Watch and Learn
Build your content knowledge while being inspired to create engaging lessons for students when you watch full length, award winning programs from PBS and Montana PBS–and earn credit for doing it! This FREE professional development activity can be done when and wherever you are and is always open–no deadlines!
Getting started is easy!
- Explore this catalog of local and national productions from PBS and Montana PBS.
- Fill out a form to sign up to view as many of the films as you want.
- Watch your email for directions about how to watch the film and complete the reflection activity.
NOTE: Please allow up to 10 business days to receive information about viewing the films. You will get an email from Nikki Vradenburg with the links to the films and the reflection activities. Due to the high volume of requests it may take NIkki longer to respond to your registration. Thank you for being patient!
Montana PBS Media Lab
Stay tuned for more Media Lab workshops coming this summer!
Hiding in Plain Sight Virtual PD Series
OPI Credit available
2 hour virtual sessions for K-12 Teachers
New workshops coming summer of 2024!
Watch for details coming soon!
Ken Burns is the executive producer of a major new public television documentary, Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness. The film, premiered in June 2022 and gives voice to the experiences of young people who struggle with mental health challenges and focuses on the importance of awareness and empathy. Teachers who attend this virtual workshop series will have the opportunity to view portions of the film and discuss topics such as identifying mental illness, trauma informed practices, exploring emotions and more with other teachers and mental health advocates. Virtual workshops are free and open to all teachers who support K-12 students. Teachers who attend workshops live will earn 2 OPI credits for each workshop they attend and a chance to win prizes. These workshops will NOT be recorded as a large part of each session will be devoted to discussion. Please be advised that the content of this film may be upsetting to some. Please only attend these events if you feel comfortable viewing and talking about this sensitive content with others.
The full film can be viewed on PBS LearningMedia for free. Teachers are not required to watch the full film before attending the workshops but it is highly recommended.
PBS Media Literacy Certification Online Course
PBS Media Literacy Certification Online Course
Are you a media savvy educator looking to develop your expertise in Media Literacy? Are you passionate about teaching kids how to think critically about their roles as media consumers and creators? Join this FREE, asynchronous, online course! Teachers who take this course would earn 30 OPI renewal units upon completion of PBS Media Literacy Certification. This course is fully asynchronous and self-paced. Teachers will access videos and course materials in Google Classroom to earn 8 micro-credentials and become PBS Media Literacy Certified.
Participants will
- Watch video recordings about each of the 8 micro-credentials needed to become certified
- Complete the work needed to earn 8 micro-credentials and become certified in the PBS Media Literacy program
- Provide feedback about the experience.
Learn more about PBS Media Literacy Certification for educators at https://edu-landing.kqed.org/certification/
Virtual Teacher Trainings
Do you have a half an hour you can spend learning something new? Check out our collection of Virtual Teacher Training videos! Recorded by Nikki Vradenburg, our Teacher Ambassador, with the help of a variety of experts so you can learn wherever you are and whenever you have time about the latest trends in digital media instruction! Would you like to be featured in one of our Virtual Teacher Training videos? Do you have a suggestion for a video we need to create? Send an email to Nikki at nikki@montanapbs.org and we will get one going!
Nikki Vradenburg
Ghost Forests Teacher Workshop
Ghost Forests is the newest film from Montana PBS. Watch this special virtual workshop for teachers to preview clips of the film and hear from the producer and the scientists featured in the film about the challenges of preserving this species of tree. Teachers will be invited to explore free teaching resources developed by MTPBS to be used in the classroom.
Nikki Vradenburg
MTPBS Summer Media Lab | Procreate
Sketchnoting, or visual note-taking, is an effective and engaging way to take notes and to facilitate understanding and learning. Workshop participants will learn how to develop a doodling mentality with various fun and scaffolded drawing activities throughout the day.
Nikki Vradenburg
PBS resources for Trauma Informed Instruction | Tech Talk Tuesday
Support students who have experienced trauma. This engaging Tech Talk Tuesday will guide you through how to find and implement FREE resources created by PBS stations including apps, websites and other digital resources for a variety of devices and learners. Make trusted PBS characters your co-teachers.