Mission

The mission of the Fascinating Learning Factory is to eliminate the shortage of quality educational programming for grades 6 and up.     Between Sesame Street and National Geographic, there is a wide gap that needs to be filled.   We find, develop, fund and oversee production of educational programs for television and the Web for all ages, but with a special focus on ages 11-15, and an emphasis on the need for a higher standard of children's programming. 

We keep abreast of new developments in education resources and communications technologies.  This includes the Internet, cell phone and other new forms of content delivery, so that these programs can be seamlessly integrated into the lives of a diverse audience.   We will make elements of every project accessible on the Internet (via our Website or the sites of the shows themselves) as well as interactive CDs, DVDs and other new technologies as they develop or are adapted to our educational focus.  We will develop support materials for classroom use to increase each program’s value further.

This programming will be available for both classroom use, as well as "on-air" for the greatest possible impact on the learner.   We will make full use of the Internet and interactive television as well as providing curriculum enhancements for teachers, however, the programs will be within reach of all students, regardless of their access to technology.

Background

There is an acknowledged need for more high quality educational programming on television. [1]  Educational programming, in order to be successful, must be entertaining as well as informative, but the line between entertainment and education is frequently crossed in favor of entertainment.  For example, “Saved by the Bell”, a high-school based "sitcom", is considered educational by some at the TV network level.   While such programs may garner a significant audience and occasionally touch on important issues for today's youth, education is not their primary goal.

Fascinating Learning Factory aspires to the standards set by the Children’s Television Workshop (now The Sesame Workshop) and their successful history of delivering entertaining, high quality, informative programming.   CTW has set the bar high for pre-school and early childhood programming.   We intend to do the same for the late elementary and middle school age groups and beyond.

It is a fact that television is the primary source of news and information for adults in this country.   Broadcast and cable television is a significant influence in our children’s lives.   But as our children become teenagers, they are less inclined to watch TV and more likely to entertain themselves with web, video games and cell phone communications.

Founders Norman and Bunnie Strassner have made their careers in broadcast television and production.   They bring their expertise to the Learning Factory both to advise as to the merits of potential programs and to oversee the production of them.

The Fascinating Learning Factory has Board of Directors that represents many facets of the community including, educators, business leaders, production professionals and experts in various fields.   Among these are:

§      Bunnie Strassner – President & Executive Director, Managing Partner Flashback Video Productions.

§      Norman H. Strassner- Vice President & Treasurer – Chief Operating Officer, Flashback Video Productions.

§      Stan Garnett, Past President, Boulder Valley School Board and Attorney, Brownstein, Hyatt and Farber.  

§      William T. Coleman III, Past General Counsel to the US Army under President Bill Clinton, Attorney with Berger Montague, Philadelphia, PA

§      Terry Phillips – former State Senator from Colorado

§      Steve Greenwald – Pueblo Bank & Trust - officer

§      Miriam Birch, Emmy winning documentary writer/producer for National Geographic, Jacques Cousteau and others.   Los Angeles, CA

§      Gary Grossman, Weller/Grossman Productions, Producer of Emmy winning, quality programming for network, syndicated and cable television, including ‘Biography’.  Los Angeles, CA

§      Brian Doubleday – Emmy winning television writer/producer for PBS, co-Producer of Feature Film “Instinct”. Boulder, CO

Educational Advisory Board

§      Phillip Seff, Ph.D., University of Arizona, Government Geologist, Professor of Geology, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA, Author “Our Fascinating Earth”

§      Donna Copeland, MA: University of Colorado - Boulder, Educational Administrator Certification: University of Denver, Emphasis on Elementary and Secondary Education

§      Robin Levin, M.Ed. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Educational Media Technology, Career Educator, Certified Library Media Specialist, Lander, WY  Winner of the 2007 School Library Journal Award for innovative Programs

Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO),  as well as Colorado State Senators Terry Phillips and Ron Tupa have all expressed support for the work of the Learning Factory as well as many other government, business, education and community leaders.

Programming

Among the first projects to be funded is the “Guerrilla Guide to Politics”, a fun and informative series about participation in our democratic process.   We have produced a full length, broadcast quality pilot that aired in major and secondary markets nationwide during the 2004 and 2006 election season.  

Also at the top of our list is “Our Fascinating Earth", a television series about natural science based on the award winning books and newspaper articles by Philip Seff, Ph.D. and Nancy Seff, M.Ed.   A presentation videotape for this series has been produced and aired in over 42 major markets.     Letters of support attach to the submissions.

Other programs approved by the Learning Factory’s Board include a series on world history called “Hip Hop History”; “Spirit Voices”, a documentary about the Blackfeet Indian nation; Hollywood Physics, a series that explains concepts of physics through the use of Hollywood film clips and Seeds of Isaac, a documentary series that traces the contributions of Jewish people through specific fields of endeavor.

In addition, we are seeking limited additional programming ideas from outside sources and the Learning Factory’s Board of Directors will select which programs to pursue.   The intent is to produce a steady stream of high quality, educational programming for many years to come.

Goals

§      We will reach the largest possible audience, initially through the 346-station Public Television Network.  Our Fascinating Earth and Guerrilla Guide to Politics were offered to NETA (Nat’l Educational Telecommunications Assn.) for consideration and we have received a commitment to distribute both series.

§      We will monitor our programming through a variety of evaluation models to guarantee that the quality of both the educational content and entertainment value is equal to the highest possible standards.

§      We will actively recruit educational experts to provide new ideas for programming in areas that have been historically underserved by present commercial providers.  We will ask those experts to create curriculum plans around these programs so that both the learner and the school will achieve the most benefit from them, whether seen at home or in the classroom.   

Funding

Our 501(c)(3) status was certified by the IRS in October 2000.   We are presenting our programs, along with requests for funding, to many grant makers with backgrounds in funding education and the arts.   We have a team of educators currently writing grant requests on a part-time, volunteer basis.   When we are funded, we hope to hire a professional grant writer.