By Michael Piwowarski
UNIVERSITY CENTER – “School’s out for summer, school’s out forever, school’s been blown to pieces.”
Maybe not literally blown to pieces as Alice Cooper put it, but with school closures extended all the way to the end of the school year in Michigan, this leaves uncertainty for many students and parents alike with regards to continuing education.
The answer? Public television.
Delta College Public Broadcasting is now offering a new program called “At-Home Learning.” On WDCQ-TV digital channel 19.2 (Q-TV World), special programming blocks are now being aired for students in grades 4 through 12.
“It has always been the mission of Delta College Public Media to ensure that all kids have access to free educational resources at home,” Tom Bennett, Delta Broadcasting general manager, said in a press release.
From 8 a.m. to noon on weekdays, Q-TV World offers educational programming for 4th through 8th grade students. Following that, the channel will broadcast programs for grades 6 through 12, from noon until 5 p.m. After that, 19.2 resumes regular World Channel programming.
“Having programming that educators can use to enhance the subjects they are being taught in a community that may not have access to WIFI or the internet is what this new platform is all about,” says Joe Yezak, program manager at Delta Broadcasting.
Yezak says that the programs they are airing on Q-TV World “supplements the work that educators across our community may be using.”
Delta Broadcasting’s website has a complete programming schedule for each day (under the 19.2 column). PBS shows such as “History Detectives,” “Nova” and “American Experience” are among the programs that are included in “At-Home Learning.”
“The programming for ‘At-Home Learning’ has been reviewed by curriculum specialists from PBS and other school districts to provide lesson plans that match up with PBS content,” says Yezak. “Locally, the programs are selected and scheduled on Q-TV World.”
In addition, PBS provides online material for kids and resources for educators, including games, activities, videos and reading materials specific to the shows that are being aired. These can be found on PBS LearningMedia’s website, localized for WDCQ-TV.
As for local programming on Q-TV, Yezak says that the studio is being used “sparingly” during the closure of Delta College’s campus, and that the Delta Broadcasting team is brainstorming ways to continue local programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The programming department, both TV and radio, still needs to come out to make sure that programming continues,” says Yezak. “However, a majority of the work is being done from off campus.”
Programs featured in the “At-Home Learning” block differ from PBS Kids, which is geared toward younger children 3rd grade and under.
PBS Kids programming still airs on Q-TV’s main channel (19.1) during mornings and weekday afternoons, and 24/7 on Q-TV Kids (channel 19.4). PBS Kids programming is also available online at Delta Brodcasting’s website.
In addition, PBS.org offers resources for parents who may be struggling with how to take care of their children’s education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
