WGBY has recently received an award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as a demonstration site to test math and literacy content developed through the U.S. Department of Education’s Ready To Learn grant.

Working with a coalition of partners, WGBY will implement Ready To Learn: North End, a project that will use educational content on multiple platforms — including video, online games, mobile apps, and off-line activities — that builds an educational experience for kids using innovative technologies. Partners for this project include Springfield Public Schools, Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield HeadStart, Square One, Springfield City Library, Springfield YMCA, Springfield Parent Academy, Springfield Parks Department, The North End Campus Coalition, North End Outreach Network, Cherish Every Child, among others.

Throughout the year, WGBY and their community partners will collaborative:
• Launch the North End Center for Literacy at Learning at the Gerena Community School;
• Train educators on the use of Ready To Learn content through face-to-face training;
• Utilize a peer mentoring approach for training through the use of digital ambassadors, connecting teens with younger youth to demonstrate new technologies;
• Create opportunities for parents and children to play learning games experience how technology can support early learning.

We will keep you posted with updates about our project!  To check out some of the newest PBS KIDS games, visit the PBS KIDS Lab.