WHYY’s Media Labs program is a media instruction partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. Over the course of three years, WHYY has engaged about 4,000 students in 28 schools throughout Philadelphia in hands-on media arts training through the program.
Participating students learn video and audio production, critical thinking, STEM education skills, problem solving, research, develop a strong sense of self-efficacy and are better prepared for a wide variety of workplaces. Students also learn valuable life skills like how to work in teams, how to plan projects, and how to solve difficult problems.
From 2019 to 2021, an instructor from WHYY worked in our after school program teaching students to tell stories about topics that concern them. The instructor also taught WHYY’s tried and true curriculum to Penn Alexander teachers, training educators to use media production as a tool in their classrooms. We now run our PAS NEWS club after school with PAS Staff who have been trained in video production.
Teachers trained to use media arts in the classroom through this program are better able to foster student engagement, provide richer, project-based learning and can incorporate the STEM approach across subject area.
PAS students in grades 5 to 8 can sign up to attend an after school club where they learn to create a news show featuring stories about events happening in and around our school.
Check out this great feature from WHYY Media Labs about how PAS students and teachers put together our news productions.
New episodes will be posted below as they are completed.
CHECK OUT FULL EPISODES OF PAS NEWS BELOW –
PAS NEWS - SEASON 6 - Episode 2 - February 2024
PAS NEWS – SEASON 6 – Episode 3 – April 2024
PAS NEWS - SEASON 6 - Episode 2 - February 2024
PAS NEWS – SEASON 6 – Episode 2 – February 2024
PAS NEWS - SEASON 6 - Episode 1 - December 2023
PAS NEWS – SEASON 6 – Episode 1 – December 2023
PAS NEWS - SEASON 5 - Episode 3 - June 2023
PAS NEWS – SEASON 5 – Episode 3 – June 2023
PAS NEWS – SEASON 5 – Episode 2 – March 2023
PAS NEWS – SEASON 5 – Episode 1 – February 2023
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 10 – Spring 2022
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 9 – Spring 2022
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 8 – Spring 2022
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 7 – Spring 2022
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 6 Winter 2022
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 5 Winter 2022
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 4 Winter 2022
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 3 Winter 2022
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 2 Winter 2021
PAS NEWS – SEASON 4 – Episode 1 Fall 2021
PAS NEWS – SEASON 3 – Episode 2 SPRING 2021
PAS NEWS – SEASON 3 EPISODE 3
PAS NEWS – SEASON 3 – Episode 1 – WINTER 2020/2021
Students have continued to work in our after school program to bring you news coverage in our PAS community!
This episode was created during the months of November, December and January by students working remotely to collaborate on our stories.
BREAKING NEWS! February 2021
8th Grader Nate Johnstone brings us an update on our district’s school reopening plan.
PAS NEWS – SEASON 2 – Episode 5 – February 2020
PAS NEWS – SEASON 2 – Episode 6 – March 2020
PAS NEWS – SEASON 2 – Episode 3 – December 2019
PAS NEWS – SEASON 2 – Episode 4 – January 2020
PAS NEWS – SEASON 2 – Episode 1 – October 2019
PAS NEWS – SEASON 2 – Episode 2 – November 2019
PAS NEWS – Episode 1 – October 2018
PAS NEWS – Episode 2 – November 2018
PAS NEWS – Episode 3 – December 2018
PAS NEWS – Episode 4 – January 2019
PAS NEWS – Episode 5 – February 2019
PAS NEWS – Episode 6 – March 2019
PAS NEWS – Episode 7 – April 2019
PAS NEWS – Episode 8 – May 2019
2017 – 2018 School Year Video Productions
Basketball at PAS: This short documentary introduces viewers to the new basketball team at Penn Alexander.
The Gayborhood: This documentary looks at the history of the LGBTQ rights movement in Philadelphia. It was produced by three PAS students and won honorable mention at National History Day.
School Walk Out: This poetic documentary pairs found audio clips from the Parkland School Shooting with footage of the student walk out at PAS. The video includes Penn Alexander student thoughts on gun control.
Dwight Evans: Penn Alexander students had the opportunity to interview Congressman Dwight Evans about some of the issues that are important to them.
