24.02.03
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Worldwide helps put Texas on the map
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
programming is set to play a key role in 10th grade classrooms in
the US state of Texas by helping US children brush up on their world
geography. A series of world geography videos produced by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Children's
Learning, part of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide, are a key element of a multimedia
educational programme - World 21 - that has received official approval
by the state of Texas to form a core part of the geography curriculum
for 10th grade students (15/16 year-olds).
World
21, which has been developed in association with US educational
media company, Public Media Inc., will be used in public schools
across the state, marking the first time that a non-US and non-textbook
based academic course has been given official approval by the Texas
State Education Board. This is also the first time that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
has produced a full curriculum for an international market.
Three
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ geography television series - 'World 2000', 'USA 2000' and 'World
Physical' - were especially re-voiced and re-edited for a US audience
to provide 18 hour-long educational videos designed to increase
students' awareness and knowledge of world geography. Covering both
physical and human geography, the videos will be accompanied by
a series of print and CD-ROM resources, incorporating the latest
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software, which have been
developed by the leading GIS company, ESRI, to provide geography
teachers and their pupils with a comprehensive multimedia learning
system.
Texas
is renowned in the US for its high standards of educational excellence,
dating back to the high priority placed on education by George W
Bush during his period as Governor between 1994 and 1998. The state
has put a lot of emphasis on essential knowledge and skills - setting
high standards for all subjects and grade levels.
Rupert
Gavin, Chief Executive, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide, commented: "The Texas
educational system has extremely stringent criteria for judging
whether a particular educational resource meets their State standards,
so we are delighted that World 21 has been officially endorsed as
a conforming educational resource, especially as it is the first
time that a multimedia resource has met all the Education Board
standards.
"The
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is an established and respected brand in the international education
and learning market and, with access to such world-class educational
materials, we anticipate future opportunities to adapt these materials
for use in the US, as well as in other international markets."
Phil
Stockton, Director of Product Development, Public Media Inc., commented:
"We are very excited about this project; early signs suggest
that the videos will secure a significant market share, reaching
over 50,000 students in Texas. And as many other state education
boards follow the lead of Texas in making their selection of resources,
this represents a significant opportunity for World 21 to be adopted
in many other parts of the US.
"We
plan to submit the programme to a number of other states over the
next two years and, based on the success of this programme, are
considering expanding our relationship with Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide to cover
resources for other subjects in the US."
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