Coronavirus: EVSC produces TV programs to educate students during school closures
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Aiming to educate students with limited access to virtual instruction, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. is preparing to make its local TV debut.
Beginning April 13, local station WNIN will air programs on Channel 9 recorded and produced by EVSC teachers and staff to provide at-home learning for Tri-State families, many without Internet or WiFi.
WNIN will also air additional, PBS-produced programming targeted to students in grades 9-12.
"We're very excited about this partnership at WNIN, and their collaboration with us," EVSC spokesman Jason Woebkenberg said.
"It's a new opportunity," he added, "and we always say we're blessed to be in a community where different entities can come together. This is just another example of that."
By developing televised content, Woebkenberg said the district will cover a variety of content areas — English language arts, reading and math — on a more accessible platform.
"We're looking for different ways to reach kids, and we felt this was a good way to reach them by being able to air lessons on Channel 9 so they can tune in and get unlimited access."
The partnership is part of a statewide initiative by the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations. The two organizations announced an agreement Monday which will focus on offering at-home learning for K-12 students throughout the state.
Bonnie Rheinhardt, vice president of television at WNIN, said the school corporation first reached out to the station weeks ago, with the two organizations agreeing to "meld their ideas together."
With school facilities closed through the academic year, the district felt a partnership with the station could increase its outreach to low-income families. As a broadcast station, WNIN offers Tri-State viewers free access to education-based programming.
“This really does get back to public television and the roots of our education when we started,” Rheinhardt said. “We jumped on the chance because this is what we do. It’s a part of our mission.”
This week, EVSC staff will work on developing content in line with the station's format. Teachers will interact and engage with viewers like they would with students in traditional classrooms while following school curricula.
"We are really grateful for our teachers," Woebkenberg said. "They've really been doing a nice job as we've been recording these lessons."
After the district produces the content, WNIN will run each program on virtual instruction days between 8 a.m. to noon.
Woebkenberg said the district will also post the recorded lessons on EVSC's Facebook page and Youtube channel to give families additional access in case they miss the televised spots.
"We're just trying to provide a wide range of programming options so that kids can get valuable instruction," he said.
From the limited content she's seen, Rheinhardt said, the collaborative effort will prove to be beneficial for local students and families.