Tirso de Molina: El Burlador de Sevilla

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

A superb production of Tirso's most famous work, the play that introduced the theme of Don Juan into European literature. An RTVE Production. (Spanish, 2 hours)

Bertolt Brecht

East German Television

A documentary portrait of this bold theatrical innovator and his work. The program shows his roots and the theatrical and social background of his formative years, and analyzes the development of his vision of the theatre-episode in place of Aristotelian plot, the use of nonliterary devices, new techniques in character portrayal, and new aims for the very concept of theatre. (55 minutes)

Resorts: Paradise Reclaimed

Mobile Corporation

American pioneers had to overcome the dangerous wilderness; Americans at rest want to return to nature-not the wilderness, but a tamed and peaceful nature.Having cut down nature to build cities, we bring back the country through parks: New York's Central Park gives us a dreamlike, idealized New York with forests, lakes, hills, meadows, foot and bridle paths, and architecture to complement the picturesque settings; vacationers sought rusticity with comfort, and nature brought indoors became the fad. The ultra-rich built a private resort town around a country club (The Newport Casino, R.I.- both classical and colloquial, the first example of the Shingle Style); they found shelter in marble palaces (they called them cottages)-the Vanderbilts contributed to this genre; Addison Mizner concocted Palm Beach for it.Postwar Florida resorts bear the stong imprint of Hollywood-in the great hotels of Miami Beach and in the fantasy of Disney World, which gives us the elemental, mythically American Main Street. (58 minutes)

The Places Within

Mobile Corporation

The corridors of power, in business and government, lead to heroic interior spaces, and business has frequently appropriated the architecture of power-that is, of government. Interior spaces symbolize as well as contain function. The ambiguous relationship to nature is seen in the American desire to bring a scaled-down outdoors inside; the incorporation of the past takes different shapes.The town square concept reappears in guises as diverse as the great interior space under the Capitol dome and the glazed-over shopping mall that is Houston's Galleria; hotels and museums with indoor plazas seek to provide the same sort of community meeting space. Grand Central Terminal-with twinkling stars painted on its concourse ceiling-is both the nexus of a transportation network and a grand bazaar. The Pennsylvania Academy of Art demonstrates how the effort to combine tradition, function, and the symbols of industrial modernity may wind up a mixed metaphor.It took Frank Lloyd Wright to reconcile the dome of the pantheon and the arcaded market in the Marin County Civic Center. (58 minutes)

Medieval Spain

New Atlantis

This program uncovers medieval Spain's historical significance through four of its monasteries: Sant Pere Rodes Benedictine Monastery, Santes Creus Cistercian Monastery, Poblet Cistercian Monastery, and Miravet Templar Monastery and Castle. Dr. Francisco Sandoval, from the University of Madrid, and Father Jose Maria Recasens, from the Cistercian Monastery, discuss how the monasteries battled and defended the land against the advance of the invading Islamic army in the 10th century, and were key in preserving Western culture. Dramatizations of village and monastery life against the backdrop of real medieval towns illustrate a chapter in history that is generally unknown. (55 minutes)

The Cutting Edge: Innovative Surgical Methods

Harmony Management

This program explores emerging technologies that are revolutionizing how surgeons perform operations and deliver critical care. Featured modalities include the gamma knife, a viable alternative to invasive brain surgery for a growing list of conditions, as well as telementoring and robotic surgery, high-tech approaches to delivering specialized healthcare to remote regions. Clinical footage from the operating room vividly conveys the ultimate benefits these advances in surgical tools and techniques promise patients around the world. (47 minutes)

Chemistry: Changing States of Matter

Allegro Productions.

This Science Screen Report uses experiments and everyday phenomena to explore the properties of matter and how physical forces cause state changes at the boiling, melting, freezing, and dew point. The program also demonstrates how different states of matter can be combined in suspensions and solutions and how such mixtures can be separated into their components. Applied chemistry is spotlighted in the areas of food manufacturing and water desalination. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (14 minutes)

Dante: Visions of the Inferno

Institut National de L’Audiovisual

Drawing upon the insights of numerous international scholars—and illustrating crucial passages with stunning animation sequences—this program guides viewers through the Inferno of Dante’s Divine Comedy. With detailed analysis of the poet’s descent into hell and navigation through its various levels, the program interprets Dante’s motives for embarking on such a journey, explains his relationship and interaction with both Virgil and Beatrice, and describes the complex mixture of morality and humanism within the work—embodied in Dante’s attitude toward those who inhabit the realms of the dead. (Portions in Italian and French with English subtitles, 74 minutes)

Early Television Is Demonstrated by John Logie Baird ca. 1929

British Pathe

John Logie Baird was one of the early inventors of the television. In March 1925, he held one of the first demonstrations of the new technology, which he named the "televisor" at a department store in England. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The WPA Film Library: Lab Technicians Test Drugs on Animals ca. 1956

The WPA Film Library

The use of animals in scientific research has always been controversial. During the 1950s, when the pharmaceutical industry began to grow, companies that tested vaccines and other drugs on laboratory animals such as chimpanzees and gerbils released films downplaying the issue of cruelty to animals while emphasizing the importance of animal testing to consumer product safety. The Animal Welfare Act of 1966 aimed to improve conditions for some laboratory animals.

People Travel in Streetcars in New York and San Francisco ca. 1905

British Pathe

The development of the electric streetcar changed urban transportation dramatically, allowing people to live farther away from where they worked. As a result, "streetcar suburbs" cropped up outside of major urban areas. As the 20th century progressed, automobiles replaced streetcars and trains, and people began to move even farther away from urban centers. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Adrian de Santiago de Compostela-in Spanish

Digital Rights Group Limited

Santiago de Compostela is a small but welcoming city. In this program, a young man named Adrian introduces viewers to the capital of Galicia, known for its cathedral and the many pilgrims it attracts. He then heads for the beach to indulge his passion for surfing, after which he pursues another love-for TV, radio, and film. At a school for audiovisual production, Adrian works on a short movie he is producing. The program concludes with Adrian, who is also a scout leader, on a camping trip with his troop. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (Spanish, 11 minutes)

David de Valls-in Spanish

Digital Rights Group Limited

This program introduces viewers to a skillful young automotive painter named David, and the town of Valls is his home. David invites viewers to come over to his house and meet his family and his animal friends-dogs, cats, and chickens-before heading to the beach with his buddy Juanjo and his girlfriend Marta. After swimming in the ocean and having a snack together, David and Marta join up with their colla castellera, a team that is in training to make tall human towers in the traditional Catalonian way. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (Spanish, 11 minutes)

Estrella de Sevilla-in Spanish

Digital Rights Group Limited

Seville-Columbus's port, birthplace of the fictional Don Juan, a city of Moorish architecture and orange blossoms! This program spotlights Estrella, a young woman in love with her hometown. She also loves to ride horses and shop with her friend Miriam. The cameras follow her from stable to stores-including a boutique owned by her mother and father. Then, Estrella and her friend Gabriela practice flamenco dancing in anticipation of Seville's annual April Fair. The program concludes with Estrella talking about her desire to work in veterinary medicine or fashion. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (Spanish, 11 minutes)

Mark Twain Drinks Tea with Two Women ca. 1909

The WPA Film Library

Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, was one of the most important authors in American literature. He wrote such classics as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889). Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The Many Flavors of French-in French

10 Francs

This program travels from Lyon and its surrounding region to Belgium, Switzerland, Senegal, and Quebec to savor some of the various flavors of French that have flourished on the Continent and abroad. Native speakers sing the language’s praises and in doing so offer interesting insights into the cultures they represent—places where French must compete with other languages for prominence. (French, 27 minutes)

Food Safety: From Market to Plate

Meridian Education

What's the best way to avoid salmonella, E. coli, and other dangerous food-borne bugs? Information! Use this fact-filled video to show your students how to buy, store, and prepare delicious food with their health-and the health of anyone who eats with them-firmly in mind. At the supermarket, in the kitchen, and at the dinner table, knowledge is the key to safety. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Meridian Production. (17 minutes)

Home in the Celtic Lands

RTE Commercial Enterprises DAC

The early wooden homes have long since disappeared, but there are reminders of the ancient past everywhere-in Cornwall, in the stone forts of County Clare, on the Isle of Lewis and at Glenelg, and particularly in the poorest areas along the Atlantic fringes of western Ireland and the Outer Hebrides, where traces of the ancient way of life still exist. (30 minutes)

Through the Rockies

MIKE TRINKLEIN

This program follows the journey from Fort Laramie to Fort Hall, in modern-day Idaho, explaining the problems of trail overcrowding and the dangers of disease (particularly cholera), showing cutoffs and alternate routes, and detailing the great trek of the Mormon pioneers. (26 minutes)

The Final Steps

MIKE TRINKLEIN

The journey is finished in this program as it reaches Willamette Valley, Oregon. In addition to covering important sites en route, the program discusses the role of the British, the experiences of the 49ers on the Oregon Trail, and conflict with Native Americans in the later years of the Trail. (30 minutes)

Old Ways, New Game

Hedrick Smith Productions

In very human ways, this program shows the stakes of the global economic competition for individual Americans and for the nation. It also shows how major American companies are faring in their battles with Japanese and German competition. The program moves from a look at mass production, craft production, and lean production in the auto industry to races for "voice" computers and laptops, as well as the Japanese drive to challenge America's lead in basic research by setting up labs in the U.S. and hiring top American scientists. (58 minutes)

Crusader: By Horse to Jerusalem

Jane Balfour Films

The march to Jerusalem was the greatest land journey of the Middle Ages. Recreating the 2,500-mile trip from the green lands of northern Europe to the burning deserts of Sinai, this program leaves from the castle of Duke Godfrey de Bouillon, hero of the First Crusade, plodding along on a one-ton descendant of the medieval battle charger across the lands of medieval Christendom, climbing the Anatolian plateau, seeing the Crusader castles and ancient battlefields in Syria, finally crossing the Jordan River and reaching the jewel in the Crusader's crown, Jerusalem. (54 minutes)

In Search of Genghis Khan

Jane Balfour Films

This program looks at the legend and the traces of Genghis Khan as well as the people and culture of his descendants, whose lives are barely changed since the Mongol horde burst out of Central Asia in the 13th century to ride as far as the gates of Vienna and permanently change the face of most of Asia and Europe. (54 minutes)

An Obsession with Quality

Hedrick Smith Productions

George Fisher, CEO, Eastman Kodak; CEO, Motorola 1990-1993Named one of the most-admired executives in the electronics industry as president and CEO of Motorola, Kodak's chief executive explains how Motorola's single-minded pursuit of quality-not just product quality, but quality in how the company treats its people and customers-has helped the American electronics firm achieve nearly zero-defect production while assuming a position of world leadership in high-technology manufacturing. (35 minutes)

Virtual Worlds: Inside Online Games

Dallica Pictures

As online gaming companies position themselves to tap an entertainment market that is projected to explode, researchers question the safety of deeply immersive virtual worlds. In this program, MIT psychologist and sociologist Sherry Turkle; David Greenfield, author of Virtual Addiction; Richard Garriott, creator of Ultima Online; Brad McQuaid, co-creator of EverQuest; representatives of Sony Online Entertainment and Mythic Entertainment; Janet Murray, author of Hamlet on the Holodeck; and many others tackle some big questions: What makes these games so compelling? Are they clinically addictive? And do they promote violence? Additional topics include player demographics, the profit potential of the online gaming industry, and the future of TV in the era of interactive entertainment. (52 minutes)

Breakfast: Most Important Meal of the Day

Meridian Education

Greater physical stamina, better concentration at school or work, a more efficient metabolism—the evidence is overwhelming that a healthy breakfast is the key to a productive day. Yet it’s the meal most likely to be skipped by children, teenagers, and adults alike. This video brings home the importance of the day’s first meal by exploring the numerous mental and physical benefits of a nutritious breakfast. Viewers will understand the relationship between eating and metabolism, specifically between breakfast and blood-sugar levels. The kinds of foods that best fuel the body in the morning are also listed. A bonus chapter on the USDA’s transition from MyPyramid to MyPlate is included as well, and a viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. Correlates to the National Health Education Standards and the National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences Education. A Meridian Production. Part of the series Eating Right, Day and Night. (21 minutes + bonus material)

Gawain and the Green Knight

Fremantle Home Entertainment

This beautifully dramatized version of the late-14th-century poem offers a bonanza to the English teacher: one of the best known of the Arthurian legends, a portrait of life in Arthurian days as the Pearl poet imagined it, a baker’s dozen of discussion topics about human virtue and human imperfectibility—and a fascinating plot involving a challenge by the Green Knight (green is of course the color of magic), who departs Arthur’s castle holding his own head, which Gawain has just lopped off; Gawain’s quest to keep his word and prove his worthiness while remaining alive; and the very moral surprise ending. (76 minutes)

Robotic Surgery

Information Television Network (ITN)

Less bleeding, less infection, shorter hospital stays—robot-assisted surgery offers these and other benefits, and will probably become the standard in time. This program educates viewers about robotic surgery, focusing on two difficult procedures—prostatectomy and heart bypass surgery—that robotic support has vastly improved. Featuring the da Vinci robot, which gives doctors remote surgical capability and ultrafine dexterity, the program offers the expert testimony of Dr. Jonathan Hwang of Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Farzad Najam of George Washington University Medical Center, and Dr. Robert Poston of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. A helpful prostatectomy case study is included. (25 minutes)

Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Information Television Network (ITN)

Radiation and chemotherapy often make patients wonder which is worse-cancer or the weapons used to fight it? This program examines the many side effects of cancer treatments, revealing essential medical facts behind them and suggesting ways for cancer patients to feel better, despite the likelihood of pain, nausea, and other debilitations. Discussions address many frequently asked questions, such as: When should treatment side effects be considered too severe? Which of them can be life-threatening? What methods exist for reducing the impact of side effects and tangibly increasing quality of life? Expert commentary comes from Dr. Barry Meisenburg of the University of Maryland and Dr. Shakun Malik of Georgetown University. (25 minutes)

The Moorish South: Art in Muslim and Christian Spain from 711 to 1492

BBC Worldwide Learning

Under Muslim rule, Spain became the most advanced, wealthy, and populous country in Europe, with great leaps forward in art, architecture, and many other fields. In this program, art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon travels from Córdoba to Seville and on to Granada as he tells the story of art in Islamic and medieval Spain. Richly designed and decorated buildings such as the Great Mosque in Córdoba, the Alcazar in Seville, and the Alhambra in Granada are examined, along with ornate gardens, other objects of art, and even culinary innovations. All of these striking visual examples help viewers understand the debt which both modern Spain and modern Europe owe to Moorish Spain. Contains some objectionable language and images. Original BBCW broadcast title: The Moorish South. (51 minutes)

The Mystical North: Spanish Art from the 19th Century to the Present

BBC Worldwide Learning

Northern Spain has produced some of the world's most celebrated artists, including Picasso, Miro, Dali-and Goya, who foreshadowed modern painting with his dark political consciousness. This program studies the artistic and social turmoil that engulfed Spain as the 20th century loomed, dawned, and rolled forward. Recounting Franco's tyranny against free expression, the program looks at Spanish artists who continued to create provocative work, such as exiled film director Luis Bunuel, and those with more spiritual motives, exemplified by Antoni Gaudi's uncanny structures. Today's visionary Spanish artists and architects, such as the esteemed Santiago Calatrava, are also profiled. Contains some objectionable language and images. Original BBCW broadcast title: The Mystical North. (51 minutes)

Malaga-in Spanish

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

International visitors to Spain's Costa del Sol almost invariably pass through Malaga, a 3,000-year-old city steeped in Phoenician, Roman, Christian, and Islamic history. This program brings Malaga to life with studies of its monuments, religious buildings, cultural centers, and other important sites. Viewers will encounter the famed Alcabaza fortress, thought to have been constructed using materials recycled from the city's Roman-era theater, and the adjacent Gibralfaro Castle. Spotlighting Malaga's cathedral and its mixed building styles, the program also explores the central market, the Dockyards, the Botanical Park, and the Museo Picasso, while highlighting popular Holy Week festivities.

Monitoring Student Progress

Agency for Instructional Technology

Frequent and regular assessment of student progress is an effective method for driving schools towards equity and academic excellence. This program focuses on how student assessment data can be used to evaluate and improve instructional priorities and strategies, to communicate high expectations, and to involve parents and the community in a school's efforts. (18 minutes)

Force

Cambridge Educational

Using visual examples and basic calculations, this program defines and illustrates the concept of force, with an emphasis on the relationship between force and motion. Several kinds of forces are examined, including gravity, friction, and centripetal, centrifugal, magnetic, electromagnetic, electrostatic, and nuclear forces. The experiments and findings of Galileo and Newton are introduced as well. A Cambridge Educational Production. (12 minutes)

Inside the Internet

BBC Worldwide Learning

From its simple origins to its emergence as a global nervous system, the Internet has changed the way the world works. In this fascinating overview, ARPANET pioneers and Usenet trailblazers describe how the Internet and e-mail came to be. Next, law enforcement officers and hackers from the L0pht address censorship, worms and viruses, and the challenge of Internet security. And finally, Web experts discuss the use of hyperlinks, graphical interfaces, search engines, and streaming technology to make the Internet more transparent, while the CEOs of DoubleClick and now-defunct DigiCash talk about the impact of e-commerce. A BBC Production. (50 minutes)

Wired for What? The Dividends of Universal Access

Sue Ellen McCann

All over America, schools are scrambling for computers and Internet access. But have the huge expenditures really produced a tangible return on investment? In this program, teachers, administrators, and other education professionals share their experiences and opinions regarding the potential and the pitfalls of education technology. They address the proper use of computers, the integration of the Internet into lessons, and the urgent need for teacher training, long-term planning, and ongoing infrastructure funding. They also question the deeper cost of school budgets skewed toward technology at the expense of the arts and humanities. (57 minutes)

I. I. Rabi: Man of the Century

Independent Production Fund

Innovation enabled the United States to take on the mantle of world leadership—most importantly, innovation in military technology. But among the great minds that drove American innovation, using science to make war sometimes led to questions, dilemmas, and even second thoughts. In this program, Bill Moyers presents a profile of I. I. Rabi, winner of the 1944 Nobel Prize in physics and an early developer of radar for use in World War II. Rabi also participated in the Manhattan Project and was present at the detonation of the first atomic bomb—an event which transformed him into an advocate for restraint in the use of nuclear power. (54 minutes)

Understanding Brands

ClickView Pty Limited

Why did Coca-Cola change its image after World War II? How did Oprah Winfrey become a marketable commodity? Are shoppers hapless victims of advertising, or do consumers themselves influence a company's merchandising decisions? This program shows how businesses combine an idea with a logo to create the "product personality" called a brand. Specific components of successful brands, the messages they convey, and the challenges that even a well-known enterprise such as Apple may face in defending its brand are all explored. Expert insights from the director of global marketing firm FutureBrand along with person-on-the-street interviews shed additional light on how and why brands entice consumers to buy. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (27 minutes)

The Physics of Light

ClickView Pty Limited

What is light? How does it function? Why is it so important to the foundations of the physical world? This program examines the nature of light and applications of its properties. The basic principles of light waves-propagation, reflection, and refraction-are explained, and information about lenses, the electromagnetic spectrum, and total internal reflection is illustrated using the human eye, rainbows, and raindrops as examples. Common applications, such as light's use in optical instruments and fiber-optic communication, are demonstrated. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (29 minutes)

Unleashing the Power: Creating Chemical Compounds and Splitting Atoms

BBC Worldwide Learning

Once scientists succeeded in identifying and organizing the 92 naturally occurring chemical elements, the challenge then became how to manipulate them into amazing new configurations—and how to tap their essentially limitless energy. A tale of struggle meeting serendipity and of accident meeting design, this program focuses on element-related flashpoints in modern science history: the discovery of molecular isomers, the discovery of carbon bonding, plastics and the mastery of synthetic chemistry, radioactive decay and the transmutation of nitrogen to oxygen, the discovery of neutrons, nuclear fission and chain reactions, the Manhattan Project and the first atomic bomb, and the creation of synthetic elements such as neptunium, plutonium, and copernicium. Original BBC broadcast title: Unleashing the Power. A part of the series Elements: Making Sense of Matter. (49 minutes)

Teamwork in Hospitality

ClickView Pty Limited

There are many reasons why the quality of restaurant and hotel service varies—but they generally boil down to one factor: teamwork. This program helps students who are aiming for the hospitality industry to understand why teamwork is vital to the success of an establishment, what its core principles are, and how it can be put into practice and strengthened. The video examines team structure, including both front-of-house and back-of house; basic teamwork concepts, including collaboration, morale, incentives, understanding individual roles, and identifying common goals; the importance of staff meetings and “handover” discussions; verbal, visual, and written communication techniques; and ways to solicit feedback from customers and staff. (25 minutes)

The Quantum Tamers: Revealing Our Weird and Wired Future

Electric Sky

Beginning with a condensed history of classical and quantum physics to contextualize the current state of quantum science, this highly visual program takes viewers to the frontiers of quantum computation. Wave-particle duality, entanglement and superposition, the EPR Paradox, Schrödinger’s Cat, the famous double-slit experiment, and the “noisy observer effect” flash by like road markers on this high-speed journey to the realm of quantum teleportation, quantum cryptography, and quantum computing. Stephen Hawking and 18 other quantum visionaries provide clear and insightful explanations in this clever and sophisticated introduction to an extremely complex subject—and exciting preview of our weird and wired future! Participating scientists include Dorit Aharonov, Alain Aspect, David Cory, Joseph Emerson, Nicolas Gisin, Daniel Gottesman, Lucien Hardy, Stephen Hawking, Raymond Laflamme, Seth Lloyd, Gerard Milburn, Peter Shor, Barbara Terhal, Andrew White, David Wineland, Stuart Wolf, William K. Wootters, Anton Zeilinger, and Wojciech Zurek. (52 minutes)

Mutations: Changing the Code

ClickView Pty Limited

Some of the most fascinating research in genetics today involves mutagens—physical, chemical, and biological agents capable of altering the structure of DNA. This program looks at the characteristics and behavior of mutagens and shows how they are prevalent in the world around us—for example, in the form of UV radiation, cosmic rays, and some radioactive isotopes, as well as synthetic chemicals and natural mutagens that may arise during the metabolism of certain foods. Viewers learn how mutagens either act directly on DNA or produce chemicals that cause rearrangements of the genetic code—leading, in some cases, to cancer and inherited disease. (23 minutes)

What Is Marketing? The Basics and Beyond

Classroom Video

A firm grasp of marketing principles has become essential to 21st-century commerce and a successful business career. Featuring a youth-oriented case study, this program guides students through the basics of marketing and the main activities and responsibilities of a marketing specialist. Viewers learn about research and analysis conducted to help position a recently developed Harry Potter video game. In the process, the film explores the 4 Ps (product, price, place, and promotion); demographic, geographic, and psychographic market segmentation; niche markets; field and desk research; branding; customer relationship management; the importance of marketing objectives; and other concepts. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A part of the series What Customers Want: Taking the Mystery Out of Marketing. (23 minutes)

The Netiquette Edge

VISUALZ

This video provides basic lessons in netiquette with the help of a fun musical metaphor. Teens get a taste of ballroom dancing—and quickly realize that learning the steps of technology manners is like learning dance steps. By applying good manners to the Internet, cell phones, iPods, and other gadgets, students learn to keep in touch without losing the personal touch. Dynamic visuals and dramatizations assist students in absorbing the etiquette lessons and concepts. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (20 minutes)

Just the Facts: Super Foods

VISUALZ

“Today we’re going to be talking about super foods—foods which pack a really dense and powerful nutrient punch,” says chef Jonathan Locke. In this video, Locke explains why the following are so healthful to eat: avocados, black beans, blueberries, broccoli, cantaloupe, dark chocolate, oats, onions, salmon, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and yogurt. He then proceeds to use a variety of these super foods as he makes oatmeal pancakes, a quesadilla, a hot Asian salad, muesli, and a sweet potato casserole. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (37 minutes)

Eyes (Evolve)

History Education

This program illustrates how the eyeball evolved, from ancestors of jellyfish that developed light-sensitive cells to primates that use visual adaptations, including the ability to see color, to better exploit their habitat. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series Evolve. (45 minutes)

Hawaii (How the Earth Was Made)

History Education

This program seeks to understand the beautiful yet violent Hawaiian Islands—a region of explosive volcanoes, vast landslides, mega-tsunamis, and strange forces emerging from the core of the planet. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series How the Earth Was Made. (45 minutes)

Grand Canyon (How the Earth Was Made)

History Education

Immense tectonic forces. Millions of years of erosion. This program explains how the Grand Canyon—nearly 300 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep—came to be. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series How the Earth Was Made. (45 minutes)

Paving America (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

Modern Marvels examines the development of a highway system that was constructed across American between 1912 and 1984. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Phonograph (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

Thomas Edison was not the first to record sound, but his competition with Alexander Graham Bell and other inventors led to the phonograph that created thousands of new jobs and gave birth to the music recording industry. First radio and then electronic recording contributed to the eventual decline in the phonograph's popularity. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Snackfood Tech (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

This program from Modern Marvels gives us a taste of the technology that goes into making our favorite snacks, including chips, pretzels, chocolate, cupcakes, and ice cream. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Space Shuttle (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

Soon after NASA was formed in 1958, it began testing precursors to today's space shuttle. After many successes and a few disasters, NASA's management structure, safety, and decision making procedures were drastically overhauled. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Spy Technology (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

The secret gathering of intelligence has been practiced for thousands of years and spies have proven to be highly inventive. Over the last 100 years methods of spying have become much more technologically sophisticated and invasive. From the days of code cracking early computers to modern satellite reconnaissance, has the line between legitimate surveillance and police state tactics become blurred? Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Consumer Choice and Protection

ClickView Pty Limited

Becoming a clever consumer begins with developing some fundamentals: a realistic understanding of personal needs and wants, alertness for tricky advertising and outright scams, knowledge of how to shop online securely, and awareness of consumer law and how it can be of assistance. In this video, Christopher Zinn, media spokesperson for CHOICE Magazine—the Australian equivalent of Consumer Reports—offers valuable insights into making smarter purchasing decisions. Knowledge is power! Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (23 minutes)

The Potato (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

It is among the most versatile, nutritious, and varied foodstuffs in the world. The potato is the ultimate comfort food. We'll travel from the potato's mysterious origins in the South American Andes to the ethnic enclaves of New York's lower east side for some tasty potato knishes. In northern Maine we'll discover a farmer of exotic potatoes: blue, green, pink, and dark purple varieties. We'll reveal how large-scale potato producers in Idaho and Pennsylvania slice, dice, freeze, and dehydrate millions of pounds of spuds annually. We'll learn how to mass-produce Tater Tots and kettle potato chips. Potato vodka now scores near perfection in international tasting competitions--and we'll visit a Maine distillery at the top of their game. Finally, we'll pay tribute to the iconic Mr. Potato Head, and then round out the show with an explosive visit to the makers of some of the world's most sophisticated spud guns. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (48 minutes)

Brigham Young: Architect of Faith

Biography Channel

This episode of Biography looks at Brigham Young, a settler in the American west and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Known as the “Mormon Moses”, Young followed founder Joseph Smith as head of the Mormon church. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory of France

Biography Channel

This episode of Biography paints a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose grand ambitions were matched—and, ultimately, undone—by his immense ego. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Thinking Green, Building Smart

Cambridge Educational

The fundamental difference between a green approach to building and remodeling and a conventional approach is the thinking that guides the project. This video explores the thought process at the core of green architectural design and construction as it takes viewers behind the scenes of an architectural firm specializing in sustainable design, a remodeler who has built a green construction business, a supplier of eco-friendly building materials, and a homeowner who has remodeled his house from the ground up using green materials, technologies, and practices. Correlates to all National CTE Organizational Standards (including the provisions of the Perkins Act). Viewable/printable discussion questions are available online. A Shopware Production. A part of the series Green-ovating: Home Renovations for a Sustainable World. (42 minutes)

Innovation and Emerging Technologies

ClickView Pty Limited

Technological breakthroughs have taken place since the dawn of human awareness, but 21st-century innovation occurs at an unprecedented, seemingly rapid-fire, pace. This program showcases examples of innovation that are visible in industry today and their implications for the future. Beginning with an exploration of the basic concept of innovation, the video presents several concise case studies. These include the evolution of home video, from Betamax to VHS to Blu-ray, and the introduction of the Aurora 101, a solar-powered race car that is still in the developing stages. Nine widely recognized steps in the innovation process are explained in detail. (26 minutes)

Practical, Healthy Cooking

Meridian Education

Moving away from home means moving away from home cooking, too—a fact that, surprisingly, escapes many young adults new to life on their own. After watching this video, viewers will see how easy it can be to read a recipe, measure out ingredients, prepare all sorts of meats and vegetables, package up and store leftovers, and clean up the kitchen so everything is sanitary and neat. Kitchen safety is stressed. Practice makes perfect! Viewable/printable discussion questions are available online. A Coproduction of Meridian Education and MotionMasters. A part of the series On Your Own: Independent Living Skills. (25 minutes)

Cosmic Apocalypse (The Universe)

History Education

The universe as we know it will eventually die. This program theorizes on the end of space, matter, and even time as it outlines the harsh and hostile possibilities of the far distant future. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Universe. (45 minutes)

Cosmic Phenomena (The Universe)

History Education

The Aurora Borealis and rainbows. UV radiation and cosmic rays. This program examine a variety of cosmic events that have both helped and harmed life on Earth. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Universe. (45 minutes)

Dark Matter (The Universe)

History Education

What, exactly, is dark matter? In this program, scientists theorize as they struggle to understand dark matter’s unique properties. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Universe. (45 minutes)

The Day the Moon Was Gone (The Universe)

History Education

What if the Moon suddenly disappeared? This program paints a grim picture of a desolate Earth characterized by very little daylight, pitch-black nights, mega-hurricanes, and virtually no complex life. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Universe. (45 minutes)

Deep Space Disasters (The Universe)

History Education

This program explores the most dangerous aspects of space travel, from the controlled explosion of launch to the fiery crucible of reentry and everything in between. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Universe. (45 minutes)

Gravity (The Universe)

History Education

This program studies gravity—the force that keeps people’s feet on the ground and tethers Planet Earth to the Sun—and how science managed to discover, quantify, and overcome it. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Universe. (45 minutes)

1966 (Year by Year: 1929-1967)

History Education

Eugene Cernan, Gemini 9A pilot, takes a two-hour walk in space, the longest to date. This episode of Year by Year also looks at the Vietnam War. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Advertising Layout Part II: Visual Direction

D E VISUALS

Once advertising students have assimilated a basic knowledge of visual principles, they can move on to more advanced working methods—the ones that garner awards as well as customers. This program shows how to attract a reader’s attention with the layout concepts commonly known as picture window, silhouette, square zero, Mondrian, closure, oversizing, juxtaposition, surrealism, and shock. Examples show how graphic designers direct attention within an ad by using various compositional techniques—such as diagonal, standard, “C,” “Z,” overlapping, and spatial progression. The video concludes with a section on the importance and practical use of headlines and subheadlines. A part of the series Advertising Layout. (19 minutes)

The Future of Reading

Rebel Media Ventures Interational

In this program, host Alberto Manguel uses the history of the written text-from hand-copied codex, to machine-printed book, to digital document-as a vehicle to address large-scale efforts to preserve the world's literary heritage, a dual challenge involving a rapidly deteriorating corpus of old books and an overwhelming proliferation of blogs and other significant writings on the Internet. In addition, the implications of cell phone fiction and interactive online novels are discussed; the One Laptop per Child initiative, bringing online reading to the developing world, is praised; and concern over Google's proprietary book digitization project, which would make the company the de facto owner of the planet's largest cache of published writings, is expressed. A part of the series Empire of the Word: A Reader's Journey. (Portions in other languages with English subtitles, 52 minutes)

Character: Communication Basics

VISUALZ

In this video, viewers will discover the basics of communication alongside students Anne and Ben. By speaking with a communications professor and seeing professional actors demonstrate the importance of body language, Anne and Ben learn how to communicate more clearly through active listening and nonverbal communication. Online communication—e-mail, texting, Facebook—is also examined. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (16 minutes)

Smart Nutrition

VISUALZ

In a world of countless food choices, it can be challenging to know what teens should and shouldn’t eat. In this video, the host and two teens set viewers straight about breakfast, body image, portion size, physical activity, beverages, the importance of fruits and vegetables, significant nutrients, late-night snacking, vegetarian diets, and acne. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (21 minutes)

Who's Afraid of a Big Black Hole?

BBC Worldwide Learning

Black holes are by definition invisible, and there is no scientific theory that can adequately explain them. Nevertheless, researchers are determined to unravel the mysteries of black holes in the hope of answering some of the universe’s most pressing questions. This program spotlights the work of MIT’s Max Tegmark and Shep Doeleman as well as of string field theorist Michio Kaku as it questions the relevance of Einstein’s general theory of relativity to black holes, attempts to apply quantum mechanics to black holes, discusses the characteristics of supermassive black holes, relates black holes to the big bang, and illustrates attempts to find and image black holes. A BBC/Science Channel Coproduction. (52 minutes)

Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

Part in-depth analysis, part whirlwind tour, this program captures the essence of Frank Gehry and his iconoclastic creations through the celebrated architect's own words; the insights of Cesar Pelli, Richard Serra, Hiro Yamagata, and Rafael Moneo; and a broad sampling of Gehry's many structures, which speak for themselves. The Davis studio and residence, Loyola Law School, the Edgemar Development, the Chiat/Day Building, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, and the DG Bank Building are featured, among many others. Gehry's love of motion, aesthetic exuberance, and dynamic language of design are considered, along with the seven constants that characterize his works.

Product Design: A Hand-Made Stereo for a Hand-Made Car

Digital Rights Group Limited

The sound system that goes into a hand-assembled Aston-Martin sports car must be special indeed. In this program, designers at Linn, a precision-engineering company specializing in state-of-the-art sound reproduction, draft and build a compact stereo for this elite automobile. Project leaders demonstrate the use of 3-D CAD in the drafting process. The outsourcing of a component provides a good example of how to work with subcontractors. (15 minutes)

Applying the Concepts of Equilibrium

ClickView Pty Limited

This program begins with an overview of the basic concepts of chemical equilibrium: reversible reactions, Le Chatelier's principle, the equilibrium law, and the calculation of K. It then analyzes how changing conditions other than temperature leads to a temporary shift in the position of equilibrium and how reactions spontaneously adjust to maintain the value of K for any given temperature. Changes in K when increasing and decreasing the temperature of exothermic and endothermic reactions are examined as well, and the concept of equilibrium as it relates to the industrial manufacture of sulfuric acid is highlighted. (21 minutes)

Outbreak: Stopping SARS

Digital Rights Group Limited

"WHO Issues a Global Outbreak Alert" "Emergency Travel Advisory" "SARS Spreads Worldwide" When SARS first hit the headlines, it was poised to become a major pandemic. This program shows how vigilant medical professionals save countless lives by tracking and identifying emerging mystery viruses-and stopping them cold with shared knowledge and cutting-edge technology deployed on a global scale. Examination techniques for patients with unknown infectious illnesses are demonstrated, as are diagnostic laboratory tests. The mechanics of coronaviruses are addressed. (25 minutes)

Evolution

Filmoption International

Since Charles Darwin formulated his theory of natural selection, our view of the world has changed. Although Darwin's theory itself has "evolved," scientists agree that living species slowly but surely diverged from common ancestors. This program begins with a segment on fossils, one of the most convincing proofs of evolution. It then retraces the major steps of evolution as they were uncovered by science. It also presents the major theories of evolution. (23 minutes)

Glass and Ceramics

Filmoption International

Glass and ceramic are some of the oldest man-made materials. This program demonstrates two traditional glass-making techniques: glass blowing and the art of stained glass windows. It also follows the production of industrial ceramics, explaining that this material is constantly being used in new applications. Finally, we are shown the expanded use of glass in architecture, where it is increasingly replacing wood and stone. (23 minutes)

Architectural Techniques

Filmoption International

Like other technologies, architecture has changed across the centuries. The discovery of new materials, the understanding of physical principles, and the development of new construction techniques have permitted architects to extend the boundaries of the possible. This program demonstrates some of the basic architectural techniques, such as the arch and the use of beams; shows how lasers and photography are used in conjunction with traditional techniques to preserve endangered monuments; and reveals innovative uses of textiles in an architectural context. (23 minutes)

Food and Nutrition

Filmoption International

Humans used to get their food directly from natural sources. Today, however, a great deal of what we eat is not only processed, it is manufactured. Many complex steps lie between what grows and what reaches the table. This program tells us about cheese-making and shows new ways of preserving food, extending its freshness. It also discusses the effects of cholesterol on health. (23 minutes)

Gary Hill: Transcending the Senses

German United Distributors

Gary Hill's transformative films, performances, and video installations offer resonant philosophic and poetic insights as he explores the tensions that reverberate among electronic media, language, the senses, and the self. In this program, Hill uses a number of his pieces to investigate otherness and ambiguity, dislocation of the senses, the boundary between words and comprehension, the physicality of text, and figurative interactivity. Featured works include Wall Piece; Crossbow; Liminal Objects; Reflex Chamber; Conundrum; Remarks on Color; Suspension of Disbelief; I Believe It Is an Image in Light of the Other; Why Do Things Get in a Muddle? (Come on Petunia); CRUX; Primarily Speaking; and Mediations. Contains brief nudity. (54 minutes)

A Personal Journey with Maya Lin, Artist and Architect

Doctoroff Media Group

Sculptor, architect, and designer Maya Lin catapulted to prominence when, as a senior at Yale University, she was chosen to design the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. In this program, Bill Moyers talks with her about her upbringing and multifaceted career. (27 minutes)

The Blind Watchmaker: The Evolutionary Ideas of Richard Dawkins

BBC Worldwide Learning

British biologist Richard Dawkins is blunt in his support for evolutionary theory as opposed to "special creationism." This program, inspired by Dawkins' book, allows each side to present its best arguments-with some bias toward Darwinian evolution. The evidence is well-organized and current. Creationist ideas are vividly contrasted with contradictory data through observation, computer simulations, robotics, experiments, and close examination of designs in nature. The central argument here is that the diversity we see in such complex adaptations as the eye and insect mimicry can best be explained by cumulative natural selection over long periods of time. A BBC Production. (49 minutes)

Diet and Disease in Modern Society

Meridian Education

What’s so bad about saturated fat, and what makes fiber so good? In a society where convenience foods rule and obesity is a national epidemic, it’s time to find out. This video investigates the relationship between diet and a number of frequently interrelated diseases and conditions, including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Topics include high- and low-density lipoproteins; saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats; soluble and insoluble fiber; electrolyte minerals; antioxidants and free radicals; the effects of smoking and alcohol consumption; disability-adjusted life years; and the body mass index. “You are what you eat!” isn’t a cliché; it’s a fact of life—and of good health. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. Correlates to National Science Education Standards and National Health Education Standards. A Meridian Production. (36 minutes)

The Building of Bath

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGL

This program traces the development of the English city of Bath, which is famous for its imposing Georgian buildings. Among the architecture examined in the program is the Royal Crescent, which was begun by John Wood the Younger in 1767. The program explains the architectural principles that influenced the design of Bath's buildings and describes the nature and form of their construction. (25 minutes)

Bass Instruments

West Six Media

This program discusses the instruments in the bass section of an orchestra-particularly the double bass. We see how the double bass, originally developed as an accompanying instrument, was used more prominently by such musical notables as double bass virtuoso and conductor Serge Kussevitzky-mentor of the late Leonard Bernstein. Music by Haydn and others illustrates the use of other bass instruments, including the tuba, bass cornet, serpent, ophicleide, bass saxophone, and bass horn. (28 minutes)

The Study of Memory

Uniview Worldwide

This program introduces the basic terms used in the study of memory—such as encoding and storage and retrieval—and looks briefly at the historical ideas about memory. Modern theories are explained using diagrams and real-life examples, and the program then goes on to discuss current research in the area of everyday memory. The reasons for forgetting are explored and the biological basis of memory outlined. In addition, the program examines ways of improving memory. The program emphasizes the radical shift from laboratory-based research to the study of memory in everyday life. The program also includes eight exercises for viewers to take part in, including memory tests and a video clip of a robbery to test recall for eyewitness testimony. (74 minutes)

The Renaissance, Reformation, and Beyond: Towards a Modern Europe

Stephen Richard Dooley

The Italian Renaissance's contributions to revolutions in architecture, art, religion, commerce, politics, and navigation are discussed in this program. The Signoria Tower, Ghiberti's Baptistry doors, and Giotto's Bell Tower exemplify innovative ideas in architecture and art; Martin Luther and John Calvin apply similar revolutionary thinking to religion; Portuguese seafarers boldly set out to discover a route to India, while Christopher Columbus, setting his sights westward, discovers the New World. (25 minutes)

Philosophy of Science

Films for the Humanities & Sciences

Does science explain the world, or does it simply describe it? Can science ever be truly objective? What is the boundary between science and non-science? Does nature have laws? This program seeks to answer questions such as these through the insights of Princeton University’s Daniel Garber; Hilary Putnam, of Harvard University; and Barry Loewer, of Rutgers University. Ranging from the Physics of Aristotle to the competing physics paradigms of Einstein and Bohr, the program illustrates the progression of scientific thought from ancient times, through the Renaissance, to the 21st century. Part of the series Great Ideas of Philosophy II. (46 minutes)

Isamu Noguchi: The Sculpture of Spaces

The Sapporo Television Broadcasting Company

"One day...I had a vision: I saw the Earth as sculpture." Isamu Noguchi often said that the space around a thing is as important as the thing itself. This program shows Noguchi turning landscapes into participatory works of art as it follows in dramatic detail the struggle to bring his ideas to fruition at Miami's Bayfront Park and at Moere Numa Park, outside Sapporo. His austere sets for Martha Graham, which helped define modern dance, and his UNESCO garden in Paris, which shaped earth, water, and greenery into a series of multisensory surprises, are featured as well. A brilliant glimpse of an artist at work. (53 minutes)

The Fight Against Germs: Effective Weapons Against Infection

Deutsche Welle

Because of constant use of disinfectants, a hospital is a place where only the fittest microbes survive, a dilemma that raises the stakes of even routine surgical procedures. This program looks at how germs develop partial or total antibiotic resistance and how researchers are pursuing new lines of attack to keep pace with these highly adaptive organisms. Computer imaging and electron microscopy help illustrate how Legionella bacteria adapt to harsh environments. The program concludes by looking at promising research into symbiotic mechanisms in sea sponges that can repel antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus. A Deutsche Welle Production. (26 minutes)

Obesity: Pain and Prejudice

C.T.V.C.

The problem of obesity is discussed against the backdrop of the recent trial of a San Francisco mother convicted of child abuse after her seriously overweight daughter died as a result of obesity. Topics discussed include prejudice against the overweight population; how medical communities and the social system are failing the obese; our society's habit of equating beauty with being thin; what constitutes obesity; and obesity as it relates to health issues. (40 minutes)

Dental Care for Kids

Motion Masters

Nothing can warm a parent’s heart like a child’s smile. But that beautiful smile needs help. Dental Care for Kids is an adult’s guide to children’s teeth: how they develop, the care they need, and the diseases that can spoil a child’s mouth. It gives useful information about proper dental care from the prenatal period through the development of primary teeth until permanent teeth come in. This program covers proper eating habits, brushing and flossing techniques, and when to visit your dentist. Parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone involved in child care is sure to benefit from this excellent program that helps children develop healthy teeth to last a lifetime. A Cambridge Educational Production. One 28-minute video.

El Cantar de Mio Cid

Ente Público Radiotelevisión

El Cid is unique among the world's great epics because it was composed so close to the actual historical events (a mere 40 years after the death of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, el Cid himself) that we can distinguish between man and legend. Meticulous attention to historical detail, spectacular cinematic production values, and the swashbuckling plot itself make this medieval epic superbly entertaining as well as educational. An RTVE Production. (Spanish with English subtitles, 60 minutes)

Scientific Method

Cambridge Educational

This program examines the basic elements of the scientific method: defining and researching the problem, forming a hypothesis, gathering information through experimentation and observation, analyzing the data, forming a conclusion, and communicating the results. Practical applications of the scientific method, such as testing new medicines and analyzing the performance of sporting goods, are included as well. Correlates to the National Science Education Standards developed by the National Academies of Science and Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A Cambridge Educational Production. (23 minutes)

Media Convergence

Planet Pictures

The telephone, the television, and the computer are three of the most potent inventions of the 20th century and have completely transformed world society. But what happens when you combine all three into one powerful communications medium? This program examines the growing convergence of phones, TVs, and computers in Cyberspace and the radical impact on businesses, homes, and schools in this "many-to-many" communications model. Is the day coming when we can satisfy most of our shopping, banking, security, and entertainment needs while sitting in front of one smart, multipurpose screen? Is the long-predicted school-without-walls finally here? If so, what will daily life be like in the world we are on the road to creating? (28 minutes)

Researching Career Options: New Technologies and Current Techniques

San Mateo County Community College District

This video focuses on finding career options using both print and electronic sources of occupational information. Using key information categories, students develop approaches that will lead to strong and thorough research efforts. (28 minutes)

Microsoft vs. the Justice Department: Playing Monopoly

NewsHour Productions

Microsoft has allegedly made predatory use of its monopoly power to stifle competition, integrated its own browser software into Windows' core code, and manufactured Internet Explorer with embedded Microsoft-oriented hyperlinks. This Emmy Award-winning NewsHour program, which combines footage of top Microsoft executives and their opponents with a hands-on examination of the Windows operating system, neatly presents the root causes of the long-running and acrimonious Microsoft anti-trust trial-in plain English. (18 minutes)

Measurement

Agency for Instructional Technology

This video describes how to estimate costs of products and services, determine the circumference of an object and its effect on motion, and calculate area and volume. Dramatized segments and computer animations illustrate ways to use measurements taken from blueprints to estimate construction costs; determine tire sizes, which affect vehicle speed; and calculate a running track's circumference to fairly stagger the start lines. (20 minutes)