Evaluation of PBS Ready to Learn television outreach initiative: A systematic examination of a new approach to media education

This investigation examines the impact of a new approach to media education. PBS's Ready to Learn (RTL) outreach initiative is a nationwide project that uses its programming, workshops, and printed materials to (a) train caregivers to be more active coviewers, (b) instruct caregivers on how to incorporate more reading into preschoolers' routines, and (c) help caregivers and preschoolers develop critical viewing skills. Pre- and posttest telephone interviews were conducted in nine PBS viewing areas to determine if RTL workshops and printed materials were successfully teaching parents and child care providers to help children become more prepared to learn when they enter elementary school. The control group received no treatment, the mail group received a mailout of RTL printed materials, and the workshop group attended an RTL workshop. Posttests were conducted 1 month after workshops or mailouts. Results for child care providers and parents were reported separately. Of the 15 items deemed most heavily emphasized in RTL workshops, the parents who attended RTL workshops showed statistically significant increases from pretest to posttest in the following areas: in 6 of 7 items that encourage more reading to and by the children; 2 of 3 items that encourage more viewing of PBS children's programming or educational television use; 2 of 3 items that encourage active child viewing and caregiver coviewing; and neither of 2 items that encourage limits on the type of programs children should be allowed to watch. The parents in the mailout condition did not show any significant increases from pretest to posttest. The lack of any statistically significant differences by treatment condition for the child care providers who attended the RTL workshops may be explained by the short interim between pre- and posttest, which might not have allowed them enough time to institute changes at the child care facilities. The lack of impact of the RTL Outreach Initiative for the mailout group could be attributed to the printed materials not being sufficiently engaging to cause behavior changes in and of themselves, although the same material might be effective when used in conjunction with the hands-on experience provided in the workshops.