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June 29, 2007

[vvp] A Child's War released - Year-End machinima project on Child Soldiers

The following video was the year-end project for the Global Kids youth leaders in Queens, New York who spent the year working in Global Kids' Virtual Video Project, at the Museum of the Moving Image, funded by the MacArthur Foundation.

The video is based on research done by the youth about the situation of child soldiers in Uganda and the upcoming trial at the International Criminal Court.

You can watch their earlier piece about digital media and youth at here.

Read the youth leaders blogs here.

To learn what you can do about this issue, go to our recent blog entry about this.

Please help spread the link to the video, either here or on YouTube, and leave your comments for the Global Kids youth leaders below.

June 28, 2007

[conference] GK Presents at the NECC Conference via Second Life

This past Monday, Barry Joseph presented at the annual NECC conference in Georgia. That alone is great, but he did it while being in New York city! The panel entitled "What is a Global Citizen? Defining Global Literacy in the 21st Century" was one of many at this year's conference that spotlights learning and leading with technology.

NECC Conference presentation

The plan was to do a remote presentation in the same vein as what Barry had done for the NTEN conference. This didn't quite work out as planned though since there wasn't enough tech support on hand. But, we still showed a PowerPoint presentation and Barry was able to speak through Skype about Global Kids and our online work. Plus a video was shown within Second Life about GK's work.

NECC Conference presentation

You can read more about the presentation on the NECC Conference 2007 blog in the entry titled "What is a global citizen?" and view other posts in Technorati with the tag n07s656 here.

Barry Joseph - Second Life

June 27, 2007

[sl] Discussions about philanthropy and non-profits in virtual worlds

The debates about both philanthropy and non-profits in Second Life and virtual worlds have begun. We will try to aggregate some of the best below:

The Chronicle of Philanthropy Asks: Is Second Life a passing fad, or is it something savvy nonprofit groups should be watching and participating in? Read more here.

Provofy Neva's We Need a New Kind of Philanthropy

Constance_Steinkuehler's online MacArthur Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning article, Pop Cosmopolitanism in Virtual Worlds, or How Second Life Can Save the World discusses this as well.

June 25, 2007

[curr] Global Kids Second Life Professional Development Curriculum is being developed!

As Second Life becomes increasingly popular as an innovative learning and teaching platform, educators are asking for a curriculum they and their students can use to quickly acquire needed skills.

Following a successful pilot program this past Spring, Global Kids is pleased to announce their Second Life Professional Development Curriculum is scheduled for completion mid-September 2007!

Currently, feedback from students and teachers in the pilot program is being integrated. In addition, volunteer teens and educators (all very new to Second Life) are preparing to try out new lessons.

As one tester commented, "I am a total SL newbie, and need all the help I can get." Another teacher from Australia adds, "One thing I can guarantee about my SL skills is that I don't currently have any. I am very much a newbie and it sounds like a great way for me to develop my own skills as well as explore the possibilities for my own students." In fact, currently, educator testers represent a number of countries from three continents. The Global Kids Second Life curriculum really is global!

Stay tuned for updates throughout the summer as we follow the experiences of our intrepid testers as they master Second Life skills and prepare to use them in their own innovative ways.

June 24, 2007

[sl] The Philip Rosedale/MacArthur Foundation Conversation

To read the invitation about the Philanthropy in Virtual Worlds event, please go here.

One teen quote in particular, from, Anthony Pomeray, summed up the effect the event had on many who participated: "After hearing the conversation Philip had today, I just feel like I want to be part of something to help mankind."

In short, on Friday, June 22nd, from 8 - 10:30 SLT, teen residents were invited by Global Kids to host a live dance/listening/viewing party of Philip Rosedale in conversation with Jonathan Fanton, the president of the MacArthur Foundation, streamed from the main grid.

Barry Joseph, of Global Kids, and Jonathan Fanton, of the MacArthur Foundation
Barry Joseph, of Global Kids, and Jonathan Fanton, of the MacArthur Foundation

One location was Global Kids Island while a second was on Evolve, hosted by Ty Dejavu, who said "Gimme a woot phor philanthropy!!!"

View Global Kids Photos from the event or all photos from the Flickr tag set.

  • text: transcripts of the event and chat

  • audio: use the play button below to start the audio track, or download .mp3 (20MB), or iTunes podcast

  • video: click “play” to watch the 45-minute video below:http://spotlight.macfound.org/resources/fanton-rosedale/flvplayer.swf?file=http://spotlight.macfound.org/resources/fanton-rosedale/macfound.flv&autoStart=false’ >


    Read Beth kantor's blog about it and review her round up of coverage below:

    Jonathan Fanton, MacArthur Foundation

    Finally, read the edited public chat transcript from the event:

    During the live music

    Sith Thunders: jay
    Sith Thunders: no guns
    Tabitha GKid: well the audio is coming thru fine
    Kyrunami Dryke: yeah
    Rhiannon: yes, the stream sounds clear
    Rhiannon: :)
    Sith Thunders: not my kind of music
    Rhiannon: the cool thing about the musicians even if you don't like them is that they are all musicians from the Second Life space
    Soza Patton: Is the Video up?
    Sith Thunders: and quite smooth
    Turox Tenk: OMG THIS IS COOL
    Anarchy Apps: So when Phillip get here?
    Anarchy Apps: Do I get to ask him questions?
    Rhiannon: there is also a video from the president to play close to that time we have the URL for
    Jay Clostermann: I'm not going to waste my time watching a video from the president.
    Jay Clostermann: YES I'M A LIBERAL.
    Jay Clostermann: VERY LIBERAL.
    Rafi GKid: Not the president of the US silly....
    Anarchy Apps: xD
    Anarchy Apps: Oh
    Rafi GKid: The presidents of the MacArthur foundation
    Anarchy Apps hates BUSH
    Jay Clostermann: OH.
    Jay Clostermann: Yes, I'll try to see that.
    Anthony Pomeray: We want Phillip! We want PHillip! We want Phillip!
    Turox Tenk shouts: can somene shout "he's here" when he is?
    Turox Tenk shouts: thank you

    During the pre-recorded video

    Anthony Pomeray: K everyone turn your mics off so we can hear
    Sith Thunders: thnere we go
    Sith Thunders: movie starts
    Turox Tenk: where are the chair
    Turox Tenk: oh and umm
    Turox Tenk: im sorry that i umm
    Turox Tenk: fell into the volcano
    Daniel Voyager shouts: are you watching the stream
    Tads Vollmar: Did the volcano just errupt?
    Turox Tenk: ya.
    Turox Tenk: well umm ya
    Turox Tenk: cause
    Turox Tenk: um
    Turox Tenk: i fell in it

    The pre-recorded video of Jonathan Fanton mentions Global Kids in Teen Second Life
    Anarchy Apps: OSNAPTHATSU
    Tabitha GKid: yay!!!
    Rafi GKid: yay tsl
    Rhiannon: cool eh, they mentioned you guys in GK on TSL
    Soza Patton: xWoot
    Soza Patton: Were part of t
    Soza Patton: Ish >_>
    Mariel Voyunicef: It looks like I'm getting it with lag
    Mariel Voyunicef: I heard about GK on the stream like 20 secs after you

    During the live audio feed between Philip Rosedale and Jonathan Fanton – may of the comments are in response to the feed

    Rhiannon: and now Philip
    Anarchy Apps shouts: Welcome PHillip!
    Turox Tenk shouts: im gonna go explore while listening to this
    Rage Blankes: its my b-day today, >:]
    Anarchy Apps: xD
    Daniel Voyager: cool
    Anthony Pomeray: :D Happy birthday
    Rage Blankes: thank yoo.
    Mariel Voyunicef: Happy birthday ^^
    Daniel Voyager: happy birthday to you
    Redsamba Hall: hip hip hooray
    Daniel Voyager: everyone having a good time?
    Rage Blankes: i like listening =]
    Anarchy Apps: I wished they did this more often
    Turox Tenk: omg this is boring ,no offense
    Tads Vollmar: Yeah
    Anarchy Apps: So don't stay
    Anarchy Apps: I think they are right about how SL is pretty realistic and has brought ides into the real world and the physical world bringing ides into SL
    Rafi GKid: We'll be passing over questions into the MG to philip and jonathan, so think em up and pass em over to me or Tabitha in IM.
    Anthony Pomeray: This is an interesting discussion on how SL and Rl can connect.... i think that's pretty interesting.
    Link Xiao: WHO EVER IS ROME, COME DISABLE JEDIMASTER XD
    Anarchy Apps: We could stop the stuff going on in Uganda but George is too lazy
    Anthony Pomeray: George really isn't handling presidency that well, ever since 9-11 >_>
    Sith Thunders: boring
    Anthony Pomeray: >_> This is Interesting, so listen to it or leave. You have a choice.
    Rage Blankes: someone throw a pie =[
    Rafi GKid: Any thoughts on what people have said so far?
    Link Xiao: we need more people on here
    Anthony Pomeray: We should have a museum, maybe i'll build it.
    Malikai Shilton: I just turned it on after a bit of lag, so not much.
    Link Xiao: like schools should allow SL
    Rage Blankes: yea!
    Link Xiao: and like
    Link Xiao: SL should be everywhere
    Rafi GKid: How would you guys answer Jonathan's last question about how not to be irrelevant when moving into SL?
    Malikai Shilton: The amish should use SL.
    Link Xiao: LIBARIES
    Rage Blankes: just advertise it.....walk around in public with your laptop
    Rage Blankes: Libraries indeed!
    Rage Blankes: define Irrelevent, please?
    Mariel Voyunicef: Is it really possible to be irrelevant, though?
    Mariel Voyunicef: I'd call it more like, making it more relevant
    Mariel Voyunicef: Irrelevant = not important
    Mariel Voyunicef: Irrelevant = doesn't transcend
    Link Xiao: who here thinks that SL isnt noticed that much ?
    Mariel Voyunicef: I do think it's not noticed that much in Mexico
    Rage Blankes: if everyone started playing..
    Rage Blankes: they would be like WO0O0O
    Rage Blankes: and i would be like, OMG
    Mariel Voyunicef: But I'd say it's enormously noticed in English-speaking places o.o
    Kaede Elytis: ALOT
    Anthony Pomeray: Sl isn't noticed because it isn't being maintained and operated my a mainstream company.
    Kaede Elytis: err
    Kaede Elytis: SL is all over the news
    Notor Dryke: If everyone started playing this SL world would develop extremely fast.
    Malikai Shilton: I'm not wearing shoes.
    Link Xiao: and when i see buildings i think about how to make about it here
    Mariel Voyunicef: SL should launch a campaign to get governments to think about e-legislation.
    Rage Blankes: indeed.
    Rage Blankes: i agree
    Anthony Pomeray: Personally, I think pornography should not be exposed publicly in an open space. I mean, if someone has it to themself, then fine, but they shouldn't spread it all over the place.
    Anarchy Apps: You know I think the whole pornography thing isn't such a suprise.....but if theres gonna be any , it should at least be contained because the transfer of items from the MG to the TG leaked a few pornographics objects...
    Rage Blankes: Ban Pornography in MG
    Kaede Elytis: really?
    Kaede Elytis: wow
    Mariel Voyunicef: Pornography must be the major source of income on the MG.
    Rage Blankes: sex sells, leave it at that?
    Anarchy Apps: Rage , you can't just kill a major source of income , sexual pleasures and pornography is a big thing on the MG
    Anthony Pomeray: I gotta question: What does LL plan to do to reduce violence and delinquency on the TG?
    Malikai Shilton: Macfart.
    Kaede Elytis: hahahhhaha
    Anthony Pomeray grabs a soda
    Rage Blankes: i got popcorn
    Malikai Shilton: MY popcorn brings all the boys to the yard.
    Rage Blankes: my grandma brings all the boys to the yard..
    Malikai Shilton: And they're like, it's got more butter than yours.
    Anarchy Apps wants popcorn now
    Rage Blankes: yaay, i started a popcorn trend
    Mariel Voyunicef: Uganda or Darfur can't be saved on the short run, just immediately, IMHO... But ok.
    Rage Blankes: my pokemon cards brings the nerds to the yard..
    Rage Blankes: and they're like..
    Anthony Pomeray: Lol
    Rage Blankes: ya wanna trade cards?
    Rage Blankes: dang right, i wanna trade cards..
    Anthony Pomeray: ROFL
    Rage Blankes: i'll trade you, but not my charizaqrd
    Kaede Elytis: i can beat you i've got charizard
    Anthony Pomeray: ROFLMAO
    Ty Dejavu: wait who sent that first TSL question?
    Mariel Voyunicef: I think it was mine, Ty
    Ty Dejavu: I heard "This is from the tg"

    As the live stream ends…

    Rage Blankes: nooo!THATS UNFAIR
    Anarchy Apps: nooooo
    Rage Blankes: MORE!!!
    Anthony Pomeray: :/
    Rage Blankes: MORE!!!!
    Ty Dejavu: its all done
    Rage Blankes: NOOOOOOOoooooooOOooo!
    Ty Dejavu: =(
    Rage Blankes: game over?!
    Ty Dejavu: t'was interesting..
    Tabitha GKid: its over already?
    Tabitha GKid: so fast
    Kaede Elytis: AHHHHHHHH!
    Ty Dejavu: yeah
    Mariel Voyunicef: :/ I don't agree with many of the things that were said
    Mariel Voyunicef: But that's just me o.o
    Rafi GKid: Shallow and pedantic.
    Mariel Voyunicef: I don't think it was shallow and/or pedantic, though.
    Mariel Voyunicef: It's not really that relevant >.>
    Anthony Pomeray: After hearing the conversation phillip had today, I just feel like I want to be part of something to help mankind.
    Mariel Voyunicef: Does GK work with any of the orgs sponsored by MacArthur on the MG?
    Mariel Voyunicef: I want to volunteer or something when I'm on the MG.

    Connie Yowell, MacArthur Foundation

    [sl] Second Life's 4th Birthday on Teen Grid

    For those of you who don't know, Second Life's 4th Birthday was celebrated this past weekend on TSL4B island. The island was opened on Friday June 22nd, and there were over 50 people in the sim concurrently for the first few hours. That same day, I (Mercury Metropolitan) held a Birthday Cake Contest on the island which was a huge success. Many residents showed up eager to create a festive cake for Second Life's 4th Birthday. Over 40 or so people entered the contest and accepted the challenge to make the most festive cake! The prizes were L$1000 for 1st place, L$500 for 2nd, and L$200 for third. I was the only person who was set to judge the cakes, but I decided to ask the Lindens who attended the event if they would like to participate as impromptu judges, and they agreed. In the end, Picard Zhu won 1st, Andrew Montagne 2nd, and zechi Uram 3rd.



    Grand opening of TSL4B island!



    Participants of the cake contest building their cakes.


    On the second day, Spike Linden hosted a Dance Party on the island and DJed for hours on end. His event was an absolute success. Residents love hearing Spike's energetic British accent over the audio stream. By the time I was ready to begin my event later that night, Spike was still at it. He was glad I relieved him, because at that point he was drained. My event, which was Oldbie Show & Tell went off without a hitch. Once again, there was a high head count at this event, and many people volunteered to share things that they themselves or others had created in the past. Afterwards, we all headed over to the Fireworks Display area and sat on the bleachers. I dimmed the sim lights and pressed the big button marked Launch, which caused rockets to shoot up in the air and explode in vibrant unison. These fireworks officially marked SL's 4th Birthday. Everyone in the crowd cheered and wished Second Life a happy birthday and many more!

    Spike Linden's Dance Party!



    Oldbie Show & Tell



    Fireworks Display

    The third day of the birthday celebration was less eventful than the previous few days, but still fun! Daniel Voyager hosted an event in which a large group of teens could take a group photo infront of the "Happy 4th Birthday" sign. Overall, Second Life's 4th Birthday on the Teen Grid was a blast!



    Birthday Photo

    June 21, 2007

    [vvp] Resources on Child Soldiers

    Thank you for watching our year-end student video project: A Child's War.

    Below is more information about child soldiers:

    Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier who now lives in New York City, served as inspiration for the project. Some of the students had the opportunity and to read his book A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

    The following is some of the research used on the project:

    Children of Conflict (part 1) looks at the Democratic Republic of Congo where child soldiers have been used in fighting between tribes and many have had to carry the guilt of rape, murder and pillage.

    Children of Conflict (part 2) looks at the Democratic Republic of Congo where child soldiers have been used in fighting between tribes and many have had to carry the guilt of rape, murder and pillage.

    A young man recounts how he was captured by the rebels of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda. For the past 20 years, a civil conflict has been going on in Northern Uganda but the Ugandan government has failed to put a stop to it. Who's to blame? This survivor blames the Ugandan government.

    You can read about the Lord's Resistance Army at Wikipedia.

    To learn how you can help stop the use of Child Solders, visit the Coalition to stop the use of Child Soldiers, which works to prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers, to secure their demobilization and to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

    You can also learn about the International Criminal Court

    Or, read a key message from UNICEF on this topic.

    [dmi] Report on FOCUS Dialogues Released

    In April of 2007, Global Kids held the first round of FOCUS: Teen Voices on Digital Media and Society, a series of online dialogues in which teens from around the globe gathered to discuss the effects that digital media had in their lives and in the world.

    We're pleased to release an independent report on FOCUS which gives an overview of the project and its participants, and, most importantly, elucidates on the many themes which emerged from the youth voices in the dialogues.

    Download the report.

    Read the full archives of FOCUS.

    June 19, 2007

    [sl/teen] Intern Report - Professor James Paul Gee Talks on the Teen Grid

    James Paul Gee came to Global Kids Island to speak about different avatars, and the gaming universe. He tried on different avatars, and told us what he thought about them, and how it felt to play Second Life for the first time. Professor Gee said that he plays World of Warcraft and said he can’t bring his character over here, but in fact he can bring anything into Second Life. Some of his avatars included a Hydralisk, by 1000 Carlos, which you can see below.

    He also wore a dragon by Sylver Bu, pictured here.



    This has been the largest project I’ve taken on in Second Life since I joined almost two years ago in October of 2005. It was such a project that I couldn’t do it alone. I had to get help from Jay Clostermann and 1000 Carlos. Jay helped with getting people to join us, and with voting boxes, while 1000 Carlos built the brilliant structure the event was hosted in, as well as the spaceship.

    Getting people to join our contest was the hardest part, and in the future, contests need to be announced much earlier, to allow more time for people to join. I learned that running large events is no walk in the park, it takes a lot of work to make something come out well.

    [VVP] Machinima Processing Questions

    VVP Students, if you haven't already, please blog about your experience in the program this year. This is your opportunity to give us important feedback and to give us suggestions for improving the program last year. We need to hear from you!!

    Processing Questions:

    o What went well during the year in VVP for the group?
    o What went well during the year in VVP for you personally?
    o What did you learn this year about Second Life and machinima?
    o What did you learn this year about global and social issues?
    o What leadership skills did you learn?
    o What could be done differently in the program next year?
    o What could you do differently in the future?

    June 18, 2007

    [Press] Video games getting deeper

    A great piece was posted Friday in the Toronto Star, entitled Video Games Getting Deeper, featuring our recent teen panel at the Games for Change conference and spotlighted Global Kids Playing 4 Keeps program and our game Ayiti: The Cost of Life.

    You can read the full article below or here.

    Video games getting deeper
    A new generation of games aims to help youth better understand the world

    June 15, 2007

    Jane L. Thompson
    Special to the Star

    New York–Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and Need for Speed may consume the attention of millions of teenagers, but according to a U.S. high school valedictorian, gaming has sparked a new revolution where students are becoming smarter as a result of video games.

    But Ciara Bell, 18, a graduate of McKinley High School in Washington, D.C., isn't talking about games where you shoot the driver of a car before you snatch it. She's referring to games like PeaceMaker, Darfur is Dying and Ayiti: The Cost of Life, some of the award-winners this week at the Games for Change Festival.

    "Imagine a world, at least America, being able to understand the world better, caring about the world more all because of video games," said Bell, a member of a panel of teen-game developers. "We're moving on, becoming deeper with these games."

    Bell's sentiments reflect the goals of Games for Change, which helps organizations and individuals create social change digital games, particularly those tied to health, education, racism and poverty.

    The 150-plus audience of educators, academics, techies and non-profit workers at the festival instantly warmed to the panel of seven students. With the help of the non-profit Global Kids program Playing 4 Keeps, 24 students from a Brooklyn, N.Y., high school have been working in partnership with New York-based developer Gamelab to create one social change game a year. The students are all of Caribbean descent, including many first-generation Americans.

    The first student-developed game was Ayiti: The Cost of Life, about a family in Haiti.

    "We decided which country by researching which had the most problems. It's not just one country – all countries suffer – but Haiti has a lot of problems," said Sanji Johnson, 20, a Jamaican-born senior at South Shore High School in Brooklyn.

    Johnson, who didn't know how to use a computer mouse before joining the program, demonstrated the online role-playing game for the audience. The premise: A family of five must choose one of four strategies to survive; over four years in game time they can receive an education, stay healthy, make money or maintain happiness; pitfalls encountered include violence and extreme weather. The goal is to maintain the family's health and happiness, but if both parents die, you've lost the game. It won the Best Awareness-Raising Award at the festival.

    It's not an easy game, said Johnson's high school colleague, 18-year-old Jonathan Laurent.

    "When you're very poor, you have very few choices," Laurent said. "Sending kids to school means less income. But if you send them to work, it means they lack education and it's hard to get jobs."

    Playing 4 Keeps will release its next game later this month on Teen Second Life, the user-generated online, 3-D virtual world restricted to 13-to-17-year-olds. Consent is set in a prison where inmates are subjected to medical experiments.

    "We wanted to get into institutionalized racism, and found that there were experiments on prisoners," Laurent said. "So, we've got a doctor telling prisoners they have a new cosmetic and asking to experiment on them, and they pretend the side effects are not that serious. It's like they have a gun to your head because they're prisoners."

    "A lot of adults think kids are wasting their time (playing games)," said Derek Davis, 18, another McKinley High School graduate, who helped create a game for the Red Cross on fire safety. He explained what students learn from creating a game.

    "Say I want to make a physics game. I'm going to have to learn about physics before I start to make the game. Now that's going to motivate me to learn about physics and read a book."

    Karen Sideman, an interactive designer and former creative director at Sesame Street Online, said society is moving into a mode of perpetual play – even adults are playing games like kids with things like BrickBreaker on their BlackBerrys.

    June 17, 2007

    [sl] Philip Linden/MacArthur Foundation Listening Party

    This Friday Philip Linden will be holding a conversation with Jonathan Fanton, the president of the MacArthur Foundation (one of Global Kids top funders).

    here is the schedule for the event:

    Pre-Event Mixer 8:00 AM SLT - 9:00 AM SLT
    Live DJ Cher Harrington spins original SL music

    • with Etherian Kamaboko, Hep Shepherd, Komuso Tokugawa, Rich Desoto, Ronnie Carr, Sarah Mac Band, Smily Raymaker, Virtual Live Band
    • Free t-shirts and badges
    • Information on MacArthur Foundation program areas and grantmaking
    • Original SL music information displays

    Event 9:00 AM SLT - 9:45 AM SLT

    • Join Philip Rosedale and Jonathan Fanton for a conversation about philanthropy in virtual worlds
    • Short recorded video presentation
    • Welcome and introductions
    • Live voice stream
    • Questions from the SL audience

    Post-Event Reception 9:45 AM SLT - 10:30 AM SLT

    • Live musician Hep Shepherd
    • Free t-shirts and badges
    • Information on MacArthur Foundation program areas and grantmaking
    • Original SL music information displays


    Click the image to read all the details (from the sign designed for the main grid... teen grid sign coming soon):
    Main grid invitation for the Philantropy in VIrtual Worlds Event

    Rather than simply run the stream on GK Island (which we might still do) we asked the Global Kids group and they decided it might be cool to provide the audio and video stream so residents can host their own gatherings. View public locations here.

    If you are interested in hosting the stream, and gathering your friends to watch/listen with you, please send a notecard to Barry Gkid, detailing:
    - Your SL name
    - The location where you will host it
    - How many people you think might attend (just a guess - even two is fine)
    - One question you might want to ask (read about the event first before answering)
    - Why you would like to host (one sentence will do)
    - If you would prefer to be a public location (which we might promote) or if you prefer it to be private (only you will let people know about it beforehand).

    A limited number of locations will be selected to host. If you are selected you will be asked to do a number of things:
    - Share any public chat log during the event (with the permission of those in attendance, of course)
    - At least two photos from the event (emailed to us or available on the web)
    - Be available to ask questions during the event - we will pass them to the main grid

    That's it! Please get your notecard to Barry Gkid as soon as you can.


    June 15, 2007

    [SL] Invitation to Virtual World Event on Philanthropy

    An invitation to a virtual world event spotlighting philanthropy was announced by the MacArthur foundation Tuesday. Following is a post by the President of the Foundation, Mr. Jonathon Fanton.

    Save the date (22 June, 9am PST) for an historic conversation on the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds featuring MacArthur Foundation President Jonathan Fanton and Second Life CEO Philip Rosedale.

    I write to invite you to join me in the virtual world of Second Life on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 9am PST (noon EST). With my avatar and a live audio feed, I will be joined by Second Life CEO Philip Rosedale and residents for a discussion on the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds.

    The MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition. We support organizations working on human rights and international justice, conservation and sustainable development, housing, juvenile justice, and independent media. Last year, we launched a $50 million initiative to help determine how digital technologies are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. Answers are critical to developing educational and other social institutions that can meet the needs of this and future generations.

    Recently, we have been introduced to virtual worlds such as Second Life and There.com. I believe that the importance of virtual worlds may be less about their growth as economies, and more about their capacity for collaboration and human development. Activities in virtual worlds already are supported by MacArthur and other foundations, but we have much to discover about the right role for philanthropy itself in virtual worlds.

    We are interested in learning about virtual worlds and how to operate within them. We look to the residents to help us determine how to be helpful and are eager to share our on-going work in such areas as affordable housing, urban renewal, and human rights and international justice.

    Please join me on June 22nd, when, for the first time, my avatar will step into the virtual world to host a discussion with Philip Rosedale exploring the potential of these new platforms for philanthropic activity. It should be a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation, and I hope you can attend and participate.

    As further details emerge they will be posted on the event information page: http://spotlight.macfound.org/main/entry/juneevent/

    June 13, 2007

    [P4K] Students in Global Kids Receive Inaugural Award at the Annual Games for Change Festival

    NEWS RELEASE

    561 Broadway New York, NY 10012 www.globalkids.org 212-226-0130

    Contacts:

    Jonah Kokodyniak, Global Kids, 212-226-2116, Jonah@globalkids.org
    Tom Mariam, Mariam Communications, 914-939-4294, tom@mariam.biz

    For Immediate Release:

    STUDENTS IN GLOBAL KIDS RECEIVE INAUGURAL AWARD AT THE ANNUAL GAMES FOR CHANGE FESTIVAL

    At the fourth annual Games For Change Festival, held June 11-12 at the Parson’s New School of Design in New York City, Global Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating urban youth in international issues, won one of the first Games for Change ("GaCha") Awards for the best games for change made over the past few years. Global Kids's game Ayiti: The Cost of Life, created by students in Brooklyn in partnership with game development company, Gamelab, was awarded best awareness-raising game, for "the game that best raises awareness of an important social issue through engaging and meaningful gameplay."

    The game is part of the program, Playing for Keeps (P4K), which was developed by youth, including twenty-four students from South Shore High School, a largely minority school of approximately 2,300 students in Canarsie Brooklyn. Professionals from Gamelab, a game development company located in New York, were central to the success of the Ayiti: The Cost of Life as they partnered together with Global Kids on this project.

    During the 2005-2006 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. The focus evolved to poverty and the location became Haiti. The game is used to educate players about the problems faced by many in developing countries. Students played the game both within the classroom setting and in after-school programs.

    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 has been played over 600,000 times since it was released through partnerships with Unicef and TakingITglobal. The game is currently being evaluated by The Center for Children & Technology (CCT), a part of the Educational Development Center.

    Digital Games for Social Change is a new movement that inspires the festival and poses people to observe the effects of new games as well as evaluate current games. Featured speakers at the 2007 festival included Bob Kerrey, President of the New School and former Nebraska Senator; Jeff Bell, corporate Vice President of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp; Chris Melissions, Chief Gaming Officer at Sun Microsystems, Inc.; and Allison Fine, author of Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age and Senior fellow at Demos: A Network for Thinking and Action. In addition, Global Kids organized and led a panel of public high school students called Beyond Consumers-Teens and Serious Games.

    Although this is the fourth year that the Game for Change festival has taken place, it was the first year that they presented awards. A “game for change” is a digital game, which engages a contemporary social issue to foster a more equitable, just and/or tolerant society. Criteria also included an evaluation of how the game reached new audiences, as well as a clear incorporation of both a meaningful content and the game mechanics.

    About Global Kids, Inc. (www.globalkids.org)

    Launched in 1989 but independent since 1993, 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 four broader areas: the development of socially -conscious online games; youth-led online dialogues; Virtual Worlds; and the Digital Media Initiative.

    [SL] GK Light Bulb System

    Lightbulb-anim.gif

    The GK Light Bulb System is a great tool for moderating discussion in Second Life. You can easily see who's waiting for their turn to speak when the light bulb attachment above their head is turned on. The GK Light Bulb System Discussion Server (just one prim!) displays the chat queue, so everyone can see whose turn is next. With one click, it offers administrators a dialog box with buttons for removing specific names -- or all names -- from the speakers list. And it just takes a click for a wearer to turn off their own GK Light Bulb, if they change their mind and decide they don't want to speak. Adding administrators to the system is as simple as editing a notecard.

    Lightbulb.jpg

    GK Light Bulbs are distributed with both copy and transfer permissions, so you'll never run short of them, and the Discussion Server is transferable, so you can give it to someone else in your organization to use or lend it to a friend. But, at only L$ 1000, it's affordable enough to buy more
    than one. Brought to you by The Magicians and Global Kids, the GK Light Bulb System is a fun way to manage group discussions AND engage participants.

    To get your own GK Light Bulb and Discussion Server, head to our office space in the NMC campus sim Teaching.

    June 12, 2007

    [VVP/TEEN] Final workshop

    Hey everybody, today is our final workshop and it's our 55th meeting. This year has gone by really really fast and im going ot miss you guys. This year went really well. All of our sessions were very productive. I'm glad everybody got their PSAs done. Everybody worked hard on that and everyone's came out really good. Everyone who worked on a PSA should be really proud of their work. Personally, this workshop helped me develop better public speaking skills which would really help me later on. This year, I learned a lot. I was introduced to Second Life and machinima and I actually got to make one of my own. I also learned that there were many more global issues than I expected.

    [VVP/TEEN] This Year In Global Kids

    I had a lot of fun this year in Global Kids. I believe we learned a lot, and it was a very successful program. This year we were able to make PSA's, and we started working on our short movie. For me, I was able to meet new students, and was able to work with them as well as three good educators, Tabitha, Sam, and Barry. In Second Life and Machinima, I learned how to film. I learned that there are many parts of the world, that have many problems. Not one nation is perfect. I believe the program was well executed and doesn't really need improvement. It's been a great year!

    [VVP/TEEN] What went well in Global Kids

    What went well during the year in VVP for the group is that we learned much about film production, post editing, and group work. We also learned the different global issues our society is faced with, and the different interpretations one may find when dealing with a global issue. We learned about second life and the different ways in which second life could be used to address the different social issues approached. We also learned the different skills an avatar needs in second life in order to make a good production. Thank you all for all the people who made this possible, Barry, Tabitha, Sam, Chris, and Meredith
    [with assistance from Ronald b.]cool.gif

    June 11, 2007

    [sl] Major GK Events at the Games For Change Confernce

    So much to report from the Games For Change conference in New York City!


    Global Kids Wins Award

    Global Kids was thrilled to be awarded one of the top game prizes of the conference, the GaCha award. The game from our Playing 4 Keeps program, Ayiti: The Cost of Life, was awarded the best Awareness-Raising Game. We couldn't be more pleased. We accepted the award with our students and folks from GameLab. Afi French gave a very moving acceptance speech that left quite a few in tears.

      Best Awareness-Raising Game - for the game that best raises awareness of an important social issue through engaging and meaningful gameplay coupled with innovative and successful distribution techniques towards a broad reach.

      Criteria: Is it a good game, with good game play and a solid integration of game mechanic and content? How did this game reach new audiences, find innovative distribution avenues, and ultimately raise awareness for a particular cause? Tips: These are often low budget games, made in a grass roots context, virally distributed.

    Beth Kanter posted this photo of Lithelson holding the award:



    Global Kids Coordinates Teen Panelists

    Global Kids coordinated eight teens (7 in person, one in TSL) to talk about their work across five different programs making, modding, evaluating, and making movies out of games.

    Teens from Computer for Youth, the Bronx River Art Center, Global Kids Playing 4 Keeps & Virtual Video Project, and the Institute for Urban Game Design in Washington, D.C. were represented.

    The teens ranged in age from six grade to two who graduated just two days earlier (one as valedictorian). Each group presented for 5-8 minutes and we then took questions from the audience. We showed the Global Kids machinima's from WITHIN Second Life and then Brooke Barmy, who met us in-world, talked about what it was like to build set and props for the upcoming machinima on child soldiers.

    Jonathan from Playing 4 Keeps introduced the program as Sanji gave an overview and showed a demo of Ayiti. We then went into Second Life where Jonathan showed this year's game in development, an interactive experience about racism and the history of medical research in prisons.

    Due to end-of-the-year finals, none of the students from Global Kids' machinima program, the Virtual Video Project, could attend. However, we WERE able to show their work, projected on a screen in Second Life (where the movies were filmed). In addition, the set and prop designer - a TSL resident named Brooke Barmy - spoke to us through Skype and in Second Life about using his building skills for socially-conscious machinima.

    Watch Beth's video blog interview with two teen panelists is definitely worth checking out.

    Read Beth's live blogging during the panel and her link to the video from one of the panelists.


    P4K Student Leader Gets Game Scholarship

    During the conference, we sent Vladimyr, one of the Global Kids Leaders, to meet with an official of Parsons who had asked him in so she could offer him a scholarship to their summer gaming program. These programs are designed for high school students to help prepare them for a degree in digital design. Vladimyr had visited the program with Global Kids earlier in April. After the April visit, on the way out the door, he asked "How do I make a portfolio?" We told him, at the time, get this scholarship. Congratulations Vladimyr! We are so proud of you.


    Global Kids watches and participates in mixed-reality event

    The Virtual Activism Panel - the mixed-reality panel at the Games 4 Change Conference - was held in Second Life as well on the non-profit commons.

    Virtual Activitism Panel - mixed-reality panel at Games 4 Change Conference and in Second Life


    More blog coverage on the Games 4 Change Conference:
    • Games for Change Expo
    • It was also covered in the Harvard Law blog video vidi visum : virtual and you can read the post below.
      Panelists include young people from: Global Kids, Computers for Youth, McKinley Technology HS, and Bronx River Art Center, moderated by Barry Joseph, Global Kids.

      This panel comprised the young people that many G4C developers want to reach: it was remarkable hearing from the youth themselves. The discussion focused heavily on using the game design process, rather than games themselves, as the program driver. To the extent that educational interventions work best with personal involvement, teaching, and mentoring, this all makes sense. I think the question for G4C is whether the games themselves can educate/change, and the degree to which they can do so in a scalable and low-cost way.


    Photos from Rikomatic, In Kenzo and Beth:

















    1 - There's no need to buy a private island from Linden Lab to create an education area for teens.

    2 - Educators can rent or buy land parcels for projects.

    3 - Firesabre handles much of the interaction with Linden Lab.

    4 - Firesabre associates are available to provide answers and assistance.

    People out in the blogosphere have also noticed us dipping our toes in the water. You can read more of what others are saying in the following posts:

    There have also been some great comments left as well:

    Comment from John Krueger (Bodo Hammerer) Time: June 12, 2007, 8:25 pm

    I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on this. I have written Fred but have not heard back from him. I know he is probably overloaded with emails. Have others found out more about this project? Thanks

    Comment from Kevin Jarrett
    Time: June 13, 2007, 4:34 am

    Hey Bodo,

    Let me see what I can find out! I’ve not heard much since the announcement either but I know they are working feverishly. I’ll post back soon!

    -kj-

    Comment from Peggy Sheehy
    Time: June 13, 2007, 9:17 pm

    FireSabre is a professional, creative and visionary organization! Without their SL expertise and technological know-how, Ramapo Islands would never have been developed and implemented as smoothly as it was! I highly recommend Fred and his team at FireSabre!


    [SL] Jenkins on GK modded and LOL'ed

    Recently in his post-birthday blog entry, Henry Jenkins talks about even his own identity getting caught up in the web 2.0 convergence culture with examples of recent pictures of his being doctored up to illustrate this. The one that we like the best is the image below using his SL avatar photo taken on GK Island.

    loltheory1.jpg

    June 8, 2007

    [P4k] Plans for next year

    During the year in p4k the group studied how to make different things for our characters in second life.

    Something that went well for me personally was the fact we got to learn more about different issues and created a game around that problem. We also spoke out in a recording regarding the issue.

    I learned things from game design like creating your details on paper first and many different ways you can make a character in second life.

    This year I learned about global issue like racism, education, health, and media issues.

    In the program I think people should have more kids discussing their own point of view in how to create a game.

    In the future I think I can put more thought to the specific problem and to stay longer in the program.

    June 7, 2007

    [VVP/TEEN] Jueves En Nino's Globlal

    On Thursday, Global Kids worked in the production stage of the virtual video project. Angela, Brandon, Hassan, and Me were in the audio group. We worked on the vocies for all the scenes in the film. It took almost 2 hours but we finished. I think it came out great. Next week we are going to work on the post production. It's also the last day of Global Kids. sad.gif.

    [VVP/TEEN] Today

    Well today was a hilarious day for the machinima group. AV's were getting angry like thismad.gif Ha ha. It was funny. The way the director was asking everybody to do something it was funny. But we got somewhere, at least something is done.laughing.gif

    [vvp/teens] Long day's work

    Todays class was like a red eye shift for me because of my lack of sleep due to prom. But i still managed to get in at 12 and those who came procedeed to begin work on filming. With the script finally being done we were able to work and I believe we filmed scenes 1, 2, 3 and 7 as well as some short group shots that occur in other scenes. The audio team spent all day recording and managed to complete all the voice overs so hopefully it'll sound good, right now we gotta wait and see. Today was productive so that's an acomplishment to be proud of although it cost me alot of my sleep ;P

    [VVP/TEEN] Thursday's workshop

    On Thursday we the Global Kids Machinima project kids, decided that in order to make very big progress in our project we should meet in the museum of moving image from 12-6. We the audio group recorded every scene from the child soldier video project. We accomplished our goal, which was to finish it and we were successful. Hopefully, by Tuesday the other groups could finish filming, so we could all start post-production.tongue.gif

    [VVP/TEENS] 6 hour workshop

    Hey guys, today's 6-hour workshop went pretty smooth. We had plenty of time to work and my group and me got three scenes done. We had ALOT of difficulties getting extra actors, but once we got a hold of them, the filming went pretty well. At first everybody got impatient but everyone in Global Kids Island pulled through for us. The scenes came out pretty good and I hope Tuesdays workshop goes just as well because we're running out of time and we need to get this done fast since regents are coming up for students. Most of my group left me alone to workmad.gif but Idan, Joe and Nafiza came and helped me out with everything and got everything organized to film the scenes. We got more accomplished than I expected and I felt that we made good progress. And hopefully we'll keep making good progress as we continue next Tuesday.

    [VVP/Teens] Voice group finished

    Hey
    This is Brandon. My voice group was me, Angela, Hassan, and Miguel. At first me and Hassan and I were fighting over the part for Anthony, but I won anyway. It was fun though.
    This is the end of my blogging history.
    See ya
    :)

    [Teen/VVP] Half a Long Day 12

    Well, I was not able to come in at 12 when everyone else came in because I had to write a paper. But I was able to come in around four to do some work. But yeah, as soon as I got here I took over for Joe and played "Anthony" when he was talking to the reporter (who was acted by Lucky ^.^<33 thanks!) So after we did the first scene with Lucky, we also filmed the last scene. Then we went onto the cafeteria scene where everyone was sitting on the cafeteria chairs and Joe was filming. Then we went onto the sleeping scene. All we did was have everyone sit on a box, and then rotate the boxes and then make them transparent. ^^ It was great, and everyone was so patient with everything~ so thanks to all the Gkid's and all the TSL residents that helped us do the scenes by helping us act! So thanks everyone!

    [VVP/Teens] Today's workshop

    In today's session we made huge progress. We finished tons of sets (thanks to Brooke Barmy) and we finished filming tons of scenes, including the first and last scene. We made a bunch of changes to the script, and a list of props we needed but we fulfilled them all. We finished about 4 scenes in total today. We only have a few more short scenes to finish and we'll be done with the production stage! biggrin.gif Today was great XD

    [VVP/TEEN] Thursday's Long Class

    On Thursday we worked from 12-6 PM. We worked on the production process of the project. I believe we made lots of progress. Many people in Second Life that we really don't know came and helped us out. It was really kind of them. I think we definitely need more time to finish the project, to make it a successful project.

    [vvp] Filming the Child Soldiers

    Today we spent the day filming the project. Here are some behind the scenes working with the rebels in the Lords Resistance Army.

    Creating a way for soldiers to be sleeping
    To make them look like they are sleeping, everyone sat on an invisible box, which we then rotated

    Filming the soldiers in the cafeteria
    William in the white shirt, who will control the camera, is walking around the cafeteria with Idan watching to set up the shot

    [p4k] Digital Refinery at work

    Digital Refinery, the teen-led Second Life development company, is hard at work creating the game for the Playing 4 Keeps program. Isn't that crane sweet?

    Digital Refinery building the Playing 4 Keeps game

    June 5, 2007

    [vvp/teens] Directors!

    We were assigned our jobs and for each group there was a director so that we could have maximum work completed. The job of overall director is to be discussed and hopefully the others directors will agree to have me as the overall director. I will speak to some of them because with my experience with production and working with groups of people I think I would be able to get this project completed smoothly and nicely.

    [VVP/Teens] Working on props

    Last session we split up into groups once again, I was put into the second life group in which we worked on props once more. Nafiza has made good progress with the avatars, and finishing the child soldier's outfits. I worked on a type of worn down school (based off pictures found in reasearch group). I believe I am close to finishing. Next we have to work on the forest like scenery for the war scene.

    [P4K] Last class

    Today was the last P4K class at South Shore.

    We asked the students some questions to get their feedback on the various aspects of the program and what they thought they learned during the course of the year -
    1. What went well during the year in P4K for the group?
    2. What went well during the year in P4K for you personally?
    3. What did you learn this year about games and game design?
    4. What did you learn this year about global and social issues?
    5. What leadership skills did you learn?
    6. What could be done differently in the program next year?
    7. What could you do differently in the future?

    Click on the links to see what Tashawna, Sanji, Vladimyr, Jonathon and Syndie had to say.

    [blog, blog, blog] GK buzz in the Blogosphere

    Lots of people have been talking about Global Kids out in the blogosphere. Read some of their comments and posts below.

    In Eliane Alhadeff's blog Future-Making Serious Games we made her top '5 Blogs That Make Me Think' in her post The Thinking Blogger Award For Future-Making Serious Games.

    Global Kids' Digital Media Initiative - Global Kid's relentless production always amazes me. Founded in 1989 and incorporated as an independent non-profit organization in 1993, Global Kids, Inc.™ educates youth about critical international and domestic issues and provides educators with strategies for integrating experiential learning methods into urban classrooms.
    Since 2000, Global Kids Online Leadership Program, led by Barry Joseph, has been adapting a most successful youth development model to the internet, creating new opportunities for bringing civic engagement, global awareness and leadership development to youth around the world through online game, online dialogues, and social actions.

    I feel a compelling need to publish a new post each time GKs manage another breakthrough. It is a sort of personal celebration -- Global Kids challenging us to play a better future! Global Kids have a dedicated category in my blog, as I anticipate a series of breakthroughs in a near future.

    Eliane also has some great things to say about the recent article Rafi wrote on our blog. You can read more in her post Serious Games Best Practices: Global Kids Modeling The Future.


    From the blog See What’s Out There, the author spotlights Barry's virtual presentation at the NTEN conference.

    Funny thing… the #1 presenter at the entire conference, based on evaluations, wasn’t even there! He was participating via SecondLife as an on-screen avatar. Barry Joseph from Global Kids did a presentation about “Games 4 Change” without even showing up.


    Dee Martin in her blog Thoughts Have Wings writes

    I found a comment response on a blog asking about Teen Second Life responses to the Virginia Tech shooting and felt that this was a positive way to utilize Second Life - as an outlet and empowering experience for the participants. The suggestions ranged from a workshop on teen violence to an area set aside for kids to place their creations like pictures, letters, and cards and even a suggestion of a t-shirt creation contest where they could purchase the t-shirts for their avatars and the money would go to a Virginia Tech charity. This was on the blog for the Global Kids Media Initiative.


    The Young Adult Library Services Association blog published a recent post on the recent Second Life Best Practices in Education Conference mentioning the presentation Barry gave.


    James Paul Gee's visit is featured in a recent post of the blog voyeurism and in the accompanying podcast ventriloquy.

    June 4, 2007

    [VVP/TEENS] Finishing touches

    With the little time that the workshop has left, the groups had to move quickly to finish their projects. Our group was able to finish the scripting. The scripting overall was great and we we'll be ready to show our progress with the other groups. We had little problems on the format of the scripting, so im glad we got through with that. The only thing would help us out a lot is if we had more time. It only seemed like yesterday was the first day of the workshop. It is important that we finish the virtual video project as quickly and as accurately as possible.

    [P4K] My last week in Playing 4 Keeps

    I, Jonathan Laurent, had a great time at this program. We had a lot of successes in this program. I got to interact with fellow students. We learned about social issues such as prison experimentation. Global Kids has allowed people to take initiative and to express their ideas. The students have had their creativity increase. However lack of computers is what hindered us in our task. The programs brings awareness to issues by creating games that are fun but also creates a learning experience. We learned about Games and their design. Our co-teacher, Radhika, taught us the philosophy of games. Through this program I learned to express myself and to have concern for issues of others.

    [p4k] A year in p4k

    1) I think our group bonded and had good chemistry.
    2) I learned how to work with other people and create games.
    3) I learned the process it takes to create games and you need patience. The global issues I learned was racism, sexism, and illegal practices on male prisoners.
    4) In leadership skills I learned what it takes to speak out and how to motivate others.
    5) What could be done differently is to have better computers that go fast.
    6) In the future I could be more devoted to the program.

    [p4k] My last class

    1 .What went well is that we were able to talk about the issues of the game that we were able created.
    2. What went well is the recording of the voice which helped me to speak out more.
    3. I learned how to designed clothes and help the game be designed. I learned about the medical issues.
    4. I was able to speak out.
    5. Have more people and activity.
    6. I could be able to take part more in the program.

    [p4k] My lovin Farewell

    1.Everything went well and I fully enjoyed being in this program
    2. I love that I got to design some of the game & clothing . {Which I wanted to go to school for}
    3. I learned about how things operate in Second Life, such as making cars to making billboards. I even bought a house.{I need $$$$$}
    - I learn about the high school to prison pipeline & about internalized oppression.
    4. I learn to speak up for my opinions & I learned how to be a fighter.
    5. They could get computers that are already adjusted to second life hardware.
    6. For the future they can invite me to everything & I can be a help to them

    [Press] Living in the World You Imagine

    Imagine Magazine in their May/June issue has an article written by Angela Balcita that features the TSL space and spotlights Eye 4 You Alliance and Global Kids Island.

    Download the article here.

    June 1, 2007

    [sl] Teen Grid Chat from James Paul Gee Visit

    OPENING

    [14:01] Tabitha GKid: thanks and welcome to the GEE AVATAR CONTEST
    [14:01] Tabitha GKid: thank you all for being here
    [14:01] Barry GKid: The visitor from another planet will be arriving on GK Island any minute.
    [14:01] Tabitha GKid: this event would not be possible without nik and jay
    [14:01] Tabitha GKid: everyone please give them a big round of applause
    [14:02] nik385 Doesburg: Applesauce?
    [14:02] Malifico Bade: *Clap Clap* Goo Nik, and Jay
    [14:08] Tabitha GKid: if anyone else is not on sloodle plz click to join chat on sloodle
    [14:08] Tabitha GKid: where teens and adults can chat together =)
    [14:08] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Daniel Livingstone yay... audio now working on the main grid! Thanks rhiannon.

    CHICKEN

    [14:10] Malifico Bade: ITS A POKEMON!
    [14:10] Malifico Bade: Your a pokemon!
    [14:10] Tabitha GKid: haha the chicken
    [14:10] Malifico Bade: The chicken is next to me
    [14:10] Reallife Orca: Thats epic
    [14:10] Jim PaulGee: cluck
    [14:10] Malifico Bade: Hey Chicken bo bicken
    [14:10] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Daniel Livingstone never step on the chicken
    [14:10] Rafi GKid: Do not step on the chicken folks!!!
    [14:10] You: Meleno Fei made the chiocken
    [14:11] Jim PaulGee: wwwadddwwwwwwwwdww
    [14:11] Jay Clostermann: It's nice.
    [14:11] 1000 Carlos: i like it
    [14:11] Billard Ball: ROFL, its not a chicken!!!!
    [14:11] Parker Panacek: its a pokiemon
    [14:11] Alberio Nemeth: its alright not enough detail needs less prims too
    [14:11] Malifico Bade: The chicken is a pokemon and i like it i forget what its called could you use fire spin as a demonstration?

    CYBERNINJA

    [14:12] Jay Clostermann: It's a CyberNinja.
    [14:13] Alberio Nemeth: sweet but high prims means high lag
    [14:13] Jay Clostermann: XD.
    [14:13] Diana Hooper: :0
    [14:13] Samo7410 Kidd: This is cool
    [14:13] 1000 Carlos: thats good
    [14:13] Parker Panacek: cool
    [14:13] Jay Clostermann: It's fantastic.
    [14:13] Jason Taka: Awesome
    [14:13] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Sloodle Admin Milo (and all) chat on the Web is automatically rebroadcast into Teen SL
    [14:13] nik385 Doesburg: Flippin' sweet!
    [14:13] Jay Clostermann: It's extremely hard.
    [14:14] You: chicken to ninja!
    [14:14] Alberio Nemeth: Yeah but it has high prims so itll lag
    [14:14] Ryan Bartz: Prims do not cause lag
    [14:14] Reallife Orca: Very Detailed
    [14:14] Ryan Bartz: It's scripts
    [14:14] Claudia Linden: Saying hello to Sloodlers.
    [14:14] nik385 Doesburg: Absolutely brilliant!
    [14:14] Jay Clostermann: Guildenstern DeSantis did, and he put much effort into it.
    [14:14] nik385 Doesburg: Guldenstern DeSantis made the avatar.
    [14:14] Jim PaulGee: nice green
    [14:14] Jay Clostermann: Guildenstern isn't here right now.
    [14:14] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Mrs Durff hi Claudia
    [14:15] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Mrs Durff this is so way cool
    [14:15] Malifico Bade: GO 1k!!!
    [14:15] 1000 Carlos: yay
    [14:15] Malifico Bade: shwoot 1k its coming up
    [14:15] Reallife Orca: 1k ftw
    [14:15] thumper Nerd: hi...
    [14:15] Reallife Orca: :P
    [14:15] thumper Nerd: >.>

    HYDRALISK

    [14:15] Alberio Nemeth: its a Hydralisk from Starcraft
    [14:15] nik385 Doesburg: This is going to OWN.
    [14:15] Malifico Bade: Its from starcraft, Jim
    [14:15] thumper Nerd: u guys from the main grid have it better than us x]
    [14:16] Malifico Bade: Yes, its like warcraft but in space
    [14:16] nik385 Doesburg: Thumper, these are all made here on TG.
    [14:16] Parker Panacek: not scary
    [14:16] Malifico Bade: I cant wait to see sylvers
    [14:16] Parker Panacek: the face is cool
    [14:16] nik385 Doesburg: It's AWESOME!
    [14:16] Alberio Nemeth: med prims so not alotta lag and Its high detailed good job 1000 Carlos
    [14:16] Parker Panacek: but its not scary
    [14:16] 1000 Carlos: thanks
    [14:16] Jay Clostermann: It's very cool.
    [14:16] Malifico Bade: The hydralisk is amazing just like the creator 1k
    [14:16] Alberio Nemeth: good walking ao also
    [14:17] Reallife Orca: I am a starcraft fanboy, so i approve
    [14:17] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Barbara Johnson Wish I could see the avatars. I hope you'regoing to showus a fashion show on the MG!
    [14:17] Malifico Bade: Go 1k! =D
    [14:17] Parker Panacek: ITS NOT SCARY
    [14:17] Malifico Bade: YAY SYLVERSS
    [14:17] 1000 Carlos: go sylver

    MIDNIGHT DRAGON

    [14:17] Malifico Bade: Its actually called Midnight Dragon
    [14:17] Alberio Nemeth: Sweet heres Sylvers
    [14:17] Blue Newcomb: go sylver!
    [14:18] Malifico Bade: Sylver sadly had to depart earlier so she isnt here
    [14:18] Samo7410 Kidd shouts: Say my name plz
    [14:18] Ryan Bartz shouts: My name
    [14:18] 1000 Carlos: it's very good
    [14:18] nik385 Doesburg: The wings flap in flight.
    [14:18] Blue Newcomb: its awsome
    [14:18] Malifico Bade: Its a She
    [14:18] Alberio Nemeth: its got firebreath
    [14:18] Malifico Bade: Sylver, makes wonderful dragons
    [14:18] Jay Clostermann: It's very good.
    [14:18] Tabitha GKid: good job
    [14:18] Malifico Bade: and is having a new line come out
    [14:19] Parker Panacek: cool flapping
    [14:19] nik385 Doesburg: Syl had to leave to do some work. unfortuantely.
    [14:19] Alberio Nemeth: use the Flames Jim
    [14:19] Malifico Bade: She is coming out with a new line of dragons, something TG has never seen before
    [14:19] Alberio Nemeth: Use the gestures for flames
    [14:19] nik385 Doesburg: there IS a command to breathe fire
    [14:19] Parker Panacek: pretty cool
    [14:19] Jay Clostermann: Whoo.
    [14:19] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Barbara Johnson Inspired by any characters from fiction?
    [14:19] Alberio Nemeth: Sweet mods to urs Blue
    [14:20] Malifico Bade: Blue is one of the bestest makers of avs =D
    [14:20] nik385 Doesburg: / dragonflame
    [14:20] Parker Panacek: big prims = lagg
    [14:20] Jay Clostermann: It's nice.
    [14:20] Malifico Bade: Blue, the original quad dragon =]
    [14:20] Reallife Orca: is this showing up in sloodle?

    WOLF

    [14:20] Malifico Bade: err wolf
    [14:20] Tabitha GKid: yes orca it is!!!
    [14:20] Parker Panacek: its ok
    [14:20] Diana Hooper: That's so cool!
    [14:20] Reallife Orca: DandyLicious
    [14:22] Malifico Bade: Yes, Jim, i love that command Sylvers cooks me all the time =D
    [14:22] Diana Hooper: o_o
    [14:23] Parker Panacek: there
    [14:23] Jason Taka: lol thats cool
    [14:23] Samo7410 Kidd: Boo!
    [14:23] nik385 Doesburg: That's AWESOME!
    [14:23] Samo7410 Kidd shouts: lol kidding its cool
    [14:23] nik385 Doesburg: :D
    [14:23] Rafi GKid: very nice!
    [14:23] Ryan Bartz: Stop burning the audience :)
    [14:23] Malifico Bade: Ah, i was so glad i was there for that one to be made
    [14:23] Alberio Nemeth: nice very detailed

    OPEN DISCUSSIONS AND Q & A (best read while listening to MP3)

    [14:23] Alberio Nemeth: Bit of an avatar critic but thats good
    [14:24] Jim PaulGee: i play video games
    [14:24] Jay Clostermann likes the CyberNinja the best, but the creator of it only wanted it on James for this time only.
    [14:24] Jay Clostermann: So I'll vote for the dragon.
    [14:24] Parker Panacek: cyberninja is the best!!!!!
    [14:24] Jim PaulGee: maybe the violence is having an effect/
    [14:25] Ryan Bartz: I hate the sims
    [14:25] Alberio Nemeth: Dragon seems to be the highest detailed with the least amount of prims andincludes the firebreath so it has my vote
    [14:25] nik385 Doesburg: Companions of Xant wasnt long or hard! :P
    [14:25] Parker Panacek: cyperninja!!
    [14:25] Jim PaulGee: i am talking about learning for those who have lost sound
    [14:25] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Hilary Mc Loughlin coming through loud and clear in ireland :)
    [14:26] Jim PaulGee: TSL is a strange world even tho I am a gamer
    [14:26] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Kenneth Lim coming through loud and clear too, in Singapore :-)
    [14:26] Jason Taka: yay WoW!
    [14:26] Parker Panacek: warcraftie!
    [14:26] Jim PaulGee: I feel more comfortable with my WoW elf
    [14:26] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Daniel Livingstone james is chatting about the need for a virtualbody when ina virtual world
    [14:26] Jim PaulGee: level 67 :)
    [14:26] Parker Panacek: warcraft sucks
    [14:27] Malifico Bade: Jim, Second Life is addicting be careful
    [14:27] Reallife Orca: Warcraft = good
    [14:27] Alberio Nemeth: my friend is lvl 97 Dwarf
    [14:27] Reallife Orca: wow= bad
    [14:27] Malifico Bade: Second Life is amazingly fun but addicting
    [14:27] Jim PaulGee: yea
    [14:27] Alberio Nemeth: Runescape is also really fun dont forget that
    [14:27] Samo7410 Kidd shouts: I DO I PLAY PS2
    [14:27] Malifico Bade: ts fun because, you can do anything in this game
    [14:27] nik385 Doesburg: it's like a whole new life. :P
    [14:27] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Daniel Livingstone jim is lucky to get a really nice selection of bodies to wear!
    [14:28] nik385 Doesburg: WoW is evil >.>
    [14:28] Jay Clostermann: You can make anything. You can socialize alot. The possibilities are endless.
    [14:28] Diana Hooper: Wow is so cool. T_T
    [14:28] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Daniel Livingstone you can see them here if you arent in SL:http://www.flickr.com/photos/holymeatballs/
    [14:28] Malifico Bade: Second Life is fun, because you can do absolutely anything possible, ImagineCreate
    [14:28] nik385 Doesburg: I played WoW for quite a while, using a friend's account as I was too lazy to get my own, it's too quest/mission based
    [14:29] Jim PaulGee: what do you all think of TSL?
    [14:29] Jay Clostermann: It's not really a game...
    [14:29] Diana Hooper: It's cool and small enough!
    [14:29] Jay Clostermann: It's a massively multiplayer online world.
    [14:29] nik385 Doesburg: If I wanted a jetpack in WoW I'd have to mod it and the GMs dont take nicely to modding.
    [14:29] Malifico Bade: In second Life can do anythign because you can script things and build things
    [14:29] Malifico Bade: theres almost no limits
    [14:29] Alberio Nemeth: hey Jim whats your Runescape account name?
    [14:29] Malifico Bade: Wow, my answers have to much logic
    [14:29] nik385 Doesburg: I play RuneScape too :D
    [14:30] Jay Clostermann: Logic is good.
    [14:30] Parker Panacek: im banned from world od warcraft i scripted mana andstuff
    [14:30] Jim PaulGee: modding is good
    [14:31] nik385 Doesburg: GMs dont like modding much...
    [14:31] Alberio Nemeth: Barry dont forget about fighting for causes thats a big part of it too!
    [14:31] Malifico Bade: Second Life, also can offer friendship in areas of life were you cant get it because naturally the aura of Second Life is wonderful and Happy everyone is mainly accepting of many things around here
    [14:31] Malifico Bade: ANd as long as you stay out of a battle sim, you don’t have to worry about dieing at any moment
    [14:32] Alberio Nemeth: people in Secondlife can be and act how they couldn’t normally
    [14:32] Alberio Nemeth: people fight to keep it that way
    [14:33] Malifico Bade: This is why i love Second Life, many people hate people because of various things a.k.a. Orientations, Ethnicity, etc., But if you are in Second Life, many people acccept you for who you are no matter what, or atleast from my experience thats why i love it
    [14:35] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Meghan Deana I've gotta run early - Awesome to hear you Alien Jim:) Love the interface also!
    [14:36] Malifico Bade: Second Life can also be used as a stress reliever, when your mad go in second life and jump off a cliff or let yourself die in a battle sim and respawn at home point that way you dont have to do anything bad to yourself in Real Life
    [14:37] nik385 Doesburg is torched.
    [14:37] Samo7410 Kidd: ouch
    [14:37] Guildenstern DeSantis: SL creates more stress for me than it relieves...
    [14:37] Malifico Bade: =]
    [14:37] nik385 Doesburg: D:
    [14:38] Malifico Bade: i think to deeply dealing with many things in real life and helping little kids get through little thigns so thats why my thigns have so much well like logic or somethign like that =p
    [14:40] Malifico Bade: I think its amazing that people are using Second Life for this kind of social expierinece i think being here were making friends and talking about some cool facts in Second Life
    [14:41] Anthony Pomeray: I'm betting Mr. Paul Gee over there is preparing himself for Starcraft 2 :)
    [14:41] Malifico Bade: SOrry about my long sentence =p i like to get my point out in easy steps
    [14:41] Parker Panacek: jim barry watch the southpark wow episode
    [14:41] Sloodle ChatCast .80: Daniel Livingstone thanks to claudia, we now have a bunch of picsof James on display here on the alien world :-)
    [14:41] Malifico Bade: I love my avatars they are very special to me
    [14:41] Parker Panacek: rock on
    [14:41] Reallife Orca: I think 1k's av is the bomb
    [14:42] Malifico Bade: I love being able to change myself whenever i want that way i can fulfill all of my dreams of being things (well little kid dreams)
    [14:42] Malifico Bade: I mean look at me im a freakin merman
    [14:42] Malifico Bade: All kids wanna be a merman
    [14:42] Malifico Bade: or merperson
    [14:43] Anthony Pomeray: Maer's back?
    [14:43] Malifico Bade: And, i feel that second life is actually a way for some of us teens to feelsuccessful by making a buissness or something and even trading in our lidnens for Cash
    [14:43] Jay Clostermann: He has been back for about a month.
    [14:43] Malifico Bade: Thats how i feel, i lvoe running my buissness i feel so succesful with it
    [14:43] Guildenstern DeSantis: I have been back since...January. And I am an idiot for coming back.
    [14:44] Parker Panacek: i make over 100$ a month through tsl =]
    [14:44] Guildenstern DeSantis: SL is an addiction to me. An unhealthy addiction. I should be out doing something productive right now.
    [14:44] Anthony Pomeray: Yep.
    [14:44] Guildenstern DeSantis: But what am I doing? I am playing SL.
    [14:44] nik385 Doesburg gets infected by a zombie-pirate virus. >.>
    [14:44] Anthony Pomeray: Yep.
    [14:44] Anthony Pomeray: That's it exactly.
    [14:45] Tabitha GKid: we are filming this as we speak
    [14:45] Guildenstern DeSantis: We are? Sweet.
    [14:45] Anthony Pomeray: Oh by the way, Steven? Communism was never introduced into the Russian society, what they had was Totalitarianism, not Communism.
    [14:46] Malifico Bade: Teen Second Life is amazing i love feeling as great as i do with my avs, my buissness, my friends, and the fact no one hates meh har =p
    [14:46] Steven Fermi: Anthony, as an American, I was taught that they had communism. Just like I was taught that nuclear was pronounced "nuk-u-ler".
    [14:46] Daniel Voyager shouts: i have missed the start please give me an overall on whats opened so far???
    [14:47] Steven Fermi: Malifico, cool people don't play SL.
    [14:47] Malifico Bade: Well i do
    [14:47] Reallife Orca: So what did i miss?
    [14:47] Malifico Bade: So i disprove your point
    [14:47] Guildenstern DeSantis: RoboHitler rose from the grave, and we all had to join together to build a laser cannon on the moon to wipe out his empire.
    [14:47] Steven Fermi: I raise your coolness one pimple!
    [14:48] Steven Fermi: My being here is unproductive.
    [14:49] Malifico Bade: Well, i like how me and my friends from Real Life that dont live near each other anymore can connect via Second Life
    [14:49] Steven Fermi: In fact, I am distracting most of you.
    [14:49] Steven Fermi: Malifico, if you are cool then you don't have to tell others that you are cool.
    [14:49] Malifico Bade: I love being able to at least imagine a body in Seocnd Life then just listen toa voice on the phone
    [14:49] Guildenstern DeSantis: Steven.
    [14:49] Malifico Bade: Steven shutty
    [14:49] Guildenstern DeSantis: That's a lie.
    [14:49] Guildenstern DeSantis: I tell everyone I am the freakin' man.
    [14:49] Malifico Bade: Shessh Capiche
    [14:49] Guildenstern DeSantis: Ow, lag. It burns.
    [14:49] Storm Basiat: Wolf!
    [14:50] Malifico Bade: Tabitha, are you cool?
    [14:51] Malifico Bade: I knwo what your talking about Jim, i hate the no friends thing in my Real Life and iget acceptance here
    [14:52] Malifico Bade: Can i get on the stage it looks pretty XD
    [14:52] Mariel Voyunicef reminds all adults who are reading this that there is a Teen Second Life group/photo pool in Flickr
    [14:52] Malifico Bade: Sorry had to be a bit random
    [14:52] Steven Fermi pays attention so infrequently that it's scary.
    [14:53] Malifico Bade: IM BURNED
    [14:53] Rafi GKid: ahhh!
    [14:53] Malifico Bade Burns to death
    [14:54] Malifico Bade: w00t im alive again! =D
    [14:54] Anthony Pomeray: Wow, Dragon av.
    [14:54] Mitchell Homewood: IT BURNZ! AHHHHHHH
    [14:55] Rafi GKid: If anyone is really interested in Jim's work, check outthe book "What VideoGamesHave to Teach US About LEarning and Literacy"
    [14:55] Everest Palmerstone: You know what's sad? Todays society would put the real secondcoming into the psycho bin.
    [14:55] Steven Fermi: Everest, the second coming would have the power to turn the guards into lemon wedges.

    FAREWELL APPRECIATIONS

    [14:56] Malifico Bade: BYE JIMM WE LOVE YOU!!!
    [14:56] Storm Basiat: Bird on the loose!
    [14:56] Malifico Bade: SO LONG JIM
    [14:56] Tabitha GKid: everyone wave to jim!!
    [14:56] Malifico Bade: Your so cool
    [14:56] nik385 Doesburg: Adieu, jim!
    [14:56] Samo7410 Kidd: BYE JIM
    [14:56] Malifico Bade Waves
    [14:56] Parker Panacek: wave
    [14:56] Reallife Orca: that thing is so cool
    [14:57] Samo7410 Kidd: Bye
    [14:57] Parker Panacek: barry, jim u guys rock
    [14:58] gooner Zeno: i am the small cat in the hat
    [14:59] Malifico Bade: Anywho, thanks for the expierience =p
    [14:59] Steven Fermi: I bet you've never used the word 'ergo' either.
    [15:00] Steven Fermi: Damnit, I've heard that word at least thrice and I have no idea what it means.
    [15:00] Reallife Orca: Bye Jim!
    [15:00] Parker Panacek: jim
    [15:00] Mitchell Homewood: "ergo, Visa vi, Concordingly!"
    [15:00] Steven Fermi: Either I'm really stupid, or everyone, including God, is out to get me.
    [15:00] Jay Clostermann: Bye.
    [15:00] Malifico Bade: Seeya Around Jim
    [15:00] nik385 Doesburg: Adieu, Jim.
    [15:00] Jim PaulGee is Offline
    [15:00] Guildenstern DeSantis: Bye Jimbo!
    [15:00] Anthony Pomeray: Don't worry guys, he'll always be with us, right here.
    [15:00] Guildenstern DeSantis: IN MAH HEART!
    [15:00] Steven Fermi: Bye Jim.
    [15:00] Reallife Orca: Congrats guys great event
    [15:01] Reallife Orca: That UFO was so cool
    [15:01] Claudia Linden: bye everyone - thanks...
    [15:01] Malifico Bade: So Long Great Event Everyone
    [15:02] Malifico Bade: Very Very Fun =D
    [15:02] Claudia Linden: bye slooders
    [15:02] Reallife Orca: haha that was so great when he came out of the ufo I had to do a double take
    [15:02] Mariel Voyunicef: I liked the chat between Grids :D
    [15:02] Malifico Bade: I learned anyone that comes into second life can be awsome and i like jim hes pretty shwoot
    [15:03] Mariel Voyunicef: And also I liked the fact that he's showing thatSL is not as shallow as it sounds
    [15:03] Jason Taka: I liked seeing the other avs people have made
    [15:03] Malifico Bade: Good= All of this it was amazing and a great thing to hear some peoples likings on second life even though there new
    [15:04] Reallife Orca: Barry at first i was like where are you going and then i see a guy pp out of tehufo i was like WHOAH
    [15:05] Anthony Pomeray shouts: THE CHICKEN WON
    [15:05] Malifico Bade: Pshht i felt so cool, my name was said like 5 times I felt like the shiz wiz
    [15:05] Malifico Bade: xD
    [15:06] Malifico Bade: Even if they did pronounce it wrong >.>
    [15:06] Mariel Voyunicef: I say the adults should say something. :p
    [15:06] Storm Basiat: This was a good event!
    [15:06] Everest Palmerstone: I heard there were 5 winners.
    [15:07] Malifico Bade: Sylver Bu, 100 Carlos, Blue Newcomb, Melano Fei, and some other guy
    [15:07] Guildenstern DeSantis: Some other guy?
    [15:07] Rafi GKid: Guildenstern Desantis
    [15:07] Guildenstern DeSantis high fives Rafi.
    [15:09] Everest Palmerstone: Speaking of speaking of things that have no connection with what they reminded you of, I'm gonig to go work on my av.
    [15:09] Radhika GKid: none of the chat is being recorded anymore
    [15:09] Malifico Bade: Anyhow i suppose ill head out too i have to start building my mall
    [15:09] Guildenstern DeSantis: Oh, that chat was being recorded?

    [p4k] EVC students film P4K for Gaming Video

    The high school videos in the Educational Video Center's program came to Global Kids P4K last Fall to film us for their documentary Are You Game? We just received a copy in the mail and it looks great.

    Read more about their program here and watch the excerpt that includes the P4K program below or download ithere.