PBS Digital Studios Provides Unique Learning Experiences

PBS Digital Studios is the public broadcaster’s digital arm that is successfully bringing the YouTube generation into the PBS world with 20 million views per month. Part of the PBS Digital Studio’s strategy is to create programming that was digital first and not so much about shortening existing broadcasts. Part of the success is by finding creatives who are already successful on YouTube or other online platforms, particularly in science, and exposing them to a wider audience—in some cases turning YouTube hobbyists into full-time PBS hosts. (Source: FastCompany).

The various series in the PBS Digital Studios network, which range from animated explorations of neuroscience to lessons in Texas barbecue, are “purposefully YouTube in tone and in format, but distinctly PBS in sensibility and in its engagement of the audience,” says programming director Lauren Saks, who helped found the project in 2012. “It’s all of the subject matter that PBS is known for, but made for an audience that probably never watches this on television and is watching the majority of their content online.” (Source: Fast Company.com).

We had a chance to speak to Lauren Saks about the PBS Digital Studios programming as well as Nathan Shields, aka Saipancakes, narrator and animator of “Little 101” which combines appealing multimedia formats and accessible language to answer questions such as “Why Do Stars Twinkle?” and “Why Are We Ticklish?” The series will post a new episode bi-weekly on the PBS Parents YouTube channel.

From Lauren

I believe it was in 2012 you started creating YouTube shows for PBS Digital.Shows such as Gross Science then Blank on Blank. Which leads us to today, 2015, and you’re doing Little 101 for PBS Parents. Was the time right now (with more and more children tuning into YouTube for their source of entertainment and tv)? PBS Digital Studios has been lucky to collaborate with PBS Parents since the beginning including some of our favorites like Full Time Kid and Farm to Table Family.
This brings in a different way to reach parents and their children on such a different media platform – and in some ways be more readily available with feedback. Do you read any of the comments on the episodes or the questions asked for the bi-weekly YouTube show: Little 101? Yes we actively read and react to comments on all of our Digital Studios shows. We aim to make shows that the audience wants, so feedback is taken very seriously and often incorporated. Being able to adjust to audience reaction is one of the many perks about the short production cycles we have with digital video making.
Is there one question in particular that had you boggled and stumped and perhaps a little perplexed by (out of the mouths of babes you never know) or that still causes a reaction of laughter. I’m sure it is hard to choose or narrow that down to just one – why is poop brown? The age old question! And what a great question that no one wants to think about or discuss.
If you had to sum it up in five words on why parents and their children should watch Little 101 for our dandelion mom readers what it would it be? We’ve got answers!

From Nathan

First, let me just say that your pancake art (Saipancakes) is amazing! Truly. How did that come about? Thank you! That undertaking began unassumingly, almost four years ago, during a stay in Saipan. I posted pictures of some pancake creations I had made for my kids, and was encouraged to keep it up. Pancakes have since become a weekly breakfast-art-project for the kids and me. A couple of the videos I put on Youtube have attracted over a million views; it’s been fun to see people excited about pancake art and even sharing it with their own families at home.

You are able to translate and speak child in a very simple way – along with using colors and animations that make it precisely clear (even I get it a lot easier) regarding the questions from kids. Has it always been this way for you or did you channel something when you became a father yourself (your daughter is adorable, btw)? My background is in education, so I’ve concerned myself with how good communication occurs with kids in order to achieve learning. Watching my own two children grow is its own (often humbling) learning experience!

Are the questions posed on Little 101 some of the same ones you’ve been asked yourself? Or have some of the questions even perplexed you (to the point of laughter and tears)? The questions for this series were selected from a variety posed by kids (and adults) throughout history. Some were generated by my own kids or those of the producers.

We asked Lauren, but what about you in regards to a question that stood out among the others for you on the four webisodes (and trailer) to date available on the PBS Parent YouTube channel for Little 101? “Why is poop brown” is my favorite. It represents the innocent curiosity that all kids have, without regard to cultural norms, it centers on something we confront everyday, and its answer is one that most people couldn’t tell you. For some reason we seem to start asking fewer questions as we get older, which is one of the reasons the series is aimed at both kids and their parents.

Do you have input on upcoming shows? Or does it depend on what the feedback and questions received the most from kids and their parents? Can you give us an idea on some of the upcoming bi-weekly Little 101’s (we won’t tell *lol*)? I’d encourage kids and parents to add their own questions in the comments section, and we’ll add them to the pool for future work.

Does your daughter enjoy watching Little 101? Does she pose different questions perhaps through the making that may help you in your animations when drawing or where you may go back and say “I think we need to incoporate this”? Both my kids had a good time with the filming process, and added a lot of extension questions as we were working. I hope viewers’ kids do the same, sparking some interesting conversations and “research.”

Do you ever read the comments after a webisode of Little 101? Do you in turn ever interact with the kids and their parents that way too?

I like to read the comments on each video to see what people think in general, and to see whether we met the goals of being entertaining, informative, and accessible to a wide audience.

We’re really excited about sharing this with our dandelion moms readers and look forward to seeing you, your daughter, your animations and how and who knows how far – Little 101 will go and perhaps branch out more or other types of webisodes in the future through the PBS Digital. While all that sinks in and probably has already, is Saipancakes your release? The way you relax or just second nature by now and here to stay?

I’m very fortunate in that I my work is my relaxation. Playing with kids, making pancakes, and creating videos are all parts of my job description now.

We asked Lauren and now it’s your turn. If you could only give us five words on why parents should tune in with their kids to watch Little 101 for our dandelion moms/dads readers what would it be?

We should all be asking.

Little 101 is just one of three new PBS Digital Studios show’s they’ve launched in the past couple of months. Also check out Physics Girls and The Chatterbox with Kevin and Grandma Lill.

Physics Girl

How do scientists mimic the physics of a hurricane on the surface of a bubble? What happens when you mix the colors red and green together? Dianna Cowern and her popular “Physics Girl” web series have officially teamed up with the PBS Digital Studios network, joining a diverse, fun array of science/education series and female hosts in the PBSDS network. In each episode of “Physics Girl” Dianna takes complex physics concepts and makes them accessible to the everyday viewer utilizing common household items

https://youtu.be/nv8lYPsZY-0

The Chatterbox with Kevin and Grandma Lill

PBS Digital Studios and WNET are excited to announce its newest web series, The Chatterbox, which features famous YouTuber Kevin Droniak and his grandma as they test the newest gadgets and games and comment on the latest pop culture trends. The series, the second to result from the previously announced strategic partnership between WNET’s Interactive Engagement Group and PBS Digital Studios combines practical information with quirky humor and features conversations with a guest expert in every episode.

Which PBS Digital Studios show would you like to check out?

About Charly James:
Charly is a SAHM with two kids. She hopes her outlook and take on things always makes her kids and you laugh (sometimes at her and always with her). Just remember she’s southern and full of sweet tea and chocolate. By the way, she will never tell you to “Kiss Her Grits” but she’s always “Fixin’ To” [ie do something] while she says “Bless Your Heart” said in the sweetest accent ever. You can follow her on Twitter: @OneAppyMama and on Facebook: One Appy Mama