PDL membership provides one free registration to any one program in this series. However, at a very minimal cost, additional teachers can be registered. The cost of any program will likely be offset by savings in the purchasing of instructional materials alone. It is not the cost savings that should motivate a school; rather, this series offers a very exciting, innovative, and fresh approach to learning. While programs in this series will work effectively with all learners, please consider this series for hard-to-serve and disadvantaged learners. They will really work in turning students on to science, math, and history.

The PDL is offering three programs in this series:

Wolves of Yellowstone , full year, cost $50 per classroom, middle grades

Themes: Wildlife Science, Map Reading, Environments, and Ecology

Guides: Nathan Varley and Linda Thurston, Yellowstone Field Scientists

The Colonial Inn , semester, cost $50 per teacher, high school

Themes: Colonial History, Economics, Food Science, and Gourmet Cooking

Guide: Lee Patrick Anderson, Historian and Historic Site Program Director

The Raptors of Hawk Mountain , full year, cost $50 per classroom, early grades

Themes: Mathematics, Wildlife Science, Number Charts, and Climate

Guides: Naturalists and Volunteers at Hawk Mountain, PA

Valley Forge: A Soldier’s Account full year, cost $50 per classroom, grades 6-12.

Themes: Problem Solving, Math Calculation, Colonial Terminology, Military Science

Guides: presented by a Valley Forge historian

This original PDL series is straightforward, yet dynamic. If asked to explain the advantages of distance learning, this is an excellent example to share with school board members and parents. As a concept it embraces the ideals of technology-based learning. (1) Participation should actually save schools money, (2) each program connects students to a highly motivating, skilled professional (enabling students to interact and learn from sources beyond their classroom), and (3) they make learning fun and exciting.

Each program concept is based on a theme that would have high appeal with students (and yes, even teachers and parents). Learning themes are then used to reinforce and expand core academic skills. Materials provided to students, challenge questions asked, and assignments are typically directed to instill the fun of discovery. Even at the early grades, we try to share facts and information that parents or teachers might not realize. We do not water down vocabulary or avoid serious theories or concepts associated with that subject theme, but we do introduce these concepts in ways for even disadvantages learners to grasp.

Now about cost; many schools may not realize but participation in any program would generally save a school three to ten times the cost on purchasing traditional learning materials, such as, workbooks, text, library reference books or VHS tapes. All learning materials are provided online; all a teacher needs to do is photocopy and hand it out.

In addition, each enrolled teacher will receive free training (estimated at 15 hours) related to using online communication forums and adapting online materials. Schools should incorporate this training as part of their professional development plan. Also, any of these units can work well as a family-based shared learning activity, or as informal learning. There is assessment, but students would not likely sense they are being tested to assess what has been learned. Finally, teachers cannot be passive in presenting these units. They are often provided with optional activities and assignments; they need to decide what would work best with their students, what needs to be adapted to best fit into their school curriculum, and they need to convey the excitement of project challenges and thought problems.