When did your organization launch and why?
KQED is a nonprofit, public media station and NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco that offers award-winning education resources and services free to educators nationwide.
What does your organization do? What are its main goals? Main projects?
KQED serves educators and students nationwide by providing free, high-quality resources that strengthen media literacy skills, empower youth voices and encourage civil discourse. As a nonprofit and a leader in media innovation, KQED provides standards-aligned classroom content and professional development courses that educators can trust. The KQED education team is comprised of educators and experienced media professionals with a passion for equity and access in education.
What makes your organization stand out? What would you say is the most unique thing about your organization?
KQED is a nonprofit, public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS affiliate based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source and leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.
What are recent projects or new resources that your organization would like to share with other NAMLE members?
KQED Teach offers free, self-paced courses on media literacy that teachers can use to create engaging experiences in the classroom. We want educators to practice and experience media-making first-hand before bringing it into the classroom.
Our self-paced courses are all focused on media analysis, media making, and bringing media projects into your classroom.
KQED also offers live virtual workshops for educators who want to meaningfully engage their students through media making and civic engagement.
KQED Youth Media Challenge invites middle and high school students to explore how they see themselves, their world, and their future by creating original audio, video and images and publishing them on the Challenge Showcase.
KQED partners with PBS to offer the PBS Media Literacy Educator Certification by KQED. Educators earn certification by completing 8 micro-credentials that h demonstrate their expertise in teaching K-12 students (or fellow educators) to think critically about their roles as media consumers and creators. The program is open to all K-12 educators in all subjects, as well as ToSAs, coaches, tech coordinators, media specialists and librarians.
What are the connections between the work of your organization and media literacy?
From Youth Media Challenges to the PBS Media Literacy Educator Certification by KQED, supporting media literacy skill development is central to our efforts.
Why is media literacy important to your organization?
Media literacy is essential for students to be engaged and informed members of their communities.
Anything else you want our readers to know about your organization, your mission, or your staff?
KQED partners with educational agencies, organizations with educator networks, and content producers to provide educators with classroom resources and professional learning opportunities to make learning relevant to students.
The views and opinions expressed in the Organizational Spotlight blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NAMLE or its members. The purpose of the Organizational Spotlight blog is to highlight our Organizational Partners and give them a place to share their reflections, opinions, and ideas.