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Thanks to Martha and the team at the Montana Historical Society for letting me take over the newsletter today! My name is Nikki and I am the Director of Education at Montana PBS. I get the fun job of helping teachers use media and technology in their classrooms!
Montana PBS Education supports teachers in Montana by offering FREE professional development opportunities and producing classroom resources published on PBS LearningMedia. PBS LearningMedia is a free content site for K-12 teachers who want to use PBS media in their classrooms. Did I mention that it’s free? We just published a brand new collection about the Montana State Parks, with videos and lesson ideas for teachers planning a field trip to one of the parks this school year.
In addition to resources on PBS LearningMedia, teachers can participate in the MTPBS Watch and Learn program to earn OPI credit for watching full films produced by Montana PBS and completing a reflection activity.
Montana teachers are invited to attend our free virtual workshop about the new film from Ken Burns, American Buffalo. There is also a way to watch the full film and earn credit for doing it!
Read below to learn more about our programs and reach out to Nikki Vradenburg, Director of Education for more information!
Watch and Learn PD
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.
American Buffalo PD Opportunities
Virtual Workshop November 1, 4:00 p.m.
The American Buffalo is a new documentary by Ken Burns that premiered on PBS in October 2023. It is the dramatic story of the national mammal’s near extinction. In this free, one-hour workshop on Wednesday November 1 at 4 p.m., teachers will view clips of the film and learn about resources for teaching with the film.
Zach Hawkins and Mike Jetty from the OPI Indian Education for All team will share OPI resources for teaching about the buffalo created by their team. Teachers will earn 1 OPI credit for attending this workshop and a chance to win a lesson toolkit including a DVD copy of the film and books about the buffalo to use with students. This workshop is for anyone who works with students in grades 3-12 interested in sharing the rich history of the buffalo.
Register using this link.
View the Full American Buffalo Film for Credit
In the month of November, teachers can watch American Buffalo online for free and earn 5 OPI credits for completing a reflection activity about the experience. This is a limited time opportunity since free on demand streaming will only be available until November 30. Click here to register!
Parks of Montana Collection on PBS LearningMedia
Graduate students from MSU and UM work with Montana PBS as graduate assistants. They earn a tuition waiver and a small stipend to collaborate on the production of digital resources for Montana classrooms. We are in the third year of this project and are proud of our growing collection of resources about the Parks of Montana.
Montana is home to fifty-five state parks—each with its own unique wonders. The Parks of Montana project aims to showcase the amazing features of these public lands and to teach a variety of lessons from different content areas to elementary students. Within the collection are resources for teachers and students preparing to visit the park, reflecting on a previous trip, or exploring the parks virtually. From caves and lakes to fossils and historic sites, Montana's state parks are magnificent places to explore at home and on site! Click here to check it out!
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