Education

Whether it's English, Spanish, Chinese, or Urdu, babies and young children are able to pick up their native language with remarkable ease; no one language seems any more difficult than any other. Yet few children who are taught a language in school have anything to show for it when they grow up. Why is learning a second or third language so difficult? Are the teaching methods at fault? Enough is now known about the process of language acquisition to suggest that language teaching can be more effective. This BBC Horizon program looks at some of the different language acquisition methods in use in schools around the world. (50 minutes)

This program examines what stands between our children becoming literate adults or school dropouts. It explores the experiences of students on the edge of success or failure in school, shares the feelings of students who fail and those who triumph, visits classrooms around the country where teachers encourage literacy across content areas and promote cognitive development for all their students, and-above all-provides hope that the literacy crisis facing our schools can be solved. (58 minutes)

Without schooling, a child has no future. Without an educated population, a nation has no future. This two-part Wide Angle series examines gaps and voids in educational opportunities that, tragically, keep many developing countries from advancing. Following a group of children from around the world as they progress through life-and, on an uneven basis, through school-the series gets to the heart of this colossal yet not intractable socioeconomic problem. 2-part series, 57 and 87 minutes.

One of the great success stories from the world of autism, Temple Grandin revolutionized the field of livestock management, empowered by her sensitivity with animals. Tommy McHugh displayed no such sensitivity-until a brain hemorrhage transformed him from a brawler into a gentle soul. As scientists continue to investigate differences between the male and female brain, the special characteristics of autistics and savants take on increased importance. This program describes the latest research in that area, shedding light on the role of testosterone, fetal development, evolutionary factors, and the notable lack of romantic and sexual bonding among the autistic. (53 minutes)

If high test scores bring praise or treats, students will develop good study habits-according to commonsense thinking, at least. But conventional wisdom is changing. This two-part series sheds new light on the ways that children push their own limits, overcome challenges, and take pleasure in learning. Interviews with psychologists and education experts reveal counterintuitive but highly effective methods for building student confidence and achievement. Portions are in Korean with English subtitles. 2-part series, 42-46 minutes each.

In the 1950s, America's public schools teemed with the promise of a new, postwar generation of students, over half of whom would graduate and go on to college. This program shows how impressive gains masked profound inequalities: seventeen states had segregated schools; 1% of all Ph.D.s went to women; and separate but equal" was still the law of the land. Interviews with Linda Brown Thompson and other equal rights pioneers bring to life the issues that prompted such milestones as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. (55 minutes)"

Since the 1830s, public schools have spread into every corner of America. Then and now, what kind of people have been called to teach in these schools? This program explores the importance of educators in the lives of their students, emphasizing a teacher's influence as role model, as upholder of society's norms, and even as agent of social change. Dedicated women who spent their careers teaching newly freed slaves and turn-of-the-century teachers of immigrants are profiled, as well as exemplary instructors of today's struggling teenagers. Education reformer Theodore Sizer, education historian David Tyack, and author Frank McCourt are featured. (56 minutes)

Although intended to promote academic success for all, the traditional public school system in the U.S. has not always been able to measure up to its own high standards. In districts characterized by sagging test scores and dilapidated buildings, many parents are having second thoughts about enrolling their children. This provocative two-part series contends that homeschooling, charter schools, and vouchers may be viable ways to truly democratize the American education experience. 2-part series, 30 minutes each.

In 1900, 6% of America's children graduated from high school; by 1945, 51% graduated and 40% went on to college. This program recalls how massive immigration, child labor laws, and the explosive growth of cities fueled school attendance and transformed public education. Also explored are the impact of John Dewey's progressive ideas as well as the effects on students of controversial IQ tests, the life adjustment" curriculum, and Cold War politics. Interviews with immigrant students, scholars, and administrators provide a portrait of America's changing educational landscape in the first half of the 20th century. (55 minutes)"

If diversity and special needs are prominent factors in a learning environment, teachers may have to juggle mandated standards with students' personal challenges. This video addresses that balancing act, demonstrating how experienced educators have mastered it. Focusing on multilevel instructional planning, the program explores the use of educational channels, individualized support, and interpersonal engagement-showing how to deliver lessons and assess student progress based on communication style, learning preference, and other variables. An extensive bonus interview with Dr. Diane Ashby, Dean of Illinois State University's College of Education, is included. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (18 minutes)

In the field of brain research there is no subject more intriguing than the savant-an individual with mental, behavioral, or even physical disability who possesses acute powers of observation, mathematical aptitude, or artistic talent. This three-part series provides an enthralling look into the psychology and neuroscience of the savant's mysterious world. 3-part series, 53 minutes each.

Today's teachers have access to powerful technological tools-which not only make information and media instantly available but can also assist in creating and customizing educational content. This two-part series helps educators use blogs and podcasts to make learning more exciting and relevant while streamlining the teaching process. Both programs include strategies for increasing literacy, creativity, and social skills in students-and for improving the distribution of texts, audiovisual recordings, and organizational materials. 2-part series, 24 minutes each.

Blogs may be driving print journalists out of business, but they're doing wonders for the teaching profession. This program helps educators learn more about blogging and the best ways to integrate it into the classroom. Showing how blogs help communicate ideas and connect readers worldwide, the video focuses on the benefits of blogging for both teachers and students. Specific topics include blogging strategies for increasing student motivation, reading comprehension, writing skills, collaboration, and healthy social interaction. Viewers will also learn about blogging for course announcements, reading assignments, professional development networking, student journalism, and other purposes. (24 minutes)

Teaching is arguably the most important career in the world-and certainly one of the most demanding. Yet even in a field that requires so much energy and caring, certain teachers manage to stand out from the rest. In this inspiring three-part series, nine great teachers display their diverse approaches to educating and building self-esteem in their students. 3-part series, 24-28 minutes each.

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Clarence Page hosts this in-depth look at a grassroots revolution in American education: charter schools. Reasons for the movement's emergence, as well as different philosophies and methodologies, are seen in visits to several charter schools, including North Star Academy in Newark, KIPP Academy in Houston, and the Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Los Angeles. The video offers interviews with a wide array of teachers, administrators, parents, and students, as well as commentary from leading education experts, including Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Dr. Bruno Manno, co-author of Charter Schools in Action. (60 minutes, color)