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FAQ

Annenberg Learner Mission and History

What is Annenberg Learner’s mission?

Our mission is to advance excellent teaching in American schools through the development and distribution of multimedia resources for teaching and learning, as well as strategic partnerships that bring unique professional development and educational experiences to K-12 public educators and students. We are a division of the Annenberg Foundation, whose mission is to advance public well-being through improved communication.

What is the history of Annenberg Learner?

Annenberg Learner has funded and distributed more than 100 multimedia courses and workshops to help teachers keep current with the content they teach. Professional development resources provide teachers with research on the most effective teaching strategies, their connection to national education content standards, and examples of these principles as applied in real classrooms. The video components are paired with additional materials that include online texts, course and workshop guides, and extensive background information to enhance the learning experience. Using these resources, teachers can learn from experts, other teachers, and even students who reveal their unique interpretations of the content.

From the mid-1980s through 2003 – when it was a project contracted by the Annenberg Foundation, located at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – Annenberg Learner was known variously as the Annenberg/CPB Project, the Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Project, and Annenberg/CPB. At the conclusion of that contract, the Annenberg/CPB staff was incorporated into the Annenberg Foundation and operated under the name Annenberg Media from 2004 through 2010. As of January 1, 2011, we became Annenberg Learner.

Over that period of 30 years, we developed educational media for colleges and K-12 schools. Many other projects that focused on educational improvement were also funded by the Annenberg Foundation during those years, including the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University and the Annenberg Challenge. To learn more about these projects and others funded by the Foundation, visit  Our Initiatives page on the Annenberg Foundation website.

Inquiries About Funding and Unsolicited Content

Does Annenberg Learner accept unsolicited requests for funding?

We do not hold open solicitations for proposals.

Does Annenberg Learner accept proposals for new content?

We do not post unsolicited content or links on the Learner.org website.

Series Availability

How long will Annenberg Learner series be available on the website?

Learner series are created to live on the website for ten years or longer. After the distribution rights to a series expire, they revert to the series producer. If you are looking for a particular title that you do not see on the website, please check our list of retired series for producer information. In many cases, series are completely out of distribution due to rights expirations of third-party materials.

Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to individual requests about retired series and producer information. Also, we receive many questions about purchasing copies of discontinued series. We no longer sell DVDs and corresponding materials, and once a series is discontinued, we no longer have the rights to distribute it in any format.

Whenever Annenberg Learner series may become unavailable, we will provide advance notice in our newsletter, on the Learner.org website, and on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Where can I find information on discontinued series?

For information about the following discontinued series, please refer to the name of the producer below each title. Most of these series are no longer in distribution by anyone. We will provide additional links if we learn that the producers provide them elsewhere.

The Africans:
WETA

Algebra: In Simplest Terms:
COMAP

The Americas:
WGBH

America’s History in the Making:
Oregon Public Broadcasting

Artifacts & Fiction:
Oregon Public Broadcasting

Art of the Western World:
WNET/New York

Assessment in Math & Science:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Bridging World History:
Oregon Public Broadcasting

Calculating Change:
Pacific Street Films

Case Studies in Science Education:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Connect with English:
WGBH

Creating a Climate for Change…Math Leads the Way:
The Math Connection and WQED Pittsburgh

Critical Issues in School Reform:
Annenberg Institute for School Reform

Cycles of Life: Exploring Biology:
Coast Learning Systems

Death: A Personal Understanding:
Sleeping Giant Productions

Economics Classroom, The:
Pacific Street Films

English Composition:
Peter Berkow

Fokus Deutsch:
Geothe-Institut

For All Practical Purposes:
COMAP

Growing Old in a New Age:
The University of Hawaii Center on Aging

Human Geography:
BBC for the Open University in Great Britain

Inside the Global Economy:
Educational Film Center

Journey North:
Now available: Journey North has moved to the Arboretum at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Learning Math Series:
WGBH

Learning Science Through Inquiry:
WNET/Thirteen

Literary Visions:
Intelecom and Maryland Public Television

Looking at Learning Again, Part I:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Looking at Learning Again, Part II:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Mapmaker Interactive:
Now available: This tool is presented at NatGeo Mapmaker Interactive.

Mathematics: What’s the Big Idea?:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Mathematics Assessment:
WGBH

Mathematics and Science for All:
Montana State University and Montana Public Television

Mathematics Illuminated
Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Mechanical Universe and Beyond:
California Institute of Technology and Intelecom
Now available: CalTech has posted this series on Youtube.

The Mind: Teaching Modules:
Colorado State University

The Missing Link:
A-Plus Communications and Lavine Production Group

News Writing:
Peter Berkow

The Next Move: Steps Toward Change in Elementary Math and Science:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Nuevos Destinos:
WGBH

Out of the Past:
WQED/Pittsburgh

Planet Earth:
WQED/Pittsburgh

The Power of Music:
WNET/Thirteen

Power of Place:
Cambridge Studios

Primary Sources:
WGBH

Principles for Principals:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Private Universe Project in Math:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Private Universe Project in Science:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Race to Save the Planet:
WGBH

Reactions in Chemistry:
Educational Film Center

Rediscovering Biology:
Alexander Street 

Rural Communities:
Ohio University Telecommunications Center

School Testing- Behind the Numbers:
Fred Friendly Seminars for the Education Writers Association

Science Images:
NCREL Pathways to School Improvement

Science in Focus: Energy:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Science in Focus: Force and Motion:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Science in Focus: Shedding Light on Science:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Science K-6: Investigating Classrooms:
WGBH

Science of Teaching Science:
Now available: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Seasons of Life:
WQED/Pittsburgh and the University of Michigan
Now available on Youtube: Seasons of Life with John Kotre

Surprises in Mind:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Teaching Geography:
Cambridge Studios

Teaching High School Science:
WGBH

Teaching Math Libraries and Workshops:
WGBH

Teaching “The Children of Willesden Lane”:
Lavine Production Group with EDC/Center for Children and Technology
Now available: Selected videos from the series, and a 44-page teacher’s resource for the book, can be found on the Facing History and Ourselves website.

Teaching Reading 3-5 Workshop:
WGBH

Unseen Life on Earth: Microbiology:
Oregon Public Broadcasting

Western Tradition, The:
WGBH

Whole Child, The:
WTVS Detroit

A World of Art: Works in Progress:
Oregon Public Broadcasting

The World of Chemistry:
University of Maryland and the Educational Film Center
To inquire about availability and purchasing this series from the producer, please use the contact info in this link.

Discontinued Student Interactives

These stand-alone student interactives are no longer available.

Cinema
Collapse
DNA
Garbage
Historical and Cultural Contexts
Literature
Math in Daily Life
Metric Conversions
Statistics
Teachers’ Lab (From the Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Project)
(Includes: The Science of Light, Shape and Space in Geometry, Patterns in Mathematics, A Private Universe Project)
Volcanoes
Weather

What is the full list of Learner series currently available online for K-12 audiences?

Licensing and Sales of Annenberg Learner Series

Where can I buy Annenberg Learner series?

Annenberg Learner no longer sells DVD copies of video series and related materials. We will continue to offer our series to stream on Learner.org while we hold distribution rights. Some titles are not available for streaming outside of North America.

What are the licensing requirements for colleges and universities?

Any streamed video from Learner.org may be used in a K-12 classroom or professional development setting at no charge to the school. Use of video from Annenberg Learner in an educational setting where tuition is charged, be it a credit or non-credit class, a distance education or face-to-face class, requires purchase of a license. Note: Not all series are available for licensing.

Schools and universities may purchase a subscription to use selected videos from the Annenberg Learner video collection by contacting one of our partners:

How can I license series if I am located outside of the United States?

If you are an international institution wishing to purchase or license selected Annenberg Learner series, please visit the Visual Education Centre website for available series and pricing. To contact our international distributor directly, please call or write:

Doug Darwin
International Sales & Acquisition
Visual Education Centre
Phone: 416-252-5907 ext. 400
Email: [email protected]

Professional Development and Graduate Credits/CEUs

How can I use Annenberg Learner series for professional development?

Annenberg Learner professional development workshops and courses provide teachers with content and pedagogical learning to strengthen their professional credentials. Teachers may use Annenberg Learner’s materials with a study group of colleagues or at regular professional development sessions to review subject content. To support these uses of the materials, each course and workshop has a workshop or facilitator’s guide. Look for the How to Use This Course information on the homepage of each series, which provides information on the course or workshop structure as well as a script for running professional development sessions. A chapter corresponding to each video includes:

  • Background questions for the participants,
  • Video discussion questions,
  • Hands-on group activities, and
  • References for further study.

Please note: Annenberg Learner is unable to provide certificates of completion directly to individuals using the series online for PD.

How can I earn graduate credit and CEUs?

Annenberg Learner is not currently partnering directly with any institutions to provide coursework for CEUs and graduate credit. Learner is also unable to provide certificates directly to individuals using the series online for personal PD.

If a college or institution is providing an Annenberg Learner series for credits or CEUs at a cost to the student, they must purchase a license to do so. View “Series Licensing for Colleges and Universities” in the FAQs.

Viewing Videos

Why can’t I see my video?

If the video you are attempting to stream is not loading, it’s possible that Annenberg Learner does not hold the rights to stream it in your region. 

Available for streaming in North America only: 

 

  • The Brain 
  • Against All Odds
  • American Cinema
  • Biography of America
  • Destinos 
  • Discovering Psychology 
  • Earth Revealed
  • French in Action
  • Learning Math: Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
  • Learning Math: Geometry
  • Learning Math: Measurement
  • Learning Math: Numbers and Operations
  • Learning Math: Patterns and Functions
  • Social Studies in Action Library
  • Social Studies in Action Workshop
  • Teaching Foreign Languages Library 
  • Teaching Foreign Languages Workshop
  • Teaching Reading K-2 Library
  • Teaching Reading K-2 Workshop
  • Teaching Reading 3-5 Workshop
  • Voices and Visions
  • The World of Abnormal Psychology

Our agreements with our content providers change from time to time. For announcements about changes to our site and materials, sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://www.learner.org/contact/

 

For additional information on the availability of our series, take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page: https://learner.org/faq/

 

If you are experiencing a technical issue outside of region restrictions, contact us: https://www.learner.org/contact/

In what format is VOD available?

The VOD play in JW Player and are streamed in HLS4 format which has the widest support for popular browsers. JW Player is an HTML5 video player and plays fast and reliably across platforms.

Will content still be available in Flash?

No. Flash has essentially been abandoned in favor of HTML – for a variety of reasons – and we no longer rely on Flash technology for the playback of our content. Instead, we use the latest HTML5 standards for an improved, smooth, and more compatible viewing experience.

I am hearing sound but not seeing the picture. What’s wrong?

Usually this happens because you do not have a fast-enough connection to the internet. Because we are providing an adaptive stream, it should automatically adjust for slower bandwidth connections. For the best playback experience we recommend Google Chrome for all video content, however our playback streams are compatible with Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari, and others that support the HTML5 standards.

How do I view videos on a Windows 8 machine with Internet Explorer 10?

Windows 8 has two versions of Internet Explorer 10. You’ll want to use the Internet Explorer “for desktop” version to view Flash content. To browse the web from the desktop: go to the Start screen, tap or click “Desktop.” Then, tap or click the Internet Explorer icon on the task bar. Alternatively, you can add a website/domain to Microsoft’s whitelist by following the steps in this video.

Why won’t my browser accept cookies from your site?

Make certain that your browser is configured to accept cookies from Learner.org. If you have previously rejected cookies from Learner.org, that setting may still be stored in your browser’s configuration. If you’re coming to Learner.org through a “captive” site (for example, a Learning Management System, such as Edmodo or Blackboard), you will need to make certain that your browser is configured to accept third-party cookies.

Are closed captions available?

Closed captions are available on many of the VOD on this site. If the video you are viewing has closed captions available, you will see an option for turning them on/off at the bottom of the screen, when you mouse over the video in your media window.

Is there a way to make the VOD screen larger?

While viewing a video, click on the four arrows in the lower right-hand corner of the video screen to expand to full-screen.

If I want to watch just a certain part of the video, is there a way to skip ahead/back?

Yes. You can shuttle the position marker to the approximate position that you want to view, and press the play button. If you shuttle forward and the video seems to buffer for a long time, switch to another browser like Google Chrome for speedier playback.

How do I view videos outside of the United States and Canada?

We hold international distribution rights to many videos in our collection. However, we are prohibited by law from streaming certain programs outside the U.S. and Canada. If you try to access the restricted videos from outside of North America, you will receive a message indicating that the videos are not available.

May I download the VOD for future viewing?

All Video on Demand files are protected by copyright law and are free for this streaming purpose only. Downloading, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Offenders will be subject to civil and/or criminal liability under applicable laws.

Why aren’t your videos hosted on YouTube?

We don’t own the rights to the content in the videos, so they can only be streamed legally in their entirety via Learner.org.

May I share the VOD with my class?

Yes. If you are a K-12 educator, you may play VOD within the classroom via a regular computer screen or projection screen. If you are a college or university educator, you must purchase a license from one of our third-party distributors to share content with your class. Please refer to information on Licensing in our FAQs.

If your school is blocking streaming media, you can try whitelisting the following IP addresses:

Verizon Edgecast CDN: 108.161.240.0/20  110.232.176.0/22  117.103.183.0/24  117.18.232.0/21  121.189.46.0/23  180.240.184.0/24  192.16.0.0/18  192.229.128.0/17  192.30.0.0/19  194.255.210.64/26  198.7.16.0/20  203.74.4.64/26  213.64.234.0/26  46.22.64.0/20  5.104.64.0/21  68.232.32.0/20  72.21.80.0/20  88.194.45.128/26  93.184.208.0/20

Is there a fee to use Annenberg Learner videos?

If you are a K-12 educator or general learner, there is no charge to view videos on Learner.org. In other non-commercial settings, where participants are not charged an admission fee, Annenberg Learner videos may be shown. Examples of permitted settings are library programs and enrichment programs at senior centers.

If you are charging a fee for access to Learner content (ex. a college professor using Learner content as part of a class), then you are required to purchase a license. Not all content is available for licensing. Please refer to information on Licensing in our FAQs.

Terms of Use

Learner.org Terms of Use

This site is owned and operated by the The Annenberg Foundation (the “Foundation”) through one of its divisions, Annenberg Learner. The following policies posted on Learner.org, which you (“User”) accept by using Learner.org, contain the entire agreement (“Agreement”) between you and the Foundation regarding all aspects of your use of Learner.org. These policies may be amended at any time by the posting of revisions on Learner.org. The Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of California, regardless of the User’s location.

Contents
The materials on this site (including the interactives, Video on Demand files, photographs, video clips, audio clips and multimedia) are the property of, or licensed by, the Foundation and are protected under the copyright and trademark laws of the United States and other international jurisdictions. All material on this site has been made available for educational purposes and is intended for personal, non-commercial use. No material from this site, in whole or in part, may be downloaded (except in instances of standard browser caching), reproduced, retransmitted, republished, altered, duplicated, or publicly exhibited. Any unauthorized use will subject the offender to civil and/or criminal liability under applicable laws. Annenberg Learner and the Foundation specifically reserve and retain all rights which they have in any data, files and/or images, text and soundbites (and any combination or derivation thereof) made available under this service. The User agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Closed Captions
All programming provided by Annenberg Learner complies with the closed captioning requirements established by the Federal Communications Commission as embodied in 47 C.F.R. § 79.1, including regulations concerning closed captioning quality. Programming provided by Annenberg Learner complies with these regulations by either (i) satisfying the caption quality standards set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(j)(2); or (ii) being subject to one or more of the captioning exemptions set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 79.1(d), including programming for which the audio is in a language other than English.

Online Forums, Listservs, Bulletin Boards (“Chat” Areas)
The Foundation does not endorse, assert or stand behind the truthfulness or reliability of opinions, advice or statements given or made on Learner.org by anyone other than authorized Learner.org spokespersons.

By submitting material to one of Learner.org’s “chat” areas for posting, you agree to indemnify Annenberg Learner, and the Foundation, its officers, directors and employees, and hold them harmless from all claims, including, without limitation, claims for libel or slander, arising from the submission.

By using this Website, User agrees not to use Learner.org to: (a) send, or submit for public posting, any abusive, obscene, profane, sexually explicit, threatening, harassing or illegal material; or (b) engage in advertising to, or solicitation of, other Users to buy or sell any products or services. The Foundation reserves the right to refuse to display, or may remove from display, any material that the Foundation believes, in its sole judgment, violates these policies.

Links to Other World Wide Websites
This website contains links to other related World Wide Websites that are not under the control of Annenberg Learner or the Foundation, and neither Annenberg Learner nor the Foundation is responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. Annenberg Learner or the Foundation is providing these links only as a service to the User and the inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement of the linked site by Annenberg Learner or the Foundation.

Representations and Warranties
LEARNER.ORG IS PROVIDED TO THE USER ON AN “AS IS” BASIS, AND NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE BY ANNENBERG LEARNER, OR THE FOUNDATION, REGARDING LEARNER.ORG OR ANY SERVICES OR PRODUCTS PROVIDED THROUGH OR IN CONNECTION WITH USER’S USE OF LEARNER.ORG. THE FOUNDATION EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO LEARNER.ORG, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION: (1) ANY WARRANTIES AS TO AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY, OR CONTENT OF INFORMATION, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES; AND (2) ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Disclaimer of Liability
The user assumes all responsibility and risk for the use of Learner.org. By accessing this site, the user specifically acknowledges that Annenberg Learner and the Foundation are not liable for any loss or damage caused by or arising out of any use of this site. Neither Annenberg Learner nor the Foundation assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, incompleteness or usefulness of any information found on this site. In no event shall Annenberg Learner or the Foundation be liable for any special, indirect, direct, incidental, punitive or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits whether in an action of contract, negligence, or other tortuous action arising out of or in connection with the use, inability to use of performance of Learner.org, including without limitation use of or reliance on information available on Learner.org, interruptions, errors, defects, mistakes, omissions, deletions of files, delays in operation or transmission, nondelivery of information, disclosure of communications, or any other failure of performance.

Can I get permission to use Learner.org materials for my publication or website?

All materials on the Learner.org website were funded and developed to be used as part of the series subsites for which they were created. Therefore, they cannot be used in another site or publication without the permission of Annenberg Learner. In many cases, Annenberg Learner does hold original rights to the material on Learner.org and therefore cannot grant permission to others to use it. In these cases, the inquirer must consult the original copyright holder of the material for use permission. Information on the original copyright holder is displayed near the item it relates to.

Can I link to pages on Learner.org?

Any educational, non-commercial organization is welcome to link to resources on Learner.org from its website. We do not allow our pages to be contained within a frame implying that Learner.org resources are part of another website. Users also may not download pages from Learner.org to post on other websites.

Does Learner.org collect any student data via its website?

Learner.org does not collect any student data via its current website www.learner.org and its new website in beta www.beta.learner.org or through any of its offerings. Please read our Privacy Policy.