WXEL TV42 EVENT ENCOURAGES LOCAL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL STEM VIDEO GAME CHALLENGE
Event encourages students and educators to build original games in support of
STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – learning
January 13, 2012, Boynton Beach , FL – To help promote participation in the 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge, WXEL TV42 is hosting the “STEM Workshop: PBC Teens & Educators”. Science/Technology/Engineering/Math (STEM) will be the focus of workshop participants from Palm Beach County when developing video games for children ages 4 – 8 by the deadline of March 12, 2012.
Supported nationally by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS KIDS through the Ready To Learn Initiative, the contest being promoted by WXEL TV42 is inspired by the “Educate to Innovate Campaign, ”President Obama’s initiative to promote a renewed focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. The Challenge is an annual competition to motivate interest in STEM learning among America ’s youth by tapping into students’ natural passion for playing and making video games.
“There is a growing body of research that highlights how making games fosters the development of critical STEM skills, including problem solving and digital media literacy,” said Bernie Henneberg, President & CEO, WXEL TV42. “This contest provides our community with a way to encourage and inspire our kids to get involved with the STEM subjects outside of the classroom; furthermore, we’re delighted to be one of the markets selected by PBS KIDS for this national promotional project.”
Event Details
The STEM workshop event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 from 1:00pm to 5:30pm at the WXEL TV facilities: 3401 S. Congress Ave. , Boynton Beach , FL. It’s open to teens as well as to educators/teachers. The teen participants will include many middle schoolers/high schoolers from Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County as one of WXEL’s primary project partners; WXEL’s other partners include the Palm Beach County Library System plus city libraries such as the Boynton Beach City Libraryas well as T.E.N./The Education Network-School District of Palm Beach County. The workshop will feature a learning expert from E-Line Media who will be leading the instructional design on Gamestar while working with the participants. WXEL’s education staff is looking for additional teen students and educators in Palm Beach County who are interested in attending the event; individuals can RSVP by calling 561.737.8000 x4406 or by sending a message toeducation@wxel.org. Seats are limited. Visit the WXEL web site for more information: www.wxel.org
National STEM Video Game Challenge
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media launched the 2nd annual Challenge in partnership with the Digital Promise, a new initiative created by the President and Congress, supported through the U.S. Department of Education.
The 2012 Challenge features four entry categories: Middle School, High School, Collegiate and Educator. Within each category, PBS KIDS and CPB are challenging participants to develop educational games for children ages 4-8 that focus on specific math curriculum skills. Contestants can find insights and more information about the Challenge on PBSKIDS.org/stemchallenge,including resources that help guide game production for young children and interviews with top PBS KIDS game producers.
Entries will be accepted from November 15, 2011 through March 12, 2012at www.stemchallenge.org. At the end of the competition, the winning games for the PBS KIDS and CPB track will be featured on the PBS KIDS Laband PBS LearningMediawebsites. PBS KIDS and CPB are participating in the 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge as part of the Ready To Learn Initiative, a grant program managed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement.
The Ready To Learn Initiative supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families, including over 40new cross-platform games designed to help children ages 2-8 build critical math skills, which are now available atPBSKIDS.org/lab. Its goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach, and research on educational effectiveness.
ABOUT WXEL TV42
WXEL-DTV42, the area’s public television station, signed on the air in 1982. WXEL Television is affiliated with PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service. Digital TV42 airs shows serving the educational, cultural and entertainment needs of the community with acclaimed national programming such as Frontline, NOVA, Sesame Street and The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! and local programming, including Heritage with Laurel Sauer and Alan Gerstel. Digital TV42-1 airs PBS programming, digital TV42-2 airs Create and WORLD, digital 42-3 airs V-me (Spanish-language educational television), and digital TV42-4 airs The Florida Channel and T.E.N. (The Education Network); www.wxel.org
*Source: January 10/January 11 WXEL Internal Reports
About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for children, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS programs supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom