The MontanaPBS LearningMedia production project seeks to build a partnership between MontanaPBS and the Education and Film and Photography Departments at Montana State University and the University of Montana. Graduate assistants working in the roles of Educational Media Specialist and Educational Media Producer collaborate to create education first digital content specifically for PreK-12 classrooms to be published on PBS LearningMedia–a free content site for teachers. This team of four students is made up of two or three GA students at both universities collaborating to produce video and photo media aligned to curriculum standards and paired with support materials such as hands-on activities, graphic organizers and discussion questions. 

During the first year of the program in 2021, a needs assessment was conducted to determine the interests and needs of Montana teachers. The results of this assessment concluded that a collection of digital materials about the Montana State Parks would provide digital resources to support teachers who wish to take their students on field trips to the Parks while also teaching multiple content areas such as Science, Social Studies and English Language Arts. This collection is free and available to teachers all over the US to use as they teach their students about Montana’s rich history and natural resources. The LearningMedia production Team will add more content to the collection each year in a continued effort to provide a variety of digital learning experiences about Montana’s State Parks.  In 2023, The Parks of Montana collection was selected as a finalist for a NETA Public Media award in the “classroom resources” category.

1. Provide access to high quality teaching materials –new and existing--for educators and students in both formal and informal PreK-12 settings on PBS LearningMedia
2. Determine the content needs of PreK-12 educators in Montana that could be met with digital resources on PBS LearningMedia
3. Develop high quality materials for PreK-12 students, based on a determined need, that impact appropriate growth and development
4. Measure the impact of these materials in Montana schools

• How can MontanaPBS use digital resources to meet the needs of PreK-12 educators and students in Montana? 
• Are PreK-12 teachers consistently using PBS LearningMedia resources? If not, can we increase the use of PBS LearningMedia by creating custom content for PreK-12 teachers?
• Do PBS LearningMedia resources contribute to PreK-12 student achievement in Montana schools?

Educational Media Specialists—MSU Education Graduate Teaching Assistant,  UM Graduate Teaching Assistant

The Education Graduate Assistants collaborate with the Film Graduate Assistant and the rest of the Education team to plan and create education first productions with support materials for elementary classroom settings to be published on PBS LearningMedia.  The creation of these materials takes place in collaboration with local teachers in Montana  schools and requires knowledge of elementary curriculum standards for learning, instructional design and best practices in media instruction. The individuals in this role are responsible for creating the support material aligned to the media as well as a strategy for measuring the impact and use of these materials with the help of local teachers, administrators and MSU and UM faculty. The Educational Media Specialists work within the Education Department but in close collaboration with Production, Development and Digital Content and Marketing Departments.

Educational Media Producers—MSU MFA Graduate Teaching Assistants

The Film Graduate Assistants collaborate with the Education Graduate Assistant and the rest of the Education team to plan and create education first productions with support materials for elementary classroom settings to be published on PBS LearningMedia. The creation of these materials takes place in collaboration with local teachers.  The person in this role will produce the media for these collections on PBS LearningMedia as well as media resources for local productions as needed and determined by the Education team. The Educational Media Producers are responsible for directing, writing, shooting, editing, lighting, audio recording and mixing, using visual effects and designing graphics both in field and studio-based environments blended with compelling story-telling skills with attention paid to image, visual identity and branding using industry standard tools. The Educational Medial Producers work with both the Education and Production departments. These GA positions are supervised by the Education department but have access to advisors from the Production team. There will also be opportunities for the Educational Media Producers to assist with production projects outside of the Education department.