Phoenix, Ariz. - Apollo Group, an online education firm whose holdings include the University of Phoenix, announced on Wednesday that it will acquire online ad network Aptimus, in a deal valued at $48 million.

Arlington, Va. - In one of its largest Web undertakings ever, PBS said on Thursday that it has launched a major new portal for teachers. The organization said PBS Teachers houses all of PBS's educational resources and services for pre-K-12 teachers. The site provides information on ways to use media and technology in the learning environment, including curriculum resources, video products and online professional development opportunities. "The breadth of content showcased on the site will be valuable to teachers of all grade levels and subject areas," said Mary Kadera, PBS's vice president of education.

Washington - Amid criticism from certain members of the academic community, educational software firm Blackboard pledged on Thursday that it will not use its patents to block educational institutions from developing their own open source e-learning systems.

Owings Mills, Md. - Maryland Public Television (MPT) said on Thursday that it has hired Boston-based educational media producer FableVision to develop an online math and literacy game aimed at students in upper elementary and middle school grades. FableVision is collaborating with MPT and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to produce the software game, which is part of MPT's Learning Games To Go initiative -- the centerpiece of a $15 million grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Education Star Schools program.

New York - Fifty-seven percent of U.S. teachers use Internet-based news in the classroom, while only 28% use daily newspapers, according to a survey conducted by the Carnegie-Knight Task Force on the Future of Journalism Education.