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Highlights of Research on the Impact of Public Television on Children's Learning

2005 Video and Television Use & Trends Among K-12 Teachers: Final Report, 2005, prepared for PBS by Grunwald Associates.   This study explores the methods, purpose, and frequency of use of video and television programming by K-12 teachers in the classroom instruction and finds that this technology enables teachers to increase student motivation and respond to a variety of student learning styles.

Learning with Technology: Evidence that technology can, and does, support learning, 2004, Cable in the Classroom Online.  This study takes a look at how video and other broadcast and online technologies support learning in the schools.  Findings show that the number of hours youngsters spend online has doubled since 2000, about 40% of kids visit a website while watching TV, and most parents want websites to help youngsters learn, help themselves learn, and help youngsters be more creative.   In addition, the research suggests that educational technology results in learning.  www.ciconline.org/broadband/learningwithtechnology

The Relations of Early Television Viewing to School Readiness and Vocabulary of Children from Low-Income Families: The Early Window Project, 2001, Child Development, September/October 2001, Volume 72, Number 5, pages 1347-1366.   This study of  television viewing among children from low- to moderate-income families shows that viewing child-audience informative programs with quality content such as Sesame Street, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Reading Rainbow, Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Wizard’s Word, and 3-2-1 between ages 2 and 3 predicted higher performance in reading, math, vocabulary, and school readiness. 

Between the Lions: Project Overview and Research Findings, 2002, Early Childhood Institute, Mississippi State University.  Based on research findings of a study conducted in two Mississippi communities, including Choctaw Indian reservation, this report found that Between the Lions made significant differences in several key reading skills of children at high risk of reading failure.  This is one of a very few studies focusing on literacy among economically disadvantaged rural preschool children and examining literacy programs in child care settings. http://www.pbs.org/readytolearn/research/btl.pdf

A Report on the Impact of Motion Media on Adult and K-12 Learning, 2003, Rema Nilakanta, Iowa State University; Clifford J. Ehlinger, Grant Wood Area Education Agency; National Film Market, Inc.  This report demonstrates the significant and positive  impact of motion media  - i.e. technology that deals with moving images and sounds – on education and learning.  Available for purchase from the National Media Market, contact berryge@mchsi.com.

Television Goes to School: The Impact of Video on Student Learning in Formal Education , 2004; Center for Children and Technology, Education Development Center, Inc..
Created for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, this report focuses on key questions concerning the relationship of television to learning, and provides examples drawn from current television research to demonstrate television’s effect on student achievement.  Findings show that video in the classroom reinforces classroom learning, enhances student comprehension and discussion, enables teachers to address a wider diversity of student learning styles, and increases student motivation and enthusiasm.  The report also provides a set of practical recommendations so that broadcasters and educators can maximize the effectiveness of video in the classroom.   http://www.cpb.org/stations/reports/tvgoestoschool/

Learning With Technology, 2002, James M. Marshall, Ph.D., San Diego State University, a white paper prepared for Cable in the Classroom.  This paper draws conclusive evidence from a variety of research on the impact that educational technologies have on learning and finds that technology employed purposefully for defined outcomes supports and facilitates learning. www.medialit.org/reading_room/article545.html

Summative Evaluation of Between the Lions, 2000, Deborah L. Linebarger, Ph.D,; Juniper Gardens Children’s Project; University of Kansas.   This evaluation of the popular children’s PBS program focused on literacy concluded that Kindergarten children who watched Between the Lions outperformed their peers who did not watch the program by nearly 4 to 1 on measures of phonemic awareness, letter-sound correspondence, and concepts of print.
http://www.pbs.org/readytolearn/research/btlkansassum.pdf

Roeper Public Opinion Poll on PBS, 2004.  Found that Americans have an extremely strong trust in Public Broadcasting and regard public broadcasting as an “excellent value” for the tax dollar.  Close to three-quarters of Americans said it would affect their quality of life if the PBS station in their local community were no longer available.  In addition, a strong majority rated PBS positively in promoting the following important issues: improving literacy, health awareness, understanding American history, information about political and social issues and understanding of science and technology. www.pbs.org/roperpoll2004/pbs_roper.html