ETV

Know It All is South Caroloina's educational web portal, a collection of fun, interactive websites for K-12 students, teachers, and parents. Find a number of interactives in the Know It All website including Hobby Shop, that allows elementary students to flex their math and science skills in a digital workshop; Artopia, a website that allows students to explore the arts and create their own online portfolio; and RiverVenture, a science interactive focusing on the geology, biology, and ecology of rivers.

New York Thirteen/WNET

WNET produces original lesson plans developed by Thirteen Ed Online Master Teachers. Starting with tried-and-true lessons that work in the classroom, their teachers have built web-based activities that use the resources of Thirteen/WNET New York. Each month, WNET creates new lessons based upon PBS series and around other web resources. Find lesson plans for a variety of subjects across the curriculum.

• Get the Math: Get the Math is about algebra in the real world. See how professionals use math in music, fashion, videogames, restaurants, basketball, and special effects. Then take on interactive challenges related to those careers. Watch this intro video before trying one of the challenges below.
• Mission US: Mission US is a multimedia project that immerses players in U.S. history content through free interactive games.

Maryland Public Television

Maryland’s Thinkport is a comprehensive website developed for PreK-12 educators and families and provides a rich collection of multimedia resources for the classroom, including interactive online field trips, downloadable video clips, and a searchable database of standards-based lesson plans.

• Math by Design: Math by Design encourages students to problem solve and think critically as they encounter unique geometry and measurement challenges. Students are introduced to the TRC Architectural firm as junior architects who are commissioned to build environments by working through a series of mathematical tasks.
• Lure of the Labyrinth: Lure of the Labyrinth is a digital game for middle-school pre-algebra students. It includes a wealth of intriguing math-based puzzles wrapped into an exciting narrative game in which students work to find their lost pet and save the world from monsters. Linked to both national and state mathematics standards, the game gives students a chance to actually think like mathematicians.

Story Corps

StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. Educators can use StoryCorps stories and interview methods in their classrooms.. StoryCorps is powerful for schools, with stories that teach history and interviewing methods that teach the value of listening.

National Archives

The National Archives offers thousands of educational materials and ideas. Teachers can find and create interactive learning activities with primary source documents that promote historical thinking skills and can find a number of multimedia resources and lesson plans.

NASA

Find videos, lesson plans, interactives, photos, and other multimedia resources on NASA’s educator page.

Annenberg Learner

Annenberg Learner's multimedia resources help teachers increase their expertise in their fields and assist them in improving their teaching methods. Many programs are also intended for students in the classroom and viewers at home. Teachers can also find lesson plans and well-made educational interactives.

ReadWriteThink

ReadWriteThink provide educators, parents, and afterschool professionals with access to the highest quality practices in reading and language arts instruction by offering lesson plans and interactives.

More than two years after stepping down as chancellor of Washington, D.C's public schools, Michelle Rhee remains one of the most controversial education reformers in the nation. In Washington, Rhee's style helped turn around a struggling district, but her decision to close schools and fire hundreds of teachers and principals also sparked a backlash.

Rhee has since taken her reform agenda nationally, yet supporters and critics alike continue to wrestle with many of the same questions that dominated her tenure in Washington. For example, how do you turn around a struggling school? What makes a good teacher? How do you measure success in education, and what are the best ways to navigate barriers to reform?

Four R's.  Now it's reading, writing, arithmetic and refuge.

The Newtown, Connecticut, school massacre has focused the nation's attention, and the world's too, on school safety.  Most schools in America already forbid guns or anything that looks like a gun and schools also restrict and monitor who gets inside.  But leaders and parents too are asking if that is enough.  IPTV's Iowa Press asked Iowa Homeland Security Administrator Mark Schouten, Aplington-Parkersburg School Superintendent Jon Thompson and former school superintendent, now heading the Iowa Association of School Boards, Tom Downs, what can be done.

The guests share their thoughts and reactions to the massacre, discuss what changes are happening, and share ways to communicate to students and children when bad things happen.

Watch the full program here to learn more.

From a new film from Ken Burns, to interactive periodic tables, to new web series that ask questions to truly challenge your students, there is something here that addresses part of your curriculum and is sure to inspire and engage. Here is a list of the top ten public media resources available through Iowa Public Television.

1. Ken Burns' The Dust Bowl

Ken Burns' latest film aired on IPTV November 18 -19. The film chronicled the environmental catastrophe that--throughout the 1930s--destroyed the farmlands of the Great Plains, turned prairies into deserts, and unleashed a pattern of massive, deadly dust storms that for many seemed to herald the end of the world. It was the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history. The Dust Bowl was also a story of heroic perseverance against enormous odds: families finding ways to survive and hold onto their land, New Deal programs that kept hungry families afloat, and a partnership between government agencies and farmers to develop new farming and conservation methods. On the website, find short videos, stories, images, and other web resources.

2. PBS Idea Channel

Idea Channel is a biweekly web series that examines the evolving relationship between modern technology and art. A great way to help spark conversation among your students to help them better examine the continually shaping landscape of technology, media, and art.

3. American Graduate

America loses one out of four young people to the dropout crisis each year. A high school diploma is an important step in preparing a young person to live an independent, secure and happy life and is an essential component of America’s economic competitiveness to create a more educated, innovative workforce. Dropping out not only makes it harder for these young people to succeed in life, but our economy also loses hundreds of billions of dollars in productivity and our communities suffer enormous social costs.

American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen is a multi-year public media initiative, supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), to help local communities identify and implement solutions to the high school dropout crisis. Public broadcasting has a long history improving educational outcomes for high-need students and communities. The dropout crisis demands attention now, and we are rising to the challenge of doing our part to address this problem. Find classroom resources, videos, and more that help to address the dropout crisis.

4. NOVA ScienceNOW

NOVA ScienceNOW started a new season with a brand new host, New York Times Tech guru, David Pogue, who was host of NOVA Making Stuff and Hunting the Elements. It featured four stories in each themed episode and tackled an array of thought-provoking topics including:  "How Smart Can People Get?"- in which Pogue finds out how the anatomy of his brain measures up to Albert Einstein’s; "What are Animals Thinking?"- when the tech-savvy host races against a homing pigeon; “What Makes Us Human?"- exploring the characteristics that separate humans from other animals; and "Can Science Stop Crime?"- in which Pogue tries to outsmart computerized lie detectors.

5. America Revealed

Early in the spring of 2012, PBS aired America Revealed. Based upon the BBC's award-winning Britain From Above. America Revealed took a unique look at what makes America tick, what it takes to keep the biggest food machine in the world going and the delicate balance that keeps our supermarkets stocked with groceries and fast food restaurants supplied with fries. How keep America moving with its vast and complex transport systems.  How we propel ourselves through energy, what maintains the constant supply of fuel and electricity to our homes and businesses and finally how we keep up with the ever changing world, the import and export infrastructure that shapes our manufacturing industry. The website offers videos, interactives, and lesson plans that will help enhance classroom learning.

6. Iowa Outdoors Season 2

Iowa Outdoors focuses on outdoor recreation, environmental issues, conservation initiatives, and Iowa's natural resources that are perfectly suited for the classroom. From gaining a better understanding of how invasive species directly affect Iowa lakes, to exploring Iowa’s unusual geological formations and caves, to finding outdoor physical activities in your backyard that can help promote a healthy, physical lifestyle, Iowa Outdoors offers a great number of educationally relevant resources for use with your students. Find additional videos, documents, and resources for your classroom on the website.

7. Hunting the Elements

Where do nature’s building blocks, called the elements, come from? NOVA explored this question in great detail in it's program Hunting the Elements that aired in the spring of 2012. The hidden ingredients of everything in our world, from the carbon in our bodies to the metals in our smartphones. To unlock their secrets, David Pogue, the lively host of NOVA’s popular "Making Stuff" series and technology correspondent of The New York Times, took viewers through the world of weird, extreme chemistry: the strongest acids, the deadliest poisons, the universe’s most abundant elements, and the rarest of the rare—substances cooked up in atom smashers that flicker into existence for only fractions of a second. Not only can you watch the full program online, but you can download the free interactive periodic table iPad app that takes chemistry to a whole new level.

8. Chuck Vanderchucks Something Something Explosion

Chuck Vanderchuck's "Something Something" Explosion is designed to help children ages 6 to 9 understand music and music composition by teaching basic musical concepts and performance skills through the study of popular song styles from around the world. In each webisode, children are introduced to a new musical style and the culture from which that style was born. They learn to perform basic rhythmic and melodic patterns in that style through the use of fun, interactive games. Children will also learn about the geography and culture that birthed these musical styles.

In each webisode (click "videos"), Chuck Vanderchuck and his sidekick, Ramona, are obsessed with learning everything there is to know about music. Together they present five different musical genres: Salsa, Jazz, Rock, Country, and Reggae. Children will learn about different instruments used for each musical style, and play games through which they will have the chance to identify instruments, write lyrics, compose melodies, create costumes, and play in a virtual concert with Chuck and Ramona.

9. Mission US: Mission 2

In this interactive history experience, "Flight to Freedom," players take on the role of Lucy, a 14-year-old slave in Kentucky.  As they navigate her escape and journey to Ohio, they discover that life in the "free" North is dangerous and difficult. In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act brings disaster. Will Lucy ever truly be free?

10. Get the Math

Get the Math mixes video and web interactivity to help middle and high school students develop algebraic thinking skills for solving real-world problems.

Get the Math is about algebra in the real world. See how professionals use math in music, fashion, videogames, restaurants, basketball, and special effects. Then take on interactive challenges related to those careers.

As with other curriculum, technology and media use are changing how teachers share content and skills with their students. "With the technology advancing it is important for every teacher to incorporate media into their classroom," said Virginia Rogers, an art teacher from Hiatt Middle School in Des Moines. "Art has a special connection with technology that other areas do not. It can be created using media and media can be created using art. They share a partnership unlike the other content areas."

So how does a program like Off Book help art teachers?

Off Book can allow teachers to use clips to introduce art topics. "Sometimes it can be difficult to explain how a particular type of art is made," said Virginia. Because they are short, the videos can work as learning objects to help convey or reinforce a key concept or skill teachers want students to learn. "I particularly like the Off Book programs because they are very short in length. It can be difficult to keep a middle schooler’s attention much past five or six minutes."

"Art is important for students to express and explore who they are," continued Virginia. "For students who struggle academically, art can sometimes be the only place that they are successful." Much of these videos can bring students directly into the creative process, foster individual artistic expression, and promote experimentation and exploration.

"I believe that art is important for students to express and explore who they are," said Virginia. "These programs are great ways to quickly inform students about a specific art topic."

Featured Videos

The Art of Web Design

The explosion of the internet over the past 20 years has led to the development of one of the newest creative mediums: the website. Web designers have adapted through the technological developments of html, CSS, Flash, and JavaScript, and have mastered the balance between creativity and usability. Now with the advance of mobile, the greatest websites have taken user experience and responsive design to the next level, and continue our evolution from print to a digital world.

LEGO Art

LEGO blocks are one of the most beloved toys in the world, playing a role in many a person's childhood. But for some creators, LEGO has evolved from toy to art form. In this episode, we talk to three LEGO artists who have made beautiful mosaics, amazing stop-motion videos, thoughtful sculptures, and have turned these tiny building blocks into a true artistic medium.

Art in the Era of the Internet

The Internet has intensified connections between people across the planet. In this episode of OFF BOOK, we take a look at the impact of the this new interconnectivity on the art world. Traditional funding models are dissolving, new forms of expressing ownership have arisen to accomodate for remix culture, and artists are finding ways to connect physical art experiences and traditions to the Internet. In the digital era, the experience of art from the perspective of the artist and the art audience is shifting rapidly and bringing more people into the creative process.

Book Art

Books are in a conflicted state. Should they still exist in a digital era? Will they all be replaced by Kindles and Nooks? These questions dominate the discussion of books in our time. A select group of artists, who use books as their medium, engage this discussion from another angle. From pop culture pop-ups, to surreal sculptural stories, to reformations of antique sacred texts, these creators re-envision what the experience of a book can be. At times playful, and other times profound, this episode explores the boundaries of one of the most important human creations.

General Educational Development (GED): If attending classes in Council Bluffs, call to make an appointment to get started.  If attending at one of the other locations, stop by at the beginning of the scheduled class to allow time for registration and assessment. The G.E.D. test battery consists of (5) separate tests --Language Arts, Reading, Language Arts, Writing, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Contact the Adult Learning Center in Council Bluffs for details regarding GED online instruction and college transitions classes. A test fee of $100.00 is due when you take the first GED test. This fee covers all five tests and your GED diploma.

English as a Second Language: Instruction is available for adults who are learning to speak, read and write English. Contact the nearest IWCC Center for information regarding classes or individualized instruction.

While preparing for the GED test, consider taking advantage of scheduled Math classes, visiting with an IWCC Academic Advisor or soon-to-begin Basic Computer Literacy classes.

The Dust Bowl chronicles this critical moment in American history in all its complexities and profound human drama. It is part oral history, using compelling interview of 26 survivors of those hard times-- what will probably be the last recorded testimony of the generation that lived through the Dust Bowl. The film is filled with seldom-seen movie footage, previously unpublished photographs, the songs of Woody Guthrie, and the observations of two remarkable women who left behind eloquent written accounts.

Educational Resources

The Dust Bowl

Find short videos, stories, images, and other web resources.

Surviving the Dust Bowl

This American Experience episodes shares the  story of the farmers who came to the Southern Plains of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas dreaming of prosperity, and lived through ten years of drought, dust, disease and death.

PBS LearningMedia

Find more resources about the 1930s, the Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl at PBS LearningMedia.

My Life as a Turkey (Grades 6-12)

After a local farmer left a bowl of eggs on Joe Hutto’s front porch, his life was forever changed. Hutto, possessing a broad background in the natural sciences and an interest in imprinting young animals, incubated the eggs and waited for them to hatch. As the chicks emerged from their shells, they locked eyes with an unusual but dedicated mother. One man’s remarkable experience of raising a group of wild turkey hatchlings to adulthood.

Martha's Thanksgiving (Grades K-4)

Martha is on a quest to find her family. "Martha's Thanksgiving" premieres all week long beginning November 19th on PBS KIDS. Don't miss Martha Speaks, weekdays on PBS KIDS

Harry Talks Turkey (Grades 3-8)

In this Cyberchase video clip, Harry has to fill in for a restaurant's chef and waiter when both call out sick. One of his duties is to estimate how much of each dish to make. Harry underestimates how much turkey to make and runs out of the dish. He also overestimates how much of "Grandma's Triple A Surprise" to make and ends up with an abundance of leftovers. Harry learns from another employee at the restaurant that it is useful to estimate the food according to how popular it is.

Understanding the Science of Thanksgiving (Grades 6-12)

Ever wonder how those pop-up turkey thermometers work? Or how much turkey it takes to make you sleepy? Madeleine Brand speaks with Catholic University of America chemistry professor Diane Bunce about the science of Thanksgiving.

After the Mayflower (Grades 6-12)

We Shall Remain is a groundbreaking mini-series and provocative multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. Five 90-minute documentaries spanning three hundred years tell the story of pivotal moments in U.S. history from the Native American perspective. Five decades of English immigration, mistreatment, lethal epidemics, and widespread environmental degradation had brought the Indians and their way of life to the brink of disaster. Led by Metacom, Massasoit’s son, the Wampanoag and their Native allies fought back against the English, nearly pushing them into the sea.

Many Thanks Givings (Grades PreK-2)

Listen to a story about Thanksgiving, and talk about Thanksgiving and some of the things the students are thankful for. Create a Thankful Turkey or Thankful Pumpkin Patch.

The Myth of Pocahontas (Grades 6-12)

How much of the Pocahontas legend is true? In this video segment, NOVA explores the historical version of the story of Pocahontas and John Smith. Students are then asked to rewrite the story based on archaeological and historical evidence.

Educational Resources Tied to Each Episode

What Makes Us Human?

Find out if you’re part Neanderthal, about the evolution of laughter, what language may owe to tool-making, and more.

Are Neanderthals Human? Neanderthals present a conundrum well known in biology: What exactly is a species?

Compare the Skeletons The bones of chimps, early human ancestors, and modern people reveal what it takes for us to walk upright.

Origins of Bipedalism Why do we walk on two feet? If you asked a roomful of anthropologists, you'd likely get a different answer from each person. Here, sample leading hypotheses and vote for the one you prefer. Then hear paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson's take.

How Smart Can People Get?

See inside Einstein’s brain, learn how to boost your memory, meet people who became savants after an injury, and more.

Mapping the Brain Use some of the same imaging techniques neuroscientists use—from MRIs to PET scans—to see inside the human brain.

Boosting Kids' Brain Power  Could a brain-stimulating technique that uses an electrical current enhance math abilities in children?

What Is Intelligence? Hear Steven Pinker, Rodney Brooks, and other experts offer their insights on what it means to be smart.

Can Science Stop Crime?

Explore the genetics behind criminal minds, the latest in lie detection, a human corpse “farm,” and more.

Forensics on Trial Virtual autopsies, 3-D fingerprints, and digital crime scenes are making crime-solving into a more precise science.

Art Authentication See if clever computer algorithms can distinguish a master forgery from a masterpiece.

Strands of Evidence Your hair may reveal more about you than you realize—including where you live and where you have been.

Can I Eat That?

Learn about the neuroscience of taste, why we cook our food, what makes a Thanksgiving turkey savory, and more.

Cook's Illustrated: Sugar Because of its chemistry, sugar does a whole lot more than add sweetness.

Tour the Tongue Learn how our sense of taste works, and why we evolved the ability to detect flavors like bitter and sweet.

Bugs You Can Eat Fried dragonflies. Greasy tarantulas. Fat, juicy witchetty grubs. Find out what they taste like here.

What are Animals Thinking

Probe animal morality, the “swarm intelligence” of a beehive, the amazing navigation talents of pigeons, and more.

How Smart Are Animals? Dogs, dolphins, parrots, and even octopuses (mere mollusks!) may be smarter than you think. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/how-smart-are-animals.html

Tool-Using Animals Meet some of the creative tool-users in the animal kingdom.

Elephant Musicians Do elephants make music? 

What Will The Future Be Like?

Meet the people building tomorrow’s robots, 3-D virtual environments, mind-reading machines, and more.

Can Machines Think Like Us? A computer named Watson is the latest contestant in machine versus human battles of the "mind."

Social Robots Would you want a robotic friend who could chitchat, do chores, even take care of you? Such bots may be here soon. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/social-robots.html

Is Multitasking Bad For Us? Cognitive researchers have sobering though preliminary news—if we can focus on it.

American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen is a multi-year public media initiative, supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), to help local communities identify and implement solutions to the high school dropout crisis. Public broadcasting has a long history improving educational outcomes for high-need students and communities. The dropout crisis demands attention now, and we are rising to the challenge of doing our part to address this problem.

Classroom Resources

As part of American Graduate's ongoing efforts to reach educators, parents, and students with resources and materials to keep students on the path to graduation, WNET launched the American Graduate Classroom Resources site this summer. The site is a collection of some of the Web's best content for students in the middle grades, mining public media's vast archive of high quality, standards based interactive content for the classroom.

The Classroom Resources site showcases over 800 interac tive educational resources covering a full spectrum of subject areas: Arts, Careers, ESL, Health & Sports, Language Arts, Math, Media Production, Science & Engineering, and Social Studies. The resources span all types of interactivity, from quizzes, to games, to simulations, to interactive maps and timelines. Visitors to the site have access to hundreds of resources that will spark students' imagination and interest.

Watch, Listen, Learn

Through partnerships with national producers to increase understanding, and with national education partners to improve student engagement and achievement, public media strives to achieve meaningful impact in communities across the country. 

2012 Election Collection

This collection is an aggregation of curated and contextualized election-related resources for K-12 classrooms with a primary focus on middle and high school. Available resources include both current events for the 2012 Presidential Election and in-depth learning opportunities that can be used in any study of the U.S. government and election processes.

PBS LearningMedia

Find election resources from PBS Learning Media.

PBS NewsHour Interactive Electoral Map

Use this interactive map to click on states to create your 2012 prediction.

FRONTLINE: The Choice

A journey into the places, people, and decisive moments that made the men who are competing for the presidency.

Artifacts of Character

FRONTLINE's "Artifacts of Character," is a series of rarely seen documents, photos, speeches and other objects that pinpoint seminal moments for President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Published over the past three weeks, each artifact sheds light on a different aspect of the candidates' lives: how they came of age and went on to college, weathered early political losses, and rebounded to define their paths to power. Taken together, the collection offers new insights into who these men are, and what they have come to represent.

Meet the Canidates

Meet this year's presidential candidates, and help students identify the duties of the U.S. president and begin to think critically about the skills necessary to be a good president.

Need to Know

Find hundreds of articles about the elections with PBS Need to Know.

NOVA offers thousands of resources including purpose-built video clips suited for the classroom, interactives, lesson plans, documents, and additional web resoruces. IPTV has aggregated a list of editor picks: resources that are sure to engage your students and spark genuine excitement in their learning. Once you feel comfortable navigating the site yourself, take a look around and share with us the resources you think are great.

Featured Resources

Earth and Space Science

NOVA's Labs: The Sun

This is a new digital platform, distinct from the regular NOVA website, for "citizen scientists" who want to actively participate in scientific work. One way or another, every Lab will create opportunities for people to handle real data or images, collaborate with peers, and become more familiar with scientists and engineers working in the field.

How Do Tornadoes Form?

On average, about 800 tornadoes occur in the United States each year. They can appear and disappear in moments, and key details about their formation are unknown. These factors make the research to understand and predict tornado occurrence extremely difficult. This video segment describes the challenges of studying tornadoes and shows how computer simulations are helping researchers observe what they can't possibly see in a real storm.

Lightning!

It's an awe-inspiring display of nature: A storm cloud builds, dark and ominous, then releases energy in fiery bolts of lightning and raucous waves of thunder. This video segment, adapted from NOVA, goes beyond the visual and sonic thrill of lightning strikes to illustrate and describe the physics behind electrical storms.

History

The Myth of Pocahontas

How much of the Pocahontas legend is true? In this video segment, NOVA explores the historical version of the story of Pocahontas and John Smith. Students are then asked to rewrite the story based on archeological and historical evidence.

Explore Ancient Egypt

Explore the ancient sphinx, the Great Pyramids, and other tombs and chambers with this 360-degree, panoramic visual interactive. Combined  with images, documents, and activities, you can help spark  your students' interests in ancient history and archeology.

Grass Bridge

In this video segment, watch residents of a Peruvian society build a traditional, functional grass bridge. This type of bridge enabled the ancient Inca people to flourish by crossing canyons and gorges of their mountainous empire.

Cryptography/Art/Communications

Kryptos

In this video clip, the most enigmatic of all codes in the most clandestine of all places has yet to be fully broken. "Kryptos," a coded sculpture in the courtyard of CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, contains a long string of seemingly nonsensical letters that conceal a message devised by sculptor James Sanborn. Some portions have been deciphered, but the last bit remains a mystery. Solutions anyone?

Auto-Tune

Nova scienceNOW talks to the engineers behind Auto-Tune, the pitch-correction software that turns sour notes into sweet ones. Professional musicians use Auto-Tune, but can the software turn host Neil deGrasse Tyson into a singing star?

Biology

Frozen Frogs

Wood frogs freeze solid in winter then thaw back to life and mate in the spring. How do they do it? Scientists have now figured out how to recreate this extraordinary process of cryopreservation with mammalian organs. To date they have successfully frozen, thawed, and transplanted rat livers and pig hearts. Their dream? Enhanced preservation of human organs for transplant.

Can We Slow Aging?

This video segman examines how a gene called FOXO affects life span. Researchers manipulate the gene in a microscopic worm to double its lifespan.  Students learn how people who possess a single copy of the gene are twice as likely to live to the age of 100.

Physics

Physics of Stone Arches

Medieval architects were masters at building stone structures. With taller and bigger churches and buildings medieval architects began to push beyond the boundaries of known structural design. In this interactive, students attempt to construct a cathedral arch and learn more about the physics behind the arch.

Gravity at Earth's Center

In this video adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, investigate the hypothetical scenario of a person falling into a hole through the center of Earth. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson illustrates the thought experiment; first he defines the conditions—ignore the effects of air resistance, temperature, and Earth's rotation—and then he travels through the hole. A timer and speedometer show how his speed changes as he falls toward the center of Earth, passes the center, and slows to a stop at the opposite end of the hole.

Engineering

NOVA's Making Stuff Series: David Pogue, hosted a series for NOVA called "Making Stuff," that focused on what engineers are doing to creating cutting edge materials that will help humanity in a variety of ways.

Making Stuff: Cleaner

Learn how materials scientists are designing new kinds of batteries that could power the next generation of vehicles.

Making Stuff: Smaller

In this excerpt, learn how materials scientists are designing a microbot, about the width of a strand of hair, that can travel into a human eye to treat blindness. Students learn how engineers use nature, biology, and organisms to overcome odd forces that microrobotics encounters.

Making Stuff: Stronger

In this clip, David Pogue participates in a derby to test the strength and toughness of steel. Students gain a deeper understanding of how everyday materials guide engineers to build newer, stronger materials.

Making Stuff: Smarter

Learn how scientists are developing an artificial jellyfish to act as an inconspicuous motion detector. Students will learn how scientists are developing new smart materials to help solve problems in engineering, medicine, and daily life.