Educational Resources to Help Families with Hybrid and Virtual Learning 

If there’s anything I’ve learned during COVID-19 it’s that every family has their own unique set of strengths and challenges pertaining to hybrid or full-time virtual learning.  Parents, schools and teachers are understandably overwhelmed with this educational shift, but I have been so impressed with the MANY resources that are available. 

Comcast’s Free Educational Programming

 Some good news: Comcast has nearly 2,000 hours of programming and thousands of free titles available to Xfinity video customers that give children and parents quick and easy access to educational programming by grade level.

How do you wade through everything to find what you need?   Xfinity customers with X1 or Flex can say “Education” or, if their voice search language is set to Spanish, “Educación,” into the Xfinity Voice Remote to access content available to them by grades “K-2,” “3-5,” “6-8,” and “9-12” and also “for all ages.” 

The collection is a joint effort with Common Sense Media, which, as you probably know, does a fantastic job providing entertainment and technology recommendations for families with trusted age-based ratings and reviews (which are awesomely integrated into Xfinity on Demand).

Current content includes:

• Free programs from subscription video on-demand services (SVODS) Bluprint, CuriosityStream, The Great Courses Signature Collection, Grokker Yoga Fitness, HISTORY® Vault, Kids Room and The Reading Corner.
• Educational series from networks and streaming services including Animal Planet, HBO, HISTORY®, Nick Jr., PBS KIDS, Prime Video, Smithsonian Channel and more.
• Spanish language programming available from networks including CBeebies, Discovery Familia and Kids Central.
• Voices of the Civil Rights Movement. Teaching our kids about racial equality is more important now than ever and Comcast offers first–hand interviews and historical narratives from Voices of the Civil Rights Movement.
• Mom Learning. Comcast has additional free adult continuing education programming from these SVODS focused on the “Mind,” “Body,” and “Soul” spanning biographies; podcasts on a range of topics including technology and business; yoga; dance; food and cooking; fitness; wellness; ballets and operas; and gardening.

And that’s not all! Comcast makes family entertainment and Internet access a priority for all families (and educators) year-round through a variety of features and programs including:

• Kids Zone. Offers a safe environment for kids to bowse, shuffle and watch live TV, Xfinity On Demand and DR recordings for kids ages 12 and under.
• Internet Essentials. Having access to the Internet is critically important with hybrid and distance learning and Comcast offers the nation’s largest internet adoption program for low-income households. Through the program any family, whether an Internet Essentials customer or not, can access the Learning Center with a multitude of free resources. https://www.internetessentials.com/learning
• Xfinity Internet for teachers. This new service helps K-12 teachers and administrators as well as university faculty and staff a $150 Visa prepaid card (the value of about two months of Internet service). https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/new-xfinity-offering-help-educators-stay-connected-this-fall 

Interested in learning more? Simply say “Education” into your Xfinity Voice Remote to start learning or check out their various free online resources highlighted above. 

In partnership with Mile High Mamas.

Author: Mile High Mamas