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Ian Bogost, of the great site Water Cooler Games, just posted a review of Ayiti.
He writes, "The game (developed by veteran casual game developers game Lab) has high production value and strategic depth."
To read the rest, click here.
The MacArthur Foundation has launched an excellent online resource about the work they are funding with their recent commitment of $50m which showcase much of the work being produced.
You can read more about the work they are funding at Global Kids, watch an interview with Barry Joseph, the online leadership director, and PDFs from the Digital Media Essay Contest.
Btw, the part in the video where Barry talks about how different people learn in different ways was in response to a question asked by one of the Global Kids Youth Leaders trying to throw him off: "Who would win: Superman or Batman?"
Welcome to Ayiti: The Cost of Life. The game launched today on one of our partner's sites: UNICEF. You can find it at http://theCostofLife.org.
To be notified when more information is available, please enter your email below. In the meantime, you can learn more about the game here.
Also, visit the Ayiti: The Cost of Life - MySpace site to see more photos and join our network of friends there.
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| Browse Archives at groups.google.com |
Released on October 19, Henry Jenkin's brilliant and practical white paper, Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century, explores new frameworks and models for media literacy.
To quote just one section:
A central goal of this report is to shift the focus of the conversation about the digital divide from questions of technological access to those of opportunities to participate and to develop the cultural competencies and social skills needed for full involvement.Schools as institutions have been slow to react to the emergence of this new participatory culture;the greatest opportunity for change is currently found in afterschool programs and informal learning communities.Schools and afterschool programs must devote more attention to fostering what we call the new media literacies:a set of cultural competencies and social skills that young people need in the new media landscape.Participatory culture shifts the focus of literacy from one of individual expression to community involvement.The new literacies almost all involve social skills developed through collaboration and networking.These skills build on the foundation of traditional literacy,research skills,technical skills,and critical analysis skills taught in the classroom.
Furthermore, on page 27, when offering examples of how the skill of simulation has been explored in a formal setting, Jenkin's writes:
"Students need to learn how to manipulate and interpret existing simulations and how to construct their own dynamic models of real world processes... Groups such as... Global Kids in New York City involve kids in the design of their own games. These groups see a value in having youth translate a body of knowledge... into the activities and iconography of games. Here,students are encouraged to think of alternative ways of modeling knowledge and learn to use the vocabulary of game design to represent central aspects of the world around them."
And this came out the week BEFORE we launched Ayiti! This is a fantastic document for anyone working with new media and youth, and not just because we got the Jenkin's shout-out.
The online version of the technology magazine Red Herring featured an article that focuses on the MacArthur foundation's recent announcement of funding towards digitial media and technology initiatives. They mention their thoughts on the positive impact that these grants, and specifically the funding to Global Kids, could have.
"MacArthur has also been funding Global Kids... Maybe someday the kids whose digital educations are being examined may receive genius grants of their own."
To read more, click here.
Well it's come to the end of the week for me and this is my last blog post for this week, it's about the Global Kids Cave Building event which happened on Friday. Over 24 Teens participated in building the big massive cave at Global Kids Island. It was a very successful event and we got it all finished in the end :D, although there was a bit of arguments going on but still it was fun.
We had some people building the actual cave structure then some building items to go into the cave and some of them did both which was very cool of them too. You can visit the cave at Global Kids Island you can't miss it its massive. I hope we get all the teens come to the events next week we got lots planned like a Treasure Hunt, What scares you the most about Digital Media and more...
Well thats all from me today with this blog post. I have attached some screen shots of the event below. Have a good weekend and see you on Monday.
Screen Shots:
Thanks!
-Storm
Well this is coming to the end of the week only one more event to blog now. I'm having fun doing this mind you . Well I had better get on with it. On Thursday we hosted an Avatar Building event on Global kids Island I as part of the Halloween Events. We had over 48 people turn up to the event although a lot of them left before the end. We had some cool av making, we had some cool fun after the building and we gathered on the stage where we got one person up at a time to tell us about there av they made. We then announced the winner.
Rafi was out at a meeting all day so he didn't get to see them all :( but not to worry I'll show him some snaps of them. Well at the end of the event some people stayed on the island and had a mini party. Well thats about all in my blog post for now.
Winners:
Peter Burma
Domzion Zeuco
Rabbit Schnook
Screen Shots:
Well this is now my second blog post and I hope I'll be posting many more, it's kind of fun. Well let's tell you about the Firework Building Event that went on in the Global Kids Island I. On Tuesday I hosted a Firework Building event which went very well except the sim crashed near the end. Thanks to Harmony Linden who got the sim up and running within 15 mins!
We extended the event for another 30 minutes to give people more time. We all finished our fireworks when it re-opened and gathered around the sandboxes to test them. Then after five minutes testing where we got everyone to the event stage where we then got one person up at a time and show all of us the fireworks they was cool. Rafi Gkid and Tabitha Gkid and I help judge them. The winner won L$35, Second Place With L$25, and Third place L$15 and a rare squid :-)
We will now use everyones fireworks for the events next week :-)
Winners:
SupaNeo Nori
Joe Sun
Jamie Ryder
Screen Shots:
People often find the game REALLY hard to play. Which it is. But here are some photos from one player showing that they should not give up - there is hope!
We were thrilled with the turn-out yesterday at the South Shore launch party for our new game, Ayiti: The Cost of Life. Over 50 people attended the event, heard from the students, the game developers, and the school's administration. After eating some yummy food we went to the computer lab and player the game. A number of reporters were present, so we look forward to blogging their coverage soon.
At the end of the event, I asked one of the Playing 4 Keeps youth leaders how it felt showing-off the game to so many of her peers. She said, "It felt like being you." I asked, "What does it feel like to be me?" She replied, referring to the role designated for Global Kids staff who work with teens, "To be a Trainer."
Check out below some of the photos taken during the event. To see more click here.
Global Kids is proud to announce that Ayiti: The Cost of Life is now available through out first partner, UNICEF and their youth-site Voices of Youth.
Check it out here.
Read more here.
The teens in this year's Digital Media Youth Advisory started out the year in force, beginning with a re-write of a survey for the MacArthur volume on civic engagement.
The volume approached Global Kids with their plans to survey teens in MySpace. However, when we saw their questions, we were delighted to run them through the advisory to create a more youth-friendly approach. After a significant re-write, the teens submitted the following questions, which were incorporated into their MySpace page. If you are a member of MySpace, log in and post your own response.
Are you tired of the way you are represented in the media, or the huge panic that adults are having about MySpace? Want to speak back about it? Please read on...Some big thinkers are writing a high profile book about how youth use digital media, my MySpace, to engage with politics and society. A very important part of this process is to get feedback from you guys that we can include in the book. So, we came up with some questions that we'd really appreciate you guys answering! You can answer by leaving a comment.
thanks ~ kate
1) Should adults be concerned about how youth view their rights and public affairs (like voting)? How might online experiences better connect youth to real information and get them actively involved?
2) Do online games or sites like MySpace spark meaningful forms of political discussions and actions? If so, can youth expand this involvement into the real world?
3) What should adults know about the pros and cons of youth using digital media?
4) What steps can we take to influence parents and professionals so that they can better understand youth's involvement in improving their communities? What steps can we take to influence them to adopt more creative, real and fair opportunities for youth to be heard?'
And in case you are curious, here's how the teens revised the questions. After talking as a group about what makes a good survey question for teens, we organized the youth advisory into smaller groups, gave each team one of the original questions, tasked them with returning to the group with a revised question, discussed the revised question with the group, added more revisions as a group until we came to consensus that it was a good question, then sent them on to the volume editors.
Below are the original questions:
1. To what extent should we be concerned that young people are less inclined than earlier generations to engage with former touchstones of citizenship such as voting and following news about public affairs? If these shifts should concern us, how might online experiences better link young people to credible information and satisfying participation opportunities?
2. Are the boundaries of civic engagement changing for young people online? For example, when can online spaces such as myspace and facebook constitute forums for civic engagement? Or, do protests in an online game constitute civic engagement? If so, how do such engagement experiences translate into broader participation in politics, and public life?
3. What do you think are the opportunities and pitfalls of teaching participatory media skills and orientations for creating the capacity to raise public voice(s)? What suggestions do you have for helping make such pedagogy successful?
4. What can we learn about success and failure in youth digital media experience to go beyond what is currently offered in schools and community youth programs?
5. What strategies can we develop to influence educators, educational policy makers, community youth workers, professional associations, and parents to see youth civic engagement differently, and to adopt more creative and democratic opportunities for young people to raise their public voices?
On Monday over 18 teens participated in decorating the Global Kids Island for Halloween. The event was ran by me, Storm Basiat. We have got a lot of cool builds and I already started to do the decorations on the island as you may have seen. All the screen shots will be posted at the bottom of this blog post.
Lets talk about the event now. I opened the event at 10am PDT / SLT and we had lots of teens coming the the event they all choose a sandbox and built there decorations. We give them two and a half hours to produce some cool decorations for the island after the time passed we allowed teens to go around and check the other sandboxes and see what others have built and give people positive comments. We gathered all the teens onto the stage to end off the event and give out the prizes. Everything went well and I hope everyone had a good time at the events. If here is any feedback please IM Storm Basiat.
Event Winers:
Jonett Gremlin
Joe Sun
Disco Bayliss
SupaNeo Nori
Screen Shots:
Thanks!
-Storm Basiat
Hey guys!
I know you haven’t heard from me in AWHILE.
Let me give you an update of whats going on :)
I have been very busy with Global Kids work, recently! Barry and I are currently working on a project with Cory Linden. Yeah, Cory Linden :D
We are in the middle of making a type of multiple choice survey for the teens in TSL. We hope to get a script somewhat like we had in the maze [If you can make one for us... PLEASE send me an IM in-game]. So keep an eye out for this :)
I have also been assigned to hand out some open-ended surveys. Anyone that completes them with decent (more then one word) answers will receive 250L from Rafi. If you would like to fill out a survey; again, leave me an IM in-game.
But here is the BIGBIG news.
Barry gave me a great idea, to start a new group in TSL. I took his advice and ‘Disability in TSL’ was started... just the other day :) It is open enrollment; so please feel free to join!
I’ve been physically disabled since I was four years old, and I thought making a group in SL might connect some residents. We are hopefully going to get a plot on GK Island –nudges Barry- and I hope to do some great stuff with it :D
Join today!
Over and out,
Lucky Figgy
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With the return of school, teen residents are back in force, proposing events they can run on Global Kids Island. One of the most active is Storm Basiat, who has a whole range of programs planned for the week of Halloween.
To get back up to speed, Storm ran the following Word Spill and has this to say:
Hello. Today I hosted a quick Word Spill event at Global Kids Island. I was kind of bored so I thought Why not? Let's have some fun this afternoon. Below is the screen shot. Not many people turned up as you can see but we still had fun, which is the main thing.
As part of the New Media Consortium's Impact of Digital media Symposium, Barry and Rafi did an hour long presentation to a main-grid audience in Second Life about our work in the teen grid. We had a blast, not just talking about our work but getting everyone out of their seats and onto some floating platforms for a demonstration of how we run our workshops. And we were delighted to see so many of our main grid friends there - GK supporters, partners, and even a handful of Lindens. Thank you all for showing up.
You can read a description of the event, view a few photos, and even listen to an MP3 of the presentation.
When educating in Second Life, one of the most important issues to consider is that of emotional lattitude. Most educators know what this is, as does anyone that's taken part in an online conversation and had a comment misinterpreted. It's the problem that lies at the heart of real time online communication: You don't see a person's face or hear their voice, therefore lack many emotional cues that would otherwise be present. You have a much harder time seeing how they're reacting to anything that may be happening in a virtual space (or their own physical environment) and adjusting your own reactions accordingly.
It can be easy to take for granted the non-verbal communications that are contained in the face and voice. After all, the way language is used reflects a hierarchy of communication:
'Are you listening?'
'We're having a conversation.'
'I'll talk to him about it.'
These statements, on the surface level, seem to be referring to the spoken word, though if reflected upon we can see that they really have to do with attending to a range of sensory cues, including those that are non-verbal. We know this, but since it's often not explicit, it's easy to forget.
When we enter a virtual space of any sort, we change our medium of communication and very quickly realize that the types of nuanced messages we're used to conveying have to do with a lot more than words.
In the past, distance learning has come up against this barrier that seems to be inherent to online communication. Without seeing the learners and interacting with them on a face to face level, how can an educator know whether comprehension is happening? While many current trends in education would tout tests and other quantitative evaluation methods as a means to measure comprehension, any educator that works in a classroom knows the importance of being able to observe youth learning in real time in order to see if additional instruction or a change of approach is necessary.
A teen will rarely tell an educator that they're bored, frustrated or tired, but an effective educator can observe these states in their students. This observation and its resultant changes in approach are largely reliant on emotional cues inherant in body language, facial expression and tone of voice, and any medium for education is greatly bolstered when it allows for such cues to be conveyed.
An argument can be made that a space like Second Life has far greater potential than any other distance learning medium to convey emotional lattitude. Using mediums like live chat, message boards and email lists (the traditional spaces where online learning has taken place) this was about the farthest one could get:
: ) - Happy
: D - Really happy
: O - Surprised
: ( - Sad
Obviously the world of emoticons has far more variations and much depth and history, but ultimately it is a pretty limited bandwith for someone to work with.
In Second Life, having an avatar allows expression of emotion to happen on a different level. Below, my avatar makes some displays of virtual emotion:
However, while the above is definitely a step up from emoticons, it still in no way compares to this:
The emotions conveyed through emoticons and those expressed through an avatar are in fact limited in the same way: they're both completely intentional. The emoticon won't show up in the chat log if a person doesn't type it. The avatar has a default facial expression, and that won't change unless the person controlling it activates a preset gesture or facial expression, a skill set in itself which can be manipulated in various ways to send different messages other than what's actually being experienced by the person behind the keyboard.
In contrast, our everyday expression of emotion is both intentional and unintentional. Microexpressions, or involuntary and extremely short lived facial expressions, underscore any current mental state and can indicate the difference between sincerity or a lack thereof. The field of vocalics looks at how changes in tone, pitch, accent and volume all give off non-verbal cues that would would indicate things that would otherwise go unsaid. I could go on and on, but the point is that emotional states express themselves whether people like it or not, and being able to observe these expressions is to the benefit of any educator.
This is not the case in virtual worlds, and until the technology gets to a place where that's possible, educators working in these spaces need to think creatively about how to compensate for these limitations both through methods of communication and, more importantly, through what type of education they want to engage in in a space like this.
There are a number of strategies that an educator might use when engaging and communicating with learners in Second Life to address this issue. When possible, it is always to an educator's advantage to have an ongoing real life relationship with learners they're interacting with, as this gives them a greater sense of their personalities and might then shape the way they interact with them in the online environment.
This is not always possible, and certainly has not been the case with most of the teens we've dealt with in our online programs in Second Life here at Global Kids. In a situation where an educator never meets the learner 'face to face', it's important to leverage different mediums of communication to establish an amount of depth in the relationship as well as a better understanding of the learner. This might occur through phone or Voip (voice over internet protocol) conversation, in instant messages or email that occur outside the context of learning time and space, or during informal gatherings and play activities that Second Life is so well suited for.
The medium that is Second Life, like any other medium, shapes what and how we communicate. Therefore, it also shapes the ways that we educate, as education is at its core about effective transfer of ideas, values or skills through communication. If the world is going to start looking to this environment as one where real, substantive education can happen, it's important that those who work with it examine what it can and can not do in terms of communication. Continuing on this theme, the next post in this set will examine further the nature of Second Life and discuss which types of education might flourish or falter in a space like this given both its limitations and affordances as a communication tool.
The following is the raw log from Global Kids Island in the teen grid, captured while the teens watched the live feed from NYC of the MacArthur Foundation's Digital Learning Press Conference. The log begins as I arrived, as the Foundation President Jonathan Fanton talked about the skills young people need.
The schedule for the event was the following:
9:30 - 10:00 Arrival for launch. Light snacks and drinks served
American Museum of Natural History, Powerhouse
Central Park West and 79th Street
10:15 - Launch event begins
10:20 -- Jonathon Fanton speech
10:35 - Panel Discussion: Mimi Ito, Henry Jenkins, Nichole Pinkard
11:20 -- Q&A - audience and Second Life
Click on the photos to read the captions and read the unedited log below. I apologize in advance for the lack of editing - what you will find, as in most SL logs, a high noise-to-signal ratio. But the signal is worth the search.
| www.flickr.com |
[7:22] Maerquis Sismondi: I'll tell you what skills us young people need.
[7:22] Maerquis Sismondi: Laser vision.
[7:22] Listeel Harlan: XD
[7:22] Alex Hicks: ssssshhhh!
[7:23] Bellia Zou: Hey ppl
[7:23] Listeel Harlan: yo
[7:23] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: hey bellia
[7:23] Bellia Zou: Hey
[7:24] Bellia Zou: hmm i thought i wasn't online
[7:24] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: afk
[7:24] Bellia Zou: kk
[7:24] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: k
[7:25] Bellia Zou: kk
[7:25] Bellia Zou: so why aren't we doing anything?
[7:25] Barry Gkid: Hi Folks
[7:25] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: idk?
[7:25] Listeel Harlan: game design??
[7:25] Barry Gkid: barry here
[7:25] Alex Hicks: listaning
[7:25] Listeel Harlan: oh dear
[7:25] Barry Gkid: We will be running 3 years of prgrams here with their funding
[7:25] Bellia Zou: kk
[7:25] Barry Gkid: I am sitting 5 feet from the speaking
[7:25] Barry Gkid: :-)
[7:25] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: afk
[7:25] Maerquis Sismondi: Hello Barry.
[7:26] Alex Hicks: O dang that's cool!
[7:26] Bellia Zou: i gtg in a sec cuz the internet itsn't working for my mom
[7:26] Barry Gkid: To learn more, joinh the Global Kids group and we will sent out an annoucnement soon
[7:26] Bellia Zou: kk
[7:26] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: k
[7:26] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: im board
[7:27] Bellia Zou: me too
[7:27] Barry Gkid: Cool p[anel coming up
[7:27] Barry Gkid: trust me
[7:27] Barry Gkid: awesome people
[7:27] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: is it gonna start yet?
[7:27] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: k
[7:27] Bellia Zou: i have a mall
[7:27] Bellia Zou: with open stalls
[7:27] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: wats the 50 million thingy we saw?
[7:27] Bellia Zou: idk
[7:27] Maerquis Sismondi: You know, I think Jackie Chan should be giving this whole speech thing. No one could do it better...
[7:28] Bellia Zou: Jackie chan?
[7:28] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: i think it was on the notice
[7:28] Bellia Zou: umm no comment nvm
[7:28] Bellia Zou: i think i'm bout to get kicke doff internet
[7:28] Bellia Zou: ?
[7:28] Bellia Zou: !
[7:28] Bellia Zou: oops
[7:28] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: why?
[7:28] Maerquis Sismondi: Woo panel!
[7:28] Alex Hicks: Barry are you going up?
[7:28] Bellia Zou: idk
[7:28] Bellia Zou: cuz the interntet isn't working
[7:29] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: oh
[7:29] Barry Gkid: I WONT BE ON THE PANEL BUT THEY WILL NE CALLING OTU OUR WORK AND I will stand up
[7:29] Maerquis Sismondi: Sweet.
[7:29] Maerquis Sismondi: Wave to us! >.>
[7:29] Bellia Zou: yup yup sooo pplsare resteting it
[7:29] Bellia Zou: resettiong
[7:29] Barry Gkid: There are photos from TSL all ver the press here
[7:29] Bellia Zou: *resetting
[7:29] Barry Gkid: from oru summer camp
[7:29] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: wat about the 50 million thing
[7:29] Alex Hicks: O man they should make you go up =-(
[7:29] Barry Gkid: Sure, if the camera comes to me I will wave
[7:29] Maerquis Sismondi: Cool.
[7:29] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: lol
[7:29] Alex Hicks: i cant see
[7:29] Bellia Zou: Hey!
[7:29] Bellia Zou: i wave
[7:29] Bellia Zou: lol i'm SOOOO bored
[7:30] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: me to
[7:30] Alex Hicks: work=-(
[7:30] Bellia Zou: does anyone in here have a shop or wanna make one?
[7:30] Barry Gkid: Connie just said
[7:30] Barry Gkid: Sl will come up ont he sreen
[7:30] Barry Gkid: ah, there's the main grid - give it 12 seconds
[7:30] Alex Hicks: i cant see
[7:30] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: was that it?
[7:30] Bellia Zou: cuz i owned a shop and now own a mall
[7:30] Bellia Zou: idk whats going on
[7:30] Alex Hicks: .....=-(
[7:30] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: the music control
[7:31] Maerquis Sismondi: Woo.
[7:31] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: click play
[7:31] Barry Gkid: /wave
[7:31] Alex Hicks: i can here but not see
[7:31] Bellia Zou: umm sure?
[7:31] Alex Hicks: hi people =-)
[7:31] Dolus Naumova: MG.
[7:31] Dolus Naumova: MG.
[7:31] Bellia Zou: oooh i'm a MASTER OF DESIGN
[7:31] Dolus Naumova: D:
[7:31] Maerquis Sismondi: Yeah, Dolus.
[7:31] Maerquis Sismondi: Yeah.
[7:31] Alex Hicks: Hi!
[7:31] Dolus Naumova: BACK 2 FOOD
[7:31] Alex Hicks: =-)
[7:31] Bellia Zou: HELLO PPLS
[7:32] Alex Hicks: I here you!
[7:32] Barry Gkid: Ooh - tehy jstemntioend you
[7:32] Barry Gkid: just mentioned
[7:32] Bellia Zou: vfj2339vsiwlvmr
[7:32] Bellia Zou: omgosh
[7:32] Bellia Zou: idk
[7:32] Barry Gkid: when you hear tsl give a big cheer!
[7:32] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: k
[7:32] Maerquis Sismondi: Yes they DID create a teen island.
[7:32] Bellia Zou: WOOT WOOT
[7:32] Bellia Zou shouts: WOOT WOOT TSL
[7:32] KittyKatPrincess Buaku shouts: woooooooooooooooooo
[7:32] Alex Hicks: can i get a wave gesture plz?
[7:32] Bellia Zou: hey dolus i love your shoes
[7:33] Barry Gkid: If you guys want to talk a phot, feel free to stand in front of the screen in the next minute
[7:33] Bellia Zou: Hey!
[7:33] Barry Gkid: We can post it on our blog - holymeatballs.org
[7:33] Alex Hicks: Its muted
[7:33] Bellia Zou: a wave is 'Hey'
[7:33] Maerquis Sismondi: Holymeetballs?
[7:33] Maerquis Sismondi: *meat
[7:33] Maerquis Sismondi: Nice.
[7:33] Bellia Zou: Hey!
[7:33] Alex Hicks: I cant here!
[7:33] Bellia Zou: ew creepy i can hear me when i say ?hey
[7:33] Alex Hicks: Why!!!!
[7:33] Bellia Zou: oops didn't mean to put?
[7:33] Bellia Zou: nvm
[7:33] Maerquis Sismondi: And the screen turned...blue?
[7:34] Maerquis Sismondi: Odd.
[7:34] Barry Gkid: I lost my screen - you?
[7:34] Listeel Harlan: me too
[7:34] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: yeah
[7:34] Maerquis Sismondi: Yeah.
[7:34] Bellia Zou shouts: i'm not making sense to no one but me
[7:34] Barry Gkid: ah, its back
[7:34] Alex Hicks: Barry i cant here
[7:34] Bellia Zou: no
[7:34] Listeel Harlan: it's back
[7:34] Bellia Zou shouts: i can seee
[7:34] Maerquis Sismondi: That guy has a cool beard.
[7:34] Bellia Zou shouts: i can see the whole time
[7:34] Alex Hicks: work!!
[7:34] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: lol
[7:34] Listeel Harlan: awesoe beard
[7:34] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:34] Bellia Zou shouts: idk
[7:34] Listeel Harlan: *awesome
[7:34] Alex Hicks: ... =-(
[7:34] Bellia Zou shouts: omgosh
[7:35] Alex Hicks: Im sad i can't see or here any more.
[7:35] Bellia Zou: lol i can whistle so what!
[7:35] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: lol
[7:35] Alex Hicks: WORK!!!!
[7:35] Object whispers: Sorry, only can use this.
[7:35] Object whispers: Sorry, only can use this.
[7:35] Object whispers: Sorry, only can use this.
[7:35] Object whispers: Sorry, only can use this.
[7:35] Bellia Zou: only no one an use it
[7:35] Bellia Zou: *can
[7:35] Alex Hicks: ok it works *pueh*
[7:36] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: get on with it!!
[7:36] Bellia Zou shouts: booo
[7:36] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: lol
[7:36] Bellia Zou shouts: boo!
[7:36] Maerquis Sismondi: I thought about growing a beard once.
[7:36] KittyKatPrincess Buaku shouts: LOL
[7:36] Bellia Zou: i meant like boo like scare not like omgosh this is bad boooo
[7:36] Bellia Zou: lol i'm bored
[7:36] Listeel Harlan: hehe
[7:36] Alex Hicks: The tv dosen't work.
[7:36] Listeel Harlan: SL on the video
[7:36] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: afk
[7:37] Bellia Zou shouts: i wanna get a tvomgosh i got a tv i got two
[7:37] Alex Hicks: I wish i could see!
[7:37] Bellia Zou: woot woot tsl
[7:37] Maerquis Sismondi: Man my connection sucks anus.
[7:37] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: k
[7:37] Bellia Zou: this av is me its sooo cool
[7:37] Bellia Zou: like me like rl
[7:37] Bellia Zou: except my outfit and all
[7:37] Bellia Zou: my hair though
[7:38] KittyKatPrincess Buaku shouts: boring
[7:38] Maerquis Sismondi: I'm like me in real life.
[7:38] Maerquis Sismondi: A robot.
[7:38] Alex Hicks: SSSHHH!!!
[7:38] Maerquis Sismondi: Bwahaha.
[7:38] Listeel Harlan shouts: go away then kitty
[7:38] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: no
[7:38] Bellia Zou shouts: don't go away boredness
[7:38] Bellia Zou shouts: i mean go away broedness
[7:38] Bellia Zou: boredness
[7:38] Bellia Zou: i'm gonna go to my friend's lounge thingy ttyl pplz
[7:38] Barry Gkid: We would like to post this public chat, if that is all rightwith you, on our blog, so adults can see how teens responded to what is being sud
[7:39] Maerquis Sismondi: Oh snap.
[7:39] Barry Gkid: By all means, if you are bored, please let us know
[7:39] Maerquis Sismondi: XD
[7:39] Bellia Zou: bye bye i'm bored
[7:39] Alex Hicks: I'm not.
[7:39] Barry Gkid: but if you have other thoughts about what is being said, please feel free to share, with each other, and with the rest of the world
[7:39] Bellia Zou: I AM BORED
[7:39] Churchill Tweak: Hush..
[7:39] Bellia Zou: i'm going to Teen lounge ttyl ppl
[7:39] Barry Gkid: Alex, what is interesting you about it
[7:39] Bellia Zou: WOOT WOOT TSL
[7:39] Bellia Zou: nvm
[7:39] Bellia Zou: i'm staying!
[7:39] Maerquis Sismondi: Oh gosh.
[7:39] Barry Gkid: And Belia, what could make the presentation of these issues less boring?
[7:39] Listeel Harlan: then shut up =P
[7:40] Bellia Zou: ummmm
[7:40] Maerquis Sismondi: Belia. Say Jackie Chan.
[7:40] Maerquis Sismondi: Say it.
[7:40] Listeel Harlan: XD
[7:40] Bellia Zou: idk ummmmmmm not jackie chan music
[7:40] Bellia Zou: Music is not boring
[7:40] Listeel Harlan: maybe presenting them graphically
[7:40] Listeel Harlan: old peopke speaking
[7:40] Listeel Harlan: *people
[7:40] Maerquis Sismondi: Yeah.
[7:40] Listeel Harlan: is boring
[7:40] Bellia Zou: idk music
[7:40] Maerquis Sismondi: I'm with Listeel.
[7:40] Listeel Harlan: show us how you would do it
[7:40] Alex Hicks: The things thet are making me intrested is thet i think learning is pritty boring but lisining to this it's making it sound better.
[7:40] Listeel Harlan: show us theses sites
[7:40] Bellia Zou: OLD PPL
[7:40] Listeel Harlan: that you talk about
[7:40] Bellia Zou: OMGOSH MUSIC
[7:40] Maerquis Sismondi: That, or get someone more interesting to speak.
[7:41] Bellia Zou: I THINK MUSCI ROCKS!
[7:41] Alex Hicks: and not as boring.
[7:41] Bellia Zou: MUSIC
[7:41] Bellia Zou: MUSIC IS BEST OMGOSH
[7:41] Bellia Zou: I LIKE MUSIC
[7:41] Maerquis Sismondi: Bellia, please stop. -.-
[7:41] Bellia Zou: ....
[7:41] You have offered friendship to Bellia Zou
[7:41] You have offered friendship to Dolus Naumova
[7:41] You have offered friendship to Listeel Harlan
[7:41] You have offered friendship to Alex Hicks
[7:41] You have offered friendship to Maerquis Sismondi
[7:41] You have offered friendship to Churchill Tweak
[7:41] Listeel Harlan: I'd like to see a live presentation where SL residents can join in
[7:41] You have offered friendship to Darrien Doolittle
[7:41] The Resident you messaged is in 'busy mode' which means they have requested not to be disturbed. Your message will still be shown in their IM panel for later viewing.
[7:41] Listeel Harlan: ask questions
[7:41] Listeel Harlan: the RL people
[7:41] Listeel Harlan: answer
[7:42] Alex Hicks: Yeah that would be cool.
[7:42] Listeel Harlan: XD
[7:42] Churchill Tweak: Hey Barry..
[7:42] Listeel Harlan: dude in front
[7:42] Barry Gkid: Good idea. I beleive the main grid wil be asking questions along with the crowd in NYC shortly
[7:42] Listeel Harlan: running across
[7:42] Listeel Harlan: why not TG?
[7:42] Listeel Harlan: bah
[7:42] Maerquis Sismondi: Because we're obviously not cool enough.
[7:42] Bellia Zou: I AM bored
[7:42] Listeel Harlan: all because we're 'underage'
[7:42] Barry Gkid: I think they thoguth using both woudl confused the adults here. bleh
[7:42] Listeel Harlan: and they're gonna rape us
[7:43] Listeel Harlan: or something
[7:43] Alex Hicks: We can not access the main grid
[7:43] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:43] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: wheres tsl?
[7:43] Listeel Harlan: tasl?
[7:43] Listeel Harlan: *tsl?
[7:43] Churchill Tweak: Sorry I am late.. So who are these folk (On screen)
[7:43] Listeel Harlan: you're on it now
[7:43] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: oh
[7:43] Listeel Harlan: some dudes from a charity
[7:43] Bellia Zou: WOOT WOOT TSL
[7:43] Listeel Harlan: Teen Second Life
[7:43] Listeel Harlan: TSL
[7:43] Alex Hicks: I CANT SEE!!!!!!!!!!!
[7:43] Barry Gkid: Nicole on the left works in chicago
[7:43] Barry Gkid: with teens aqnd new media
[7:43] Churchill Tweak: Cool.
[7:44] Alex Hicks: it's just green!
[7:44] Barry Gkid: Mimi next to her is a lead researcher on youth and media
[7:44] Churchill Tweak: Ahh Uh..
[7:44] Maerquis Sismondi: Who's the bearded man?
[7:44] Listeel Harlan: pokemon XD
[7:44] Barry Gkid: and things like Yugio (spelled wrong)
[7:44] Bellia Zou: BEARD
[7:44] Alex Hicks: brb
[7:44] Churchill Tweak: Yu-Gi-Oh
[7:44] Maerquis Sismondi: LMAO.
[7:44] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: booo
[7:44] Churchill Tweak: I collect >.>
[7:44] Maerquis Sismondi: Ha. HA.
[7:44] Bellia Zou: i think yu-gi-oh is umm stinkhy
[7:44] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: so old
[7:44] Barry Gkid: the man with the beard, henry Jenkins, is at MIT and writes/talks/and researchers about the imapct of technology adn specifically new media on youth and learning
[7:44] Maerquis Sismondi: Man, I remember the days of Pokemon. Those were the days....
[7:44] Barry Gkid: worth googling
[7:44] Churchill Tweak: I have.. Magic.. Pokemon.. Yu-Gi-Oh
[7:45] Churchill Tweak: And I also play Guild Wars WoW..
[7:45] Maerquis Sismondi: I was like a PokeGod.
[7:45] Bellia Zou: i used to love pokemon
[7:45] Churchill Tweak: Runescape..
[7:45] Listeel Harlan: pokemon was awesome back then XD
[7:45] Churchill Tweak: =P
[7:45] Barry Gkid: eh goes to congress for exmaple and defends access to Myspace in schools
[7:45] Bellia Zou: i can't believe they're still making the show
[7:45] Maerquis Sismondi: See, I don't like MySpace.
[7:45] Barry Gkid: Connie onthe end represents the macarthur foundation who is funding their work
[7:45] Churchill Tweak: MySpace.. Hehe I got that Unblocked at my School =P
[7:45] Maerquis Sismondi: Quite frankly, I think it's just an annoying fad.
[7:45] Bellia Zou: they're on like the 50th season of pokemon
[7:45] Listeel Harlan: 50?
[7:45] Listeel Harlan: Jesus
[7:45] Listeel Harlan: that many?
[7:45] Bellia Zou: well not 50 but close lol
[7:46] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:46] Bellia Zou: i think 9th actually
[7:46] Churchill Tweak: Heh.. And I sadly know EVERY one T_T
[7:46] Listeel Harlan: they're gonna run out of pokemon soon
[7:46] Maerquis Sismondi: Because everytime I turn around, it's "Myspace this, MySpace that, blahdy freakin' blah!"
[7:46] Listeel Harlan: XD
[7:46] Bellia Zou: 8th or 9th i don't watch
[7:46] Barry Gkid: What would you want adults to tell other adults about the impact of digital media on youth like all of you?
[7:46] Listeel Harlan: myspace is overrated
[7:46] Churchill Tweak: MySpace.. = Blogs
[7:46] Listeel Harlan: to stop babying us
[7:46] Bellia Zou: i used to always watch pokemon but then it faded into idk
[7:46] Churchill Tweak: Blogs are usualy less. =P
[7:46] Listeel Harlan: we can handle it
[7:46] Listeel Harlan: don't need to censor
[7:46] Listeel Harlan: everything for us
[7:46] Maerquis Sismondi: Yeah, censorship gets annoying.
[7:47] Listeel Harlan: what's so damaging about violence or pornography anyway?
[7:47] Alex Hicks: Back.
[7:47] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: OMG
[7:47] Listeel Harlan: the real world is violent
[7:47] Maerquis Sismondi: Well, then again, not every teenager is exactly...mature.
[7:47] Bellia Zou: OMGOSH I WANT MUSIC
[7:47] Listeel Harlan: the real world has sex
[7:47] Listeel Harlan: why can't we learn?
[7:47] Bellia Zou: THE WHOLE WORLD IS VIOLENT
[7:47] Listeel Harlan: instead of being hidden from it?
[7:47] Bellia Zou: HUMANS ARE STUPID
[7:48] Bellia Zou: YES I JUST CALLED EVERYONE STUPID
[7:48] Churchill Tweak: Freewill is teh worst thing >.>
[7:48] Bellia Zou: EVEN ME
[7:48] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: lol
[7:48] Churchill Tweak: <- Emo
[7:48] Listeel Harlan: freewill ain't too mad
[7:48] Listeel Harlan: *bad
[7:48] Maerquis Sismondi: Bellia, I know it's hard, but try not to make an idiot of yourself.
[7:48] Listeel Harlan: XD
[7:48] Bellia Zou: I'M NOT
[7:48] KittyKatPrincess Buaku: LOOL
[7:48] Alex Hicks: If we are hidden from it then more and more people will try to see it.
[7:48] Listeel Harlan: go maer
[7:48] Churchill Tweak: Yes it is.. Freewill.. lets Good and Evil Exist.. =P
[7:48] Bellia Zou: AFK
[7:48] Churchill Tweak: Without it,. we'd all eb Neutral..
[7:48] Listeel Harlan: and boring
[7:48] Churchill Tweak: And blank..
[7:48] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:49] Barry Gkid: shameless plug: Join the group Global Kids!
[7:49] Churchill Tweak: And yes Bored.. exept we wouldn't feel bordom..
[7:49] Maerquis Sismondi: Wait, who is the woman speaking?
[7:49] Listeel Harlan: space and time XD
[7:49] Bellia Zou: BACK
[7:49] Bellia Zou: WHO IS LAUGHING
[7:49] Barry Gkid: thaty is Nicole Pincard (wrong spelling) from chicago, who works with teens after school developing new media
[7:49] Maerquis Sismondi: Ah.
[7:49] Bellia Zou: WOOT WOOT I'M BZCK
[7:49] Bellia Zou: BACK
[7:49] Listeel Harlan: wow
[7:49] Listeel Harlan: woop-dee-doo
[7:49] Alex Hicks: True true.
[7:49] Churchill Tweak: Teach people 'How to type'
[7:49] Churchill Tweak: =P
[7:49] Maerquis Sismondi: Nice.
[7:49] Listeel Harlan: limit it?
[7:50] Churchill Tweak: I am really angry at school..
[7:50] Listeel Harlan: 0_0
[7:50] Bellia Zou: the ppls in this world are idiots
[7:50] Churchill Tweak: they give little children full sized keybored which only allowed 1 finger typing..
[7:50] Bellia Zou: its the truth
[7:50] Dolus Naumova: Yo, Barry!
[7:50] Barry Gkid: Hello Dolus
[7:50] Listeel Harlan: are there child keyboards?
[7:50] Churchill Tweak: Yes..
[7:50] Maerquis Sismondi: Welcome back, Dolus.
[7:50] Listeel Harlan: wow
[7:50] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:50] Churchill Tweak: Designed for under 10's
[7:50] Listeel Harlan: I learnt on an adult one
[7:50] Alex Hicks: Yeah my parents dont do that for me!
[7:50] Listeel Harlan: what's so bad about it?
[7:50] Dolus Naumova: I've been trying to tell you that I heard you on SecondCast waylongago.
[7:50] Maerquis Sismondi: I can't type correctly at all.
[7:51] Dolus Naumova: Nice interview!
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: this dude's cool
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:51] Barry Gkid: Thanks Dolus. Secondcast is great
[7:51] Churchill Tweak: Download the Interweb to my BRAINS!
[7:51] Maerquis Sismondi: Seriously, man.
[7:51] Churchill Tweak: Mwhahah!
[7:51] Dolus Naumova: "The internet is made of TUBES!"
[7:51] Barry Gkid: It was great they put a focus on our work here with allof you here in tsl
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: XD
[7:51] Churchill Tweak: Yes..
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: tubes
[7:51] Churchill Tweak: That was Great!
[7:51] Barry Gkid: lol
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: they're clogged
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: wiht material
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: enourmous amounts
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: of material
[7:51] Listeel Harlan: XD
[7:52] Churchill Tweak: They like water..
[7:52] Churchill Tweak: ther are 4 of them adn 6 bottles.
[7:52] Bellia Zou: I LOVE JESUS WOOT WOOT JESUS
[7:52] Barry Gkid: I am curious- this part as interesting/boring as before?
[7:52] Churchill Tweak: Please.. Don't Cap-Type
[7:52] Listeel Harlan: neopets XD
[7:52] Listeel Harlan: on the video
[7:52] Bellia Zou: Fine MEH
[7:52] Churchill Tweak: Neopets.. i thought that DIED..
[7:52] Churchill Tweak: Same..
[7:52] Bellia Zou: neopets!
[7:52] Churchill Tweak: Shame*
[7:52] Listeel Harlan: it's still around
[7:52] Alex Hicks: I think it's still itoresting.
[7:52] Maerquis Sismondi: Eh, I don't know. At this point, I am paying more attention to the chat.
[7:52] Listeel Harlan: still going strong
[7:52] Bellia Zou: i haven't been on that in forever
[7:52] Bellia Zou: i used to love neopets
[7:52] Listeel Harlan: they're making a movie
[7:52] Dolus Naumova: This is a really good stream.
[7:52] Listeel Harlan: XD XD
[7:52] Churchill Tweak: I lost Auddio
[7:52] Churchill Tweak: Again
[7:52] Bellia Zou: well any I Love Jesus so hah
[7:52] Alex Hicks: Not for me. =-(
[7:52] Listeel Harlan: me too
[7:53] Bellia Zou: ^_^
[7:53] Alex Hicks: lost it.
[7:53] Listeel Harlan: it's fading
[7:53] Dolus Naumova: Getting, like, überframerate.
[7:53] Listeel Harlan: loud-quiet
[7:53] Churchill Tweak: Anyone else losing audio?
[7:53] Bellia Zou: he rocks i wanna listen to 89.7 cuz IM BORED
[7:53] Dolus Naumova: NO, AUDIO, COME BACK!
[7:53] Maerquis Sismondi: I am losing audio.
[7:53] Alex Hicks: Me.
[7:53] Dolus Naumova: COME BAAAAAAAACK.
[7:53] Dolus Naumova: COME BAAAAAAAACK.
[7:53] Barry Gkid: It's not the audio stream - Connie's mic stopped working
[7:53] Dolus Naumova sobs.
[7:53] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:53] Maerquis Sismondi: Come forth, oh mighty audio!
[7:53] Barry Gkid: There he goes - henry mentioned fear of myspace
[7:53] Alex Hicks: Hay barry how come i cant see the video?
[7:53] Dolus Naumova: This guy has the best face ever.
[7:54] Barry Gkid: Still no aduio?
[7:54] Churchill Tweak: It;s back
[7:54] Barry Gkid: I can se the video. Anyone else?
[7:54] Bellia Zou: this world is coming to an end
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: I think mySpace should be more like SL
[7:54] Bellia Zou: i can't wait
[7:54] Dolus Naumova: I can!
[7:54] Churchill Tweak: I see teh video
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: a virtual blog qorld
[7:54] Alex Hicks: I can't!
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: *world
[7:54] Churchill Tweak: the Audio Fadded ad came back
[7:54] Barry Gkid: More like mysapce in what way?
[7:54] Dolus Naumova: Alex loses.
[7:54] Bellia Zou: i sooo don
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: a virtual world
[7:54] Maerquis Sismondi: I still say it's a fad. People need to stop being so obsessed with it.
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: lade out in 3d
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: *laid
[7:54] Bellia Zou: 't wanna wait till the end of worl
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: so you can travel
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: not just clikc a button
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: *click
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: SL is good
[7:54] Dolus Naumova: I don't see what the appeal of MySpace is.
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: but it's costly
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: to own land
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: give everyone free land
[7:54] Dolus Naumova: Musicians, yes. Teens, why?
[7:54] Churchill Tweak: Mylo!.. I lvoe the Mylo..
[7:54] Listeel Harlan: like mrSpace
[7:54] Churchill Tweak: love*
[7:55] Listeel Harlan: *myspace
[7:55] Maerquis Sismondi: Why display your life on the internet? Just go start a conversation with someone.
[7:55] Dolus Naumova: Exactly.
[7:55] Listeel Harlan: go start a converstion with many someones
[7:55] Listeel Harlan: that's what it'#s about
[7:55] Listeel Harlan: I think
[7:55] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:55] Churchill Tweak: Last time I talked to someone in teh street that looked at me funny
[7:55] Dolus Naumova: Why, though?
[7:55] Churchill Tweak: they*
[7:55] Listeel Harlan: poor churchilll
[7:55] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:55] Alex Hicks: Waht do they meen not access to use it!
[7:55] Dolus Naumova: Why do people want to put out tons and tons of information about themselves on the intarwebz?
[7:55] Maerquis Sismondi: It's one big popularity contest. And loose women win.
[7:55] Alex Hicks: what*
[7:55] Bellia Zou: i don't wanna wait till the ending of world
[7:56] Churchill Tweak: Hah! Get to go on a 7 hours train journy! Woot
[7:56] Churchill Tweak: T_T
[7:56] Alex Hicks: People will be able to take axtion if they just take it.
[7:56] Churchill Tweak: And I have the same glasses at Mimi.
[7:56] Bellia Zou: ii am popular cuz i got lots of friends
[7:56] Alex Hicks: How ever you spell it.
[7:56] Barry Gkid: Question time!
[7:56] Listeel Harlan: they gonna show SL now?
[7:56] Churchill Tweak: Yay..
[7:56] Listeel Harlan: =(
[7:57] Bellia Zou: woot woot tsl go go
[7:57] Alex Hicks: Hi.
[7:57] Churchill Tweak: Do we get to ask Questions?
[7:57] Dolus Naumova: I think I'm a little behind in the stream.
[7:57] Object whispers: Sorry, only can use this.
[7:57] Listeel Harlan: no
[7:57] Object whispers: Sorry, only can use this.
[7:57] Maerquis Sismondi: Rock on, panelists!
[7:57] Listeel Harlan: unfortuantely
[7:57] Maerquis Sismondi: You rule!
[7:57] Domzino Zeluco is Offline
[7:57] Object whispers: Sorry, only can use this.
[7:57] Object whispers: Sorry, only can use this.
[7:57] Dolus Naumova: Where is this, Barry? New Yawk?
[7:57] Barry Gkid: yup
[7:58] Alex Hicks: YEEEAAAAHH!!!
[7:58] Alex Hicks: Yeah!
[7:58] Alex Hicks: ops.
[7:58] Leala Rodgers: why can' i sit?
[7:58] Churchill Tweak: Do they know we are watching =P
[7:58] Dolus Naumova: "Sisco to ops."
[7:58] Barry Gkid: yup
[7:58] Churchill Tweak: Cool..
[7:58] Maerquis Sismondi: Ew, my connection is being crappy. Video is skippy.
[7:58] Alex Hicks: you can sit up here.
[7:58] Dolus Naumova: Izat you, Barry?
[7:58] Listeel Harlan: tsl!
[7:58] Listeel Harlan: woo
[7:58] Churchill Tweak: Yay!
[7:58] Dolus Naumova: No. Wait.
[7:58] Listeel Harlan: shoutout
[7:58] Barry Gkid: It was.
[7:58] Dolus Naumova: :O
[7:58] Maerquis Sismondi: Aw snap. I missed it.
[7:58] Dolus Naumova: But you're not hunched over a laptop in the video!
[7:59] Barry Gkid: lol
[7:59] Maerquis Sismondi: Which one is him?
[7:59] Domzino Zeluco is Online
[7:59] Barry Gkid: Did you see meont he screen
[7:59] Listeel Harlan: are you there barry?
[7:59] Listeel Harlan: then
[7:59] Dolus Naumova: Front.
[7:59] Churchill Tweak: Yes
[7:59] Listeel Harlan: wow
[7:59] Maerquis Sismondi: No, I was reading thechat.
[7:59] Listeel Harlan: that must be creepy
[7:59] Dolus Naumova: Front row, left of the aisial.
[7:59] Barry Gkid: Secodn row from the front, on the midle aisle
[7:59] Listeel Harlan: watching something that happened
[7:59] Dolus Naumova: Or however you spell that.
[7:59] Listeel Harlan: a few secs ago
[7:59] Bellia Zou: Omgosh
[7:59] Listeel Harlan: =P
[7:59] Barry Gkid: I iwll turn around for a bit and face the camera with my comptuer
[7:59] Leala Rodgers: hi
[7:59] Barry Gkid: watch for me after th elag
[7:59] Churchill Tweak: Ok
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: hehe
[8:00] Leala Rodgers: ok
[8:00] Alex Hicks: I can't see.=-(
[8:00] Churchill Tweak: Wait.. This is Live?
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: I think I see you
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: yes
[8:00] Dolus Naumova: Wave your hands madly.
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: YES
[8:00] Churchill Tweak: And Barry is there?
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: =P
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: yes
[8:00] Churchill Tweak: I SE YOU!
[8:00] Dolus Naumova: HI BARRY.
[8:00] Churchill Tweak: SEE*
[8:00] Dolus Naumova: Heheh.
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: woo
[8:00] Barry Gkid: That;'s me
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: I see him
[8:00] Maerquis Sismondi: BARRY IS THE MAN!
[8:00] Barry Gkid: with my comptuer
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: dark hair?
[8:00] Bellia Zou: bye byes
[8:00] Barry Gkid: llol
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: white shirt?
[8:00] Leala Rodgers: this is dum
[8:00] Barry Gkid: the balding guy
[8:00] Dolus Naumova: XD
[8:00] Maerquis Sismondi: Haha, balding.
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: ah
[8:00] Listeel Harlan: =P
[8:00] Dolus Naumova: I wasn't going to point that out.
[8:00] Dolus Naumova: HI.
[8:00] Dolus Naumova waves back.
[8:00] Alex Hicks: Hi everybody!!! :D :D :D
[8:01] Listeel Harlan: myEssay.com
[8:01] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:01] Dolus Naumova: Some guy with a shaved head is staring at you.
[8:01] Listeel Harlan: education sites
[8:01] Churchill Tweak: Urggh.. I have accounting homework T_T
[8:01] Dolus Naumova: Was.
[8:01] Barry Gkid: lol
[8:01] Maerquis Sismondi: LMAO.
[8:01] Churchill Tweak: Stupid College
[8:01] Barry Gkid: You can learn more about Global Kids upcoming work in TSl at www.HolyMeatballs.org
[8:01] Churchill Tweak: Love the URL!
[8:02] Dolus Naumova: We need those books here.
[8:02] Listeel Harlan: me too
[8:02] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:02] Dolus Naumova: Desperately.
[8:02] Dolus Naumova: Desperately.
[8:02] Dolus Naumova: Desperately.
[8:02] Dolus Naumova: Yay wireless. :D
[8:02] Alex Hicks: Ive been there so maney times
[8:02] Barry Gkid: Thnaks. It's shrt for Holy Meatballs of Divine Spongofirm
[8:02] Barry Gkid: Spongiforms*
[8:02] Listeel Harlan: ?
[8:02] Listeel Harlan: wow
[8:02] Barry Gkid: What books
[8:02] Churchill Tweak: HMDS
[8:02] Dolus Naumova: The ThincBooks.
[8:02] Listeel Harlan: sounds a bit like the flying spaghetti monster
[8:02] Maerquis Sismondi: Crap, phone.
[8:02] Dolus Naumova: That are on the MG.
[8:02] Maerquis Sismondi: Berb.
[8:02] Listeel Harlan: 'holy meatballs'
[8:02] Barry Gkid: yeah. That was an accident
[8:02] Listeel Harlan: =P
[8:02] Dolus Naumova: ANSWER WITH PASSION, MAER.
[8:02] Churchill Tweak: I have 1 year left.. NOES!
[8:02] Alex Hicks: How?
[8:02] Listeel Harlan: LUCKY!!!!
[8:02] Churchill Tweak: I want my sim before I go!
[8:03] Listeel Harlan: only 1 year
[8:03] Dolus Naumova has three.
[8:03] Dolus Naumova bawls.
[8:03] Alex Hicks: LOL
[8:03] Churchill Tweak: Streamed Died?
[8:03] Listeel Harlan: mine too
[8:03] Dolus Naumova: Not mine.
[8:03] Churchill Tweak: It came back..
[8:03] Churchill Tweak: and froze..
[8:03] Barry Gkid: I still see it
[8:03] Dolus Naumova: Who's talking? I can't read her nametag.
[8:03] Churchill Tweak: I see an random lady who likes to talk with her hands.
[8:03] Dolus Naumova: She looks familiar.
[8:03] Listeel Harlan: hehe
[8:03] Listeel Harlan: hands
[8:03] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:03] Alex Hicks: Hay barry tell me when they zoom back to tsl
[8:04] Barry Gkid: Cathy davidson from haystack
[8:04] Churchill Tweak: Barry.. my Stream went K-SPLAT
[8:04] Alex Hicks: brb
[8:04] Dolus Naumova: There goes that sense of seeing her before. >_>
[8:04] Listeel Harlan: barry, how long is this?
[8:04] Churchill Tweak: She looks like an Libraian I knew..
[8:04] Barry Gkid: It is suppose to run for another 20 minutes...
[8:04] Listeel Harlan: ok
[8:04] Listeel Harlan: not too long
[8:04] Barry Gkid: but I only have 10 minutes left on my batteries!
[8:04] Barry Gkid: doh
[8:05] Dolus Naumova: :O
[8:05] Listeel Harlan: ohs noes
[8:05] Churchill Tweak: yay I fixed the stream..
[8:05] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:05] Churchill Tweak: Stupid laptop.
[8:05] Dolus Naumova: Plug in.
[8:05] Barry Gkid: Connie is takigna sl question, the main grid
[8:05] Barry Gkid: but ask me anyway and I see if I can get one of yours in
[8:05] Maerquis Sismondi: Back.
[8:05] Dolus Naumova: When the camera zooms out, I'll find an outlet for you.
[8:05] Maerquis Sismondi: What did I miss?
[8:05] Churchill Tweak: Ok..
[8:05] Alex Hicks: back
[8:05] Listeel Harlan: SL
[8:05] Listeel Harlan: woo
[8:05] Listeel Harlan: hehe
[8:05] Listeel Harlan: wow
[8:05] Maerquis Sismondi: Mom was calling me about the cello situation. I'm getting closer to getting one, Dolus. =D
[8:05] Listeel Harlan: full
[8:05] Dolus Naumova: Hey, that's the NMC.
[8:06] Dolus Naumova: Score, Maer!
[8:06] Churchill Tweak: Ohh Main Grid.. Who don't even see this place =P
[8:06] Churchill Tweak: Bring 'em here for the day! =P
[8:06] Maerquis Sismondi: Yes, bring them down the hell!
[8:06] Maerquis Sismondi: *to
[8:06] Churchill Tweak: Hell..
[8:06] Churchill Tweak: I love TG..
[8:06] Barry Gkid: So no questions from TSl? Okay.
[8:06] Dolus Naumova: I don't know what to ask.
[8:06] Churchill Tweak: Not really..
[8:06] Alex Hicks is Online
[8:07] Churchill Tweak: You can answer Any I have..
[8:07] Dolus Naumova: "How old are you?"
[8:07] Alex Hicks: I froze
[8:07] Maerquis Sismondi: "How long did it take you to grow that beard?"
[8:07] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:07] Dolus Naumova: MAN STANDING IN FRONT OF CAMERA.
[8:07] Barry Gkid: LOL. Not questions about us personally, silly.
[8:07] Alex Hicks: i crashed
[8:07] Churchill Tweak: A School.. in Secondlife..
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: that would be cool
[8:08] Churchill Tweak: Would that.. Yeah that would work..
[8:08] Churchill Tweak: Oddly..
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: absolutely awesome
[8:08] Dolus Naumova: Oh oh.
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: that's been in the news
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: in the UK
[8:08] Barry Gkid: So the question there exactly is... what?
[8:08] Churchill Tweak: Yeah..
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: chatroom schools
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: for kids that are pbuillied
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: *bullied
[8:08] Dolus Naumova: Sometime in the next six months there's going to be an educational island purchased on the Teen Grid.
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: oooh
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: awesome
[8:08] Alex Hicks: Is he sick?
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: =P
[8:08] Maerquis Sismondi: Define educational island.
[8:08] Dolus Naumova: Through a school.
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: grandad SL XD
[8:08] Listeel Harlan: GSL
[8:09] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:09] Churchill Tweak: School.. in SL..
[8:09] Maerquis Sismondi: LOL.
[8:09] Churchill Tweak: Homework on Prims =P
[8:09] Churchill Tweak: Woot
[8:09] Listeel Harlan: old people SL
[8:09] Alex Hicks: That would be way cool.
[8:09] Alex Hicks: school in sl.
[8:09] Dolus Naumova: I don't know yet. He said it'll be an orientation sort of thing, but beyond that he doesn't really know.
[8:09] Listeel Harlan: cool
[8:09] Barry Gkid: If my computer dies, thank you all for coming today. This afternoon we will post the transcript, with photos, and if you would like to read it and/orpost comments on the blog, go to HolyMeatballs.org
[8:09] Dolus Naumova: But if moo Money can get approved for the Teen Grid there's probably going to be a machinima theater.
[8:09] Dolus Naumova: But if moo Money can get approved for the Teen Grid there's probably going to be a machinima theater.
[8:09] Listeel Harlan: =)
[8:09] Dolus Naumova: I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, BARRY!
[8:09] Dolus Naumova: I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, BARRY!
[8:09] Barry Gkid: We are working with Moo
[8:09] Listeel Harlan: by by
[8:10] Dolus Naumova: :O
[8:10] Dolus Naumova: Suhweet!
[8:10] Barry Gkid: We will be running a machinima program i the teen grid ove rthe next three years
[8:10] Maerquis Sismondi: Oh man, I forgot about the machinima we were going to make.
[8:10] Barry Gkid: If you are in NYC, you can join it in person
[8:10] Dolus Naumova: Score.
[8:10] Churchill Tweak: The world ends in 2 weeks..
[8:10] Alex Hicks: darn!
[8:10] Listeel Harlan: wonderful
[8:10] Barry Gkid: If you are not, you can still participate
[8:10] Maerquis Sismondi: But we need someone with a badass computer to film it.
[8:10] Dolus Naumova: Any progress on her getting approved?
[8:10] Maerquis Sismondi: And we need a good program for the animations.
[8:10] Barry Gkid: For more info, IM me once I log out or join group Global Kids and read the latest newsletter
[8:10] Churchill Tweak: I dreamed it.. .. it will happen..
[8:10] Alex Hicks: Im on other side of countrey.
[8:10] Dolus Naumova'll ask her about it.
[8:10] Barry Gkid: I am sure Moo Money will be approved soon
[8:11] Dolus Naumova: Yay!
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: blue clues?
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:11] Churchill Tweak: TV need to become interacgtive..
[8:11] Churchill Tweak: like Secondlife!
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: hehe
[8:11] Alex Hicks: Yeah.
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: Bloo avatar
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:11] Churchill Tweak: Bloo!
[8:11] Barry Gkid: Yeah. Blues Clues is really progressive in using cutting edge research on how kids learn ijto their show
[8:11] Maerquis Sismondi: Television is just a big lump of brainwashing propoganda. Which is why I avoid it.
[8:11] Dolus Naumova: XD
[8:11] Dolus Naumova: Seriously, Barry?
[8:11] Dolus Naumova: Seriously, Barry?
[8:11] Barry Gkid: 'yup, seriously
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: wow
[8:11] Dolus Naumova: Craziness.
[8:11] Listeel Harlan: go them
[8:11] Alex Hicks: Dang
[8:11] Churchill Tweak: I never watch TV..
[8:12] Listeel Harlan: researching how to make kids
[8:12] Listeel Harlan: scream 'a clue!'
[8:12] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:12] Churchill Tweak: I haven't watched an Advert for about 4 weeks
[8:12] Listeel Harlan: well done
[8:12] Churchill Tweak: Yay me..
[8:12] Churchill Tweak: I am free
[8:12] Maerquis Sismondi: Man, all I learned from Blue's Clues was that my salt and pepper talk to me.
[8:12] Listeel Harlan: XD XD
[8:12] Alex Hicks: Man i have to go soon!
[8:12] Listeel Harlan: scary
[8:12] Dolus Naumova: Barry, you guys need some big, NMC-like complex here.
[8:12] Churchill Tweak: The internet has too many distactions..
[8:12] Dolus Naumova: Because the NMC Campus is the sex.
[8:12] Listeel Harlan: the volcanoe theme is old
[8:13] Listeel Harlan: me thinks
[8:13] Maerquis Sismondi: Lunch is also the sex. I need lunch...
[8:13] Barry Gkid: Yeah? That would be cool. If anyone has ideas, send me a notecard and be ready to volunteer to help build it. :-)
[8:13] Listeel Harlan: hehe
[8:13] Listeel Harlan: I'd help
[8:13] Barry Gkid: "the sex"?
[8:13] Dolus Naumova: Oh oh oh.
[8:13] Listeel Harlan: that would be fun
[8:13] Dolus Naumova: I totally will.
[8:13] Churchill Tweak: I'll Watch
[8:13] Dolus Naumova has experience with islands, too. ;D
[8:13] Churchill Tweak: I don't do.. work..
[8:13] Listeel Harlan: how about a competition?
[8:13] Alex Hicks: Put a school there!
[8:13] Listeel Harlan: to make a bit
[8:13] Dolus Naumova: I redid Mecca. *plugplug*
[8:13] Listeel Harlan: of theisland
[8:13] Maerquis Sismondi: Yeah, I should probably get into this.
[8:13] Barry Gkid: sweet
[8:13] Maerquis Sismondi: I haven't built anything recently.
[8:13] Dolus Naumova: I'll drop you a notecard, Barry.
[8:13] Maerquis Sismondi: I need to make sure I still have the badassery.
[8:14] Alex Hicks: Like a big school!
[8:14] Barry Gkid: So gotta ask again - still no quetions from TSlL for the folks here in NYC? great comments - but no questions yoyu want to ask, assumptions you want to challenge, information you'd llike to know?
[8:14] Listeel Harlan: ummm
[8:14] Dolus Naumova: Not really.
[8:14] Dolus Naumova: These people are actually smart.
[8:14] Churchill Tweak: Does anwhere still have whiteboared
[8:14] Churchill Tweak: all otu schools have SmartBoreds
[8:14] Dolus Naumova: They know what they're talking about.
[8:14] Churchill Tweak: Boards*
[8:14] Dolus Naumova: Which is amazing.
[8:14] Barry Gkid: What if it was reversed? What if they were asking you questions? What would you want them to ask you?
[8:15] Maerquis Sismondi: Though they could present it a bit....more...interestingly. Is interestingly a word?
[8:15] Listeel Harlan: what do we think of them?
[8:15] Dolus Naumova: Maaan. I have no idea.
[8:15] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:15] Listeel Harlan: yes
[8:15] Churchill Tweak: What do they want from us?
[8:15] Dolus Naumova goes to clean his teeth.
[8:15] Listeel Harlan: yes
[8:15] Dolus Naumova: HYGIENE++;
[8:15] Barry Gkid: (running on reserve power...)
[8:15] Listeel Harlan: how can we help them
[8:15] Maerquis Sismondi: Because Dolus is too good for the word brush.
[8:15] Churchill Tweak: Wabe to uss
[8:15] Listeel Harlan: how can we be involved?
[8:15] Churchill Tweak: when it dies
[8:15] Churchill Tweak: Wave*
[8:15] Listeel Harlan: etc
[8:15] Alex Hicks: Hi everybody!!! :D :D :D
[8:15] Barry Gkid: Will do
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: =)
[8:16] Churchill Tweak: Barry.. Who leads.. Are they helping us.. or are we helping them?
[8:16] Maerquis Sismondi: You should do the Safety Dance. When it dies. Right there, in the middle of it all, man.
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: also, will any of this effect Europe
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: it's all about America
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: these days
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: =P
[8:16] Churchill Tweak: Yeah
[8:16] Churchill Tweak: UK gets forgotten
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: I'm a brit
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: I'm sure there's more
[8:16] Churchill Tweak: Me to
[8:16] Maerquis Sismondi: Listeel, you live in Europe?
[8:16] Maerquis Sismondi: Man.
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: yes
[8:16] Barry Gkid: The funding is currenty US based- but next year international programs will launch
[8:16] Maerquis Sismondi: I envy you.
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: UK
[8:16] Maerquis Sismondi: I am tired of the US.
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: why?
[8:16] Barry Gkid: and of course Sl is international
[8:16] Churchill Tweak: UK school is SO much better
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: hehe
[8:16] Listeel Harlan: UK isn't that good
[8:17] Listeel Harlan: trust me
[8:17] Alex Hicks: It sounds like they are just testing it.
[8:17] Listeel Harlan: some parts of USA look good
[8:17] Maerquis Sismondi: I'm sure I would enjoy it more than North Carolina.
[8:17] Churchill Tweak: Well I left school..
[8:17] Churchill Tweak: I'm in College now..
[8:17] Listeel Harlan: ooh
[8:17] Listeel Harlan: go you!
[8:17] Alex Hicks: So when they start it will go every where.
[8:17] Listeel Harlan: LUCKY!!!! =P
[8:17] Churchill Tweak: Not really..
[8:17] Listeel Harlan: dam guestures
[8:17] Churchill Tweak: It's Accouting Economics and Business >.<
[8:17] Churchill Tweak: It makes my head hurt
[8:17] Listeel Harlan: =P
[8:18] Churchill Tweak: I might even be a Lindenw while i am in Uni..
[8:18] Churchill Tweak: Wow..
[8:18] Listeel Harlan: woo
[8:18] Churchill Tweak: I wish..
[8:18] Alex Hicks: Hay barry, are there any lindens there/
[8:18] Churchill Tweak: Barry went pop?
[8:18] Barry Gkid: n, not today
[8:18] Dolus Naumova: Like a weasle?
[8:18] Barry Gkid: But cory is involved
[8:18] Jack Linden is Offline
[8:19] Alex Hicks: o i know him.
[8:19] Listeel Harlan: virtual museum
[8:19] Churchill Tweak: He's Cool..
[8:19] Listeel Harlan: or library
[8:19] Barry Gkid: Time for my comptuer to die
[8:19] Listeel Harlan: that would be nice
[8:19] Barry Gkid: Thank you all for coming today
[8:19] Dolus Naumova: BYEEE!
[8:19] Churchill Tweak: Byee Barry!
[8:19] Listeel Harlan: SL library
[8:19] Alex Hicks: Bye bye
[8:19] Maerquis Sismondi: See ya!
[8:19] Listeel Harlan: bye
[8:19] Listeel Harlan: =P
[8:19] Maerquis Sismondi: Keep on spiffin'!
[8:19] Barry Gkid: If you come back later you can watch here the video from oru camp gk program
[8:19] Barry Gkid: and go to holymeatballs.org to see photos from the event here in TSL
[8:19] Listeel Harlan: woo
[8:19] Dolus Naumova: Sveeet.
[8:19] Dolus Naumova: Sveeet.
[8:20] Listeel Harlan: will I be on there?
[8:20] Listeel Harlan: XD
[8:20] Barry Gkid: and you can join the Global Kids group to learn more about events here in the future
[8:20] Alex Hicks: They have a good point that's why i am home schooled
[8:20] Barry Gkid: Nice to see all here whom I know and I enjoyed meeting those who are new to GK island
[8:20] Listeel Harlan: cya barry
[8:20] Maerquis Sismondi gets a shot of Barry.
[8:20] Listeel Harlan: hope you have enough battery
[8:20] Listeel Harlan: it's a shame there's so few people here
[8:20] Listeel Harlan: Blue Linden's questions were bigger
[8:20] Barry Gkid: Oh, and feel free to send me any photos you took of the event today, so I can post those as well
[8:21] Listeel Harlan: I like these
[8:21] Alex Hicks: Yeah.
[8:21] Maerquis Sismondi: Will do.
For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 12:00 PM EST
Global Kids Launches Comprehensive Digital Media Initiative and Announces Release of New Online Game Produced with Gamelab
Initiative funded by MacArthur Foundation trains youth to be critical media consumers; New Microsoft-supported online game will educate thousands about global poverty
NEW YORK – October 19, 2006 - Global Kids, Inc., the foremost nonprofit in New York City specifically dedicated to educating students in underserved communities about international affairs, civic engagement and global literacy through school-based programs and the use of the Internet, today announced the roll out of its Digital Media Initiative (DMI), a program that trains youth to be both critical media consumers and producers through a series of development programs.
The program components, which take place both in classrooms in New York City and online, will each focus on a specific digital medium: dialogue, games, and video. The program will provide opportunities for Global Kids to use its unique youth development approach to help teenagers around the world engage in dialogues and create sophisticated digital media projects. The DMI is funded by a $900,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which today announced plans to build the emerging field of digital media and learning and committed a total of $50 million over five years to the effort.
“This is the first generation to grow up digital – coming of age in a world where computers, the internet, videogames, and cell phones are common, and where expressing themselves through these tools is the norm,” said MacArthur President Jonathan Fanton, who announced the new initiative today. “Given how present these technologies are in their lives, do young people act, think and learn differently today? And what are the implications for education and for society?”
Specifically, the core components of Global Kids’ Digital Media Initiative will include:
The evolution and activities of the Digital Media Initiative can be followed at the DMI Blog (dmi.globalkids.org).
Ayiti: The Cost of Life – New Online Game Teaches Global Issues
In addition, Global Kids and Gamelab, New York City’s largest game development company, today announced the release of the online game, Ayiti: The Cost of Life (CostofLife.org), which uses the location of Haiti to educate players about the obstacles to education faced by children in developing countries. When distributed and used within either a classroom or after school setting, the game will be a strong tool for building students’ global awareness and civic literacy.
The concept of the game was developed by youth in Global Kids’ Playing 4 Keeps (P4K) program and professionals from the award-winning game design studio Gamelab.
Supported by Microsoft’s U.S. Partners in Learning Mid-Tier Grants Initiative, which seeks to find and support “pockets of innovation” for increasing digital literacy and career readiness, the game will be free and published with lesson plans for educators through a UNICEF website Child Alert: Haiti (unicef.org/childalert/haiti/) and the educational network TakingITGlobal (takingitglobal.org).
"It can be difficult to teach critical global issues to youth who can sometimes feel that their everyday lives are far removed from things going on in remote places around the world," said Mary Cullinane, Director of Microsoft U.S. Partners in Learning. "Global Kids' Playing 4 Keeps has found a way to use technology to bring these global issues to life in a truly engaging way. We are proud to support this innovative use of technology to make these issues more real for these young citizens."
Playing 4 Keeps engages a cohort of twenty-four students from South Shore High School, a largely minority school of approximately 2,300 students located in Canarsie, Brooklyn, in working with professional game developers in the design, development and dissemination of professionally-produced online games about important social issues. During the school year, program participants conducted research about global issues and gained digital literacy, leadership, and career skills. Students participated in workshops on such global issues as Defining Human Rights, Racism, Health, Education, and Children’s Rights, and then selected an issue on which to focus the game.
With professionals from Gamelab, they learned about a range of issues related to game design as a form of critical media literacy as well as the game industry and the game development process. The students also took numerous field trips and spoke about their work at prestigious conferences, including the Game Design Conference in San Jose, the Games 4 Change Conference in New York City, and the Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington.
This year, participants chose to focus their game on the general topic of poverty as an obstacle to education, based on their learning about the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and about obstacles to receiving an adequate education that youth face around the world. They then decided to use Haiti as a case study and setting for the game. The youth have documented the process of creating the game in a blog at <holymeatballs.org/playing_4_keeps> and are publicizing it through <myspace.com/thecostoflife>.
In Ayiti: The Cost of Life, each player assumes the roles of family members living in rural Haiti. Over the course of the game, the player must choose among and balance various goals, such as achieving education, making money, staying healthy, and maintaining happiness while encountering unexpected events like disease and hurricanes. The player must make many decisions that contribute to or detract from achieving his or her chosen goals.
The game is designed as a serious learning tool that educators and youth workers can use in their classrooms. With its lesson plans, Ayiti: The Cost of Life, can educate players about poverty and its effects on education in general around the world, as well as about the effects of poverty on education in Haiti.
“Ayiti: The Cost of Life is a great way to teach American youth about global issues such as poverty, access to education and human rights,” said Chinwe Okorie, United Nations Representative for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. “Players’ efforts to keep the family healthy, happy and both parents alive make you engulfed.”
The educational effectiveness of the game is being evaluated by the Educational Development Corporation’s Center for Children and Technology.
About Global Kids, Inc. (www.globalkids.org)
Founded in 1989, Global Kids' mission is to transform urban youth into successful students and global and community leaders by engaging them in socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences. Through its leadership development and academic enrichment programs, Global Kids educates youth about critical international and domestic issues and promotes their engagement in civic life and the democratic process. Through professional development initiatives, Global Kids provides educators with strategies for integrating experiential learning methods and international issues into urban classrooms. Over 85% of the high school seniors who participate in GK's leadership program graduate and attend college.
About the Global Kids Online Leadership Program (OLP)
Global Kids, Inc. is a nationally recognized leader in using digital media to promote global awareness and youth civic engagement. Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program (OLP) integrates a youth development approach and international and public policy issues into youth media programs that build digital literacy, foster substantive online dialogues, develop resources for educators, and promote civic participation. Currently, the OLP is accomplishing its goals through initiatives within three broader areas: the development of socially -conscious online games; youth-led online dialogues; and the Digital Media Initiative.
About Gamelab
Gamelab invents new ways for people to play. Founded in 2000 by Peter Lee and Eric Zimmerman, Gamelab is New York City's largest and longest-running game development
company. Gamelab creates innovative games for broad audiences on and off the computer, from multiplayer online games to card and board games to museum installations and social games played by thousands in the real world. Our work has won many awards and has been exhibited internationally. Recently, Gamelab received a first-of-its-kind MacArthur grant with the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a 3-year research project on game design and media literacy.
About The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition. With assets of $5.5 billion, the Foundation makes grants totaling approximately $200 million annually. For more information or to sign-up for MacArthur's electronic newsletter, visit www.macfound.org/digital.
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For more information, press only:
Jonah Kokodyniak, Global Kids, Inc., 212-226-2116, jonah at globalkids.org
Global Kids developed two workshops in association with our game Ayiti: The Cost of Life.
The first workshop is designed as a tool for helping youth process their experience after playing the game. The second workshop can be conducted either before playing the game, as a way to introduce students to the game’s issues, or after playing the game, as a way to help them better understand the links between poverty and access to education. Both workshops offer a number of actions youth can take to make a difference in the real world.
Materials:
If you would like to receive updates about the game and lesson plans, please sign-up below.
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In addition, youth can visit our MySpace page to network with other youth around the game, or go to Global Kids' Newz Crew to discuss the issues involved.
The following best practices were developed by Global Kids, Inc. through the summer 2006 Camp GK in the teen grid of Second Life. Over four weeks, 15 teens spent three hours a day, five days a week, participating in interactive, experiential workshops about pressing global issues. Over the course of the program the teens picked a topic of concern -- child sex trafficking -- and built a maze to educate their online community and inspire them to take action. In its first eight weeks, the content-rich maze was visited by 2,500 teens, amongst whom over 450 donated money to an international organization committed to eradicating this global crime against children.
Below is a review of general concepts. For more details download the pdf.
Best practices for working in TSL
1. What happens in the teen grid stays in the teen grid.
2. Create multiple places of meaning.
3. If you build it, they will come.
4. Go beyond TSL.
Best practices for bringing a youth development model into TSL
1. Build, build, build!
2. Don’t just build; design and manipulate avatars.
3. Think globally, act locally.
4. Know when teens know best.
Best practices in workshop design and facilitation in TSL
1. Use real world content when addressing real world issues.
2. Don’t wait until someone has the floor to start typing.
3. Don’t fear multiple communication channels.
4. Incorporate processing into the activity, not just as a final step.
Best practices in program design for TSL
1. Employ effective, rigorous, targeted recruitment.
2. Replace the dominant TSL culture with the GK Island culture.
3. Carefully design and build the tools required.
4. Ensure the program is designed for the recruited participants
People have been saying some interesting things about Ayiti out in the blogosphere. Check out some of the recent articles/sites below.
Camp Global Kids '06 (video). The latest in the Global Kids video podcasts. Come take a tour of some of the highlights and experiences shared during this summer's Camp Global Kids. Enjoy.
Also, check it out on YouTube where you can add it to your favorites and share it.
=== Global Kids Newsletter ===
November, 2006
CONTENTS:
- Camp GK Announces Results of Maze Against Sex Trafficking
- Camp GK - the Year of the Hippo - Video Released
- Reporter Seeks TSL Residents to Interview
- We Want to Hear from Your Parents
- Essay/Video Contest - Cash Prizes
- Global Kids In the News
- Events on GK Island in November
- Comic Preview from Camp GK
- Pre-announcement of GK's Programs in SL
======
Camp GK Announces Results of Maze Against Sex Trafficking
At Global Kids Island II, 14 residents worked for six weeks to develop a challenging maze dedicated to educating about child sex trafficking. Over 2,500 teens visited in the first eight weeks. Actions were available for teens to take. More than 450 teens donated $42,000 Lindens ($142) to the Polaris Project and over 60 sent in photos wearing their "Slavery Still Exists" t-shirt. To learn more about the camp go to [HolyMeatballs.org].
======
Camp GK - the Year of the Hippo - Video Released
What happens when teen residents participate in a summer camp in Second Life? Watch the four minute video to find out, at [http://www.globalkids.org/olp/sl/campgk/2006.mov]
======
Reporter Seeks TSL Residents to Interview
Julie Freese [freese.julie@gmail.com] is a freelancer journalist who is writing a piece about Teen Second Life for Seventeen or Cosmogirl. If you would like to be interviwed for the article please email her before October 31st.
======
We Want to Hear from Your Parents
Everywhere Now: Three Dialogues on Kids, Games, and Learning, moderated by Katie Salen [katie.salen@gmail.com]. From October 30 - November 3, the MacArthur Foundation’s new initiative on Digital Media and Learning will hold an online discussion on Pathways to Gaming. We are looking for teens AND THEIR PARENTS who would like to participate. This online dialogue will look at “pathways and points of entry into gaming. How do games act as points of departure, for example, toward other forms of knowledge, literacy, and social organization?” If you are interested, contact Katie now. Barry Gkid will be part of the dialogue.
======
Essay/Video Contest - Cash Prizes
Would you like to win a $5,000 scholarship? Interested in global affairs? Then check out this out. The Goldman Sachs Foundation and Asia Society award young people (enrolled in U.S. schools) who demonstrate an in-depth understanding of key issues in international affairs and the global economy. They are accepting entries in the form of essay, audio, animation and even video. What better place to produce something like that than Second Life. And what better topic that Global Kids! :-) The deadline is October 23, 2006 so act now: [http://www.askasia.org/youth2/students/gsf_prizes.htm].
======
Global Kids In the News
Global Kids Island is all over the news once again:
- Monster.com, "Out of This World"
[http://www.holymeatballs.org/2006/10/sl_new_gk_second_life_position.html]
- Washington post, "Do You Have a Question, Pixeleen Minstral?"
[http://www.holymeatballs.org/2006/09/hmds_camp_gk_protest_items_des.html]
- Toronto Star, "Teens get a crack at Second Life"
[http://www.holymeatballs.org/2006/09/press_camp_gk_featured_in_toro.html]
======
Events on GK Island in November
Oct 19th: 7:00 AM - 9:15 AM (SL) Live Event and video from the launch of the MacArthur Foundation Program on Digital Media and Learning taking place in New York City. (Can we record this stream for later rebroadcast the same day?) See the official invitation. Global Kids Island.
Oct 20th: GK Camp Presentation, streamed LIVE from the main grid, at 1PM (SL). Global Kids Island.
======
Comic Preview from Camp GK
Enclosed with this newsletter is one sheet from the up-coming comic book about Camp GK 2006. Until we release the final version, enjoy!
======
Pre-announcement of GK's Programs in SL
Global Kids will be running three programs this year that involve Teen Second Life.
1) After school program in Second Life. This program does not yet have a name but, based on our work in Camp GK, we will be offering a regular after school program for teens in Second Life to develop leadership skills around global issues.
2) Playing 4 Keeps. This is an after school program in Brooklyn, NY in which teens make games. Last year's games will be available this month at theCostofLife.org. This year the teens will make games in TSL. If you would like to help out, please contact Barry Gkid.
3) SL Machinima. This program, also lacking a name, will be an after school program in Queen, NY in which teens will make SL-based machinima about digital media and global issues. Any Second Life teens are in NYC are welcome to apply. Contact Barry GKid by October 23rd if you are interested. If you are outside NYC, and want to help build sets, props, costumed, be extra or more, please contact Sam Gkid.
======
To keep up-to-date on Global Kids, join our group, for free, "Global Kids". You can also learn more at our blog, [holymeatballs.org] or IM Tabitha Gkid.
Attention teachers, educators, and students!
As part of an exciting new collaboration, Global Kids will work with 20 students at the Museum of Moving Image in Astoria, Queens during the 2006-2007 school year, on a groundbreaking digital moviemaking project. Students will have the unique opportunity to learn a variety of skills that will empower them to become critical thinkers, media producers, and global citizens. Participants will create their own virtual films in a supervised, teen-only area of Second Life (www.secondlife.com), a three-dimensional, interactive, animated online community. Students will examine important social issues and create their own animated films about them. Working with recognized experts and leaders in the field of online virtual environments, students will participate in digital culture in a hands-on, thoughtful way. At the conclusion of the year-long program, students will distribute their films on the Internet, showcase them at a museum film festival, submit them to youth-media festivals and organizations, and screen them at their schools.
The program will take place at the Museum in Astoria (V or R to Steinway Street) every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00-5:30PM, beginning Thursday, November 2nd. Participants will be awarded a stipend upon successful completion of the program.
To apply for the program:
Download an application below. Applications are due by Friday, October 20th. Space is limited!
For more information, contact Sam Mejias at smejias AT globalkids DOT org or 212-226-0130.
Material:
TeachSoup wrote about our work in a piece profiling three "nonprofit trailblazers" in Second Life.
They describe themselves as follows: "Powered by CompuMentor, one of the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit technology assistance agencies, TechSoup.org offers nonprofits a one-stop resource for technology needs by providing free information, resources, and support."
Read the interview below or check it out here.
Blogs, wikis, and podcasts are just a few of the burgeoning tools nonprofits use to connect, engage constituents, and collaborate. All have revolutionized the way people interact online, but a new 3-D, virtual world called Second Life is taking things one step further.Linden Lab's Second Life is an immersive online world where nearly 850,000 (and growing) residents — also called "avatars" — can purchase their own property on land allotments, interact with other avatars, build anything imaginable, and buy and sell products and services. But unlike reality, Second Life avatars can also fly, make copies of certain products (say, a t-shirt) without any new materials, or take on completely different form — a fox, a space alien, or a hybrid of the two. The options are limited only by your imagination.
Nonprofits are just beginning to use Second Life to promote their causes, network with one another, and creatively further their missions — paving the way for other organizations to do the same.
Three such nonprofit trailblazers are Dave Pentecost (also known as avatar "Usu Ventura"), Barry Joseph ("Globalkids Bixby"), and Evonne Heyning ("In Kenzo"), all of whom work with children's organizations in Second Life. These nonprofit professionals have all used basic technological know-how and some imagination to raise funds, generate awareness, and increase participation in their causes through Second Life.
Barry Joseph
Director of the Online Leadership Program, Global Kids
Avatar: Globalkids Bixby
How does your organization use Second Life?Global Kids brings a global youth development model into Teen Second Life (TSL). We use TSL to develop an awareness of global issues and leadership skills amongst teenagers who are currently in TSL and in our after-school programs in New York City. We have a number of projects that use Second Life in different ways, all funded by either the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation or Microsoft. One is a game development program. Another is a machinima, filmmaking in a virtual world. A third one is a version of our in-person leadership program, designed for teens "living" in TSL.
Why did you and your organization decide to create a presence in Second Life?
TSL is the best online environment available for leveraging the Internet to scale up both our work and our reach. And it's quite affordable.
How was the project planned? What expertise was needed?
We work with staff who are experienced in treating youth as people, not obstacles, who care about global issues, and who understand how to use technology as a tool for education.
How did the project unfold? What were some of the challenges? What worked well?
This past summer we ran Camp GK. It was a four-week program in which the campers — teens in TSL — spent three hours a day, five days a week, participating in workshops about such issues as the genocide in Darfur and global inequality. Their mission was to pick their own issue, learn about it, then develop a project to educate and inspire their fellow TSL residents to take action.
They selected child sex trafficking as their issue, developed a teach-in to promote the event, and then launched a maze — and a rather difficult one — filled with photos and text to educate visitors about the issue. At points throughout the maze, visitors were asked questions, and couldn't proceed unless they answered them correctly. But when did answer correctly, you would also get free stuff — like t-shirts and balloons — branded with the issue. At the end of the maze, teens were transported to a monument in the sky, which offered three different ways to take action. In the first four weeks since the launch, 2,000 teens have visited the maze and over 450 have donated a total of $150 USD.
How much time and money did you spend?
The Camp took three full-time staff members and two teen interns over 12 weeks. The budget was in the mid-five figures.
How did you explain the project to organizational leaders or constituents?
We said it was a fun way for teens to spend time in Second Life, meet new friends, learn about what is going on in the world, and have their voice heard.
What are the benefits to your organization?
We are developing best practices for bringing this type of education into Second Life. We are figuring out how to reach larger numbers of young people interested in taking leadership roles in the virtual and the real worlds.
What advice would you give to other nonprofits who might be interested?
Network, network, network. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Get on the SLED (Second Life educational) listservs and regularly visit our blog Global Kids' Digital Media Initiative.
In July, we received the following email from Natasha Sharapova, an executive producer of NTV - Russia's New York Bureau. They describe themselves as "the largest non-governmental TV-network in Russia. It covers the audience of approx. 100 million people in countries of
former Soviet Union. It is also the main Russian language channel broadcasted all over the world via satellite."
So anyway, they wrote the following:
The reason I am contacting you is that NTV, one of the major broadcastingcompanies in Russia, is probing an idea to make a story about new generation of educational computer games and in regards to this would be very interested to do a segment about "Ayiti: The Cost of Life" project of Global Kids.At this moment we just want to make a preliminary inquiry to figure out if you'll be interested to work with us on this project. If we decide to embark on the story it will involve talking to young people who helped develop this game. We'd also need a demo of the game to include in the program.
Well, after an early August interview, and nothing for two months, today we received a DVD of the broadcast. Now if only someone who speaks Russian could translate it and tell us what they are saying!
They show footage of both our work in Second Life and feature Ayiti, the game made by our students in the Playing 4 Keeps program. They use the footage both at the front of the piece and at the end.
Monster.com, the big online job center, has a blog that comments on developments in various fields. They learned of our recent full-time position working on our Teen Second Life projects and marvelled at its very existence.
"Here's a job you've probably never imagined: Developing and running workshops for teens -- in Second Life. But thanks to a New York City organization known as Global Kids, someone has the opportunity to do just that... You can also train and mentor others in Second Life and -- as the job offer from Global Kids demonstrates -- get paid in real US dollars for it. In the online industry, new kinds of jobs are cropping up all the time that simply didn't exist just a few years ago -- corporate blogger, podcasting consultant, Second Life event planner. Yes, I made that last one up, but it will exist before too long."
Actually, the first people we met in Second Life, two years ago, were indeed Second Life event planners. But hey - everyone can't be ahead of the curve.
Click here to read more..
Ayiti is featured in the premiere podcast from Cisco.
Cisco? The tech company?
Yup, that's right. It must be a branding thing. They describe their new series, "All Together Now," as "a biweekly podcast series highlighting digital innovation and how the network transforms everyday life experiences. Hear inspiring stories from people who are using technology to create, connect, and thrive globally."
I guess that means Global Kids is seen as a digital innovator. Sweet. Overall, it's a good piece about Games For Change and I don't come across sounding like a complete dolt. However, once again, they failed to mention our partner, Gamelab, or funder, Microsoft. (maybe the next piece...)
Listen to all of it or jump right to 4:15 for the two minutes I spoke about the relationship between teens making games and 21st Century Learning Skills.
