BBC resources

Connect & Learn with the BBC

This time we are look at the really impressive range of learning resources that are available from the BBC. All forms of audio (live radio, catch-up radio programmes, podcasts and music) and all the BBC websites are free, but to view video (live TV and catch-up TV programmes) you will need to buy a BBC TV licence – although this is free to those over 75 years of age until later this year when it will only be free to those over 75 on pension credit.

The BBC is a public service broadcaster providing nine national TV channels, regional TV programmes, an internet TV service (BBC Three), 10 national radio stations, 40 local radio stations and an extensive website. Its mission is to “inform, educate and entertain”. One of its five public purposes is “to support learning for people of all ages”. To find out more about the BBC, take a look at this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z9fntyc.

When accessing BBC video online, you may be asked to confirm you have a TV licence. You will also be asked to register and sign in (at no cost). This is well worth doing as the service will remember how much of each programme you have heard or seen and you can pick up where you left off. It will also make helpful recommendations based on your listening and viewing preferences.

BBC audio (including radio, catch-up radio programmes, podcasts and music)

When using a computer or laptop, for BBC radio (live and catch-up programmes and music) just go to this website (what used to be BBC Radio has now been rebranded as BBC Sounds): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds. You may want to save this on your browser (favourite or bookmarked, depending on your web browser).

When you go to the home page, you will be given the options of listening live, or continuing to listen to programmes you have started, or choosing one of the many categories (including, for example, documentaries, heath & well-being and science and technology). There is a large range of categories and the whole list is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/categories. Then you can just click on anything that you want to learn about. Also, on the home page there are recommendations, a variety of music mixes and podcasts, as well as any of your own favourites which you may have previously “bookmarked”. If you are searching for something specific, just type in the topic in the search engine (next to the magnifying glass at the top) and see what comes up.

For BBC audio podcasts, you can access (and save) these via the home page of the BBC Sounds website (above) or you can go direct to the BBC podcasts website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts. Podcasts can be downloaded and kept indefinitely as mp3s. It’s helpful to have the ability to download programmes and podcasts offline (useful when out of range of Wi-Fi). All of the podcasts are shown on this website, or you can show them by radio station (for example by clicking on Radio 4). Or you can follow up any recommendations shown. Or you can search by category (such as, for example, factual, documentaries, news, history, science and nature). Or you can type what you are looking for in the search engine and see what comes up.

If you are using a tablet (including Android or iPad) or a smartphone (Android or iPhone), you can access these services via these same links on your web-browser on your device. But much better is to download the BBC iPlayer Radio app directly to your device. The BBC iPlayer Radio app is still available, but is likely to be completely replaced shortly by the newer BBC Sounds app. Both apps are free from the Google Play app store (or Apple app store if you are using an iPad or iPhone). More information about this is at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/sounds-intro.

These apps give easy access to all BBC live radio, BBC catch-up radio and BBC podcasts, and it works in a similar way to accessing these via the BBC Sounds website (as described above). You can download items to your device and listen offline (which is helpful if you are outside a wi-fi area), and you can usually keep and use them for 30 days after the broadcast date (sometimes it is less, and some are available for over a year).

If you get stuck on this or want to know more, this webpage may help: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/.

BBC video (including TV and catch-up TV)

When using a computer or laptop, for BBC TV (live and catch-up programmes) just go to this website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer. You may want to save this on your browser (favourite or bookmarked, depending on your web browser).

When you go to the home page, rather like the radio programmes (above), what you will see includes suggestions, or continue watching programmes you have started, most popular programmes, recommended programmes, documentaries, plus any programmes you have previously added yourself. The list of categories is shown if you click on “Categories” at the top and they include documentaries, news, history, lifestyle and science and nature. Then you can just click on anything that you want to learn about. If you are searching for something specific, just type in the topic in the search engine (next to the magnifying glass at the top) and see what comes up

In addition, by clicking on “Channels” at the top, you can watch programmes live, or you will see a selection of programmes broadcast by that particular channel. You can also view up-coming programmes by clicking on “Schedules” at the top.

If you are using a tablet (including iPads) or a smartphone, as with BBC radio (above) you can access these services via these links on your web-browser on your device, but again it is much better to download the BBC TV iPlayer app directly to your device - free from the Google Play app store (or Apple app store if you are using an iPad or iPhone). You can view all programmes if you are online in the UK, and you can download programmes to your device and listen offline wherever you are in the world (which is helpful if you are outside of a wi-fi area). You can usually keep and use them for 30 days after the broadcast date (sometimes it is less, and some are available for over a year).

BBC websites

The main BBC website is https://www.bbc.co.uk/. From there you can click on various links to specific sections of the BBC website which could help you with your learning (in addition to radio, TV, and podcasts). These links to resources include:

• News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news (also available via an excellent BBC News app which you can download from the Google Play or Apple app store for use on you tablet or smartphone). From the links at the top, you can delve further by clicking on, for example, family and education, health, science, technology, entertainment and arts, reality check, explainers, and special reports.
• The Arts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts
• Learning (Bitesize): https://www.bbc.com/bitesize - although this is aimed primarily at schoolchildren, the material is excellent if you want to refresh your learning or learn completely new things – for example this extensive list of GCSE subjects (currently 35 subjects – something to interest everyone!), presented in a really interesting way - https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/levels/z98jmp3.
• Taster: https://www.bbc.co.uk/taster/ to try out new ideas.

This topic is also available as a PDF which you can see and download by clicking on the image below at the bottom of this webpage, or via this link.