Global Kids Island Newsletter - January 2008
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Rafi Santo
Jan 7, 2008, 2:50:30 PM1/7/08
to GKVirtualW...@googlegroups.com
Hi everyone!
I've included below the Global Kids Island
monthly newsletter, which we distribute in-world on the teen grid.
Hopefully this can give people a sense of things that are happening in
that space, and make sure that what happens in the teen grid doesn't
just stay in the teen grid.
We do have some events or announcements
that are relevant for main gridders, and I've highlighted in red items
I thought would be relevant or GK events that are happening on the
main grid.
Onwards into '08 everyone!
best,
Rafi
________________________________________________________________________________
Rafi Santo
Virtual Community Manager
Online Leadership Program
Global Kids
http://www.globalkids.org/olp
http://olp.globalkids.org
Online Leadership Program
Global Kids
http://www.globalkids.org/olp
http://olp.globalkids.org
Sign-up for the Global Kids' Virtual Worlds
Update Newsletter:
=== Global Kids Newsletter
===
January, 2008
January, 2008
Welcome to the monthly Global Kids
newsletter, and happy new year! This is your chance to find out
what's happening on the GK Islands and ways you can get involved!
Please take a copy and pass it to your friends. (IM Rafi GKid if you
have any questions).
+++++HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!+++++
Season's greetings and happy holidays from
everyone here at GK! You all have made 2007 an awesome year for
TSL, and we're sure that the same will be true for 2008!
This month, learn about:
+++++UPCOMING EVENTS+++++
++ Apply to become and GK Intern! ++
+++++UPCOMING EVENTS+++++
++ Apply to become and GK Intern! ++
The Spring semester round of the GK Virtual
Internship Program is accepting applications now! This is a
great opportunity to get more involved with GK, be supported doing
projects and events on the GK estate, develop great leadership skills
and even get community service hours.
IM Rafi GKid(tsl) if you're interested in
applying.
++ The TSL YAM Revival Meeting! ++
Care about your TSL community and the role
that adults play in it? Come to a meeting about the TSL YAM
(Youth Advocates Manifesto) Seal of Approval. The YAM is a
document, contributed to by both youth and adults, that lays out ways
that both of those groups believe adults should behave while in TSL.
The YAM Seal of Approval will be conferred upon public adult islands
to certify that they're acting in the best interests of the teen
community.
Want to help shape the YAM? Come to
the meeting in the beginning of January. IM Rafi Gkid for more
details or if you have any questions.
++ Intern Event - Beauty, Real vs. Perceived? ++
This workshop will be on examining inner and outer beauty, and the outlook people have on the two. We will look at how media has influenced how we view what the ideal "beauty" is. It will be a fun way to start off the new year with a new outlook on what real beauty is, no matter the race, gender, orientation, religious preferences, and etc.!
++ Intern Event - Beauty, Real vs. Perceived? ++
This workshop will be on examining inner and outer beauty, and the outlook people have on the two. We will look at how media has influenced how we view what the ideal "beauty" is. It will be a fun way to start off the new year with a new outlook on what real beauty is, no matter the race, gender, orientation, religious preferences, and etc.!
So please make some time on Friday January
11th, 3PM PST, and IM Nafiza GKid for a tp! :]~ I'll look forward to
seeing you there!
++ Virtual Liberties: Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights? ++
**Main Grid Event**
Second Life, on both the main and teen grids, has a long history of residents that fight for civil liberties. From Fleabite Beach's resistance movement against an early Linden prim tax to teen led protests to engage in cross grid commerce, SL residents have proven themselves to be civic beings.
As a follow-up to the conversation with MacArthur Foundation president Jonathan Fanton, the MacArthur Foundation, Global Kids and USC Annenberg Islands on January 28th for a live conversation on how issues regarding civil liberties play out in virtual worlds. Our own Barry Joseph will be speaking.
Where: USC Annenberg Island
Theater
When: January 28th, 2:30-3:30 pm
PST
++ Voices of Sudan ++
All are welcome to attend an audio stream
on Eye4You Alliance island, Thursday January 3 from 7am-8am PST of
Charlotte, NC author and photographer David Johnson who will be
presenting live from ImaginOn (www.imaginon.org) about his book,
Voices of Sudan. David has visited Sudan several times and will return
in February. Eye4You recognizes this is a time when many
students will probably be in school, so the audio presentation intends
to be recorded to access on Eye4You and online
(www.eye4youalliance.youthtech.info) at your convenience. For more
information, contact
eye4you...@gmail.com or Saryn
Eye4You in-world.
++ D.I.D.I. Initiative Contests Coming this
Month ++
If you're interested in starting your own
social venture and getting funding for an idea that will help your
community, IM Amira or Meghan Gkid. In the meantime, keep your
ears open for contests and events this month on D.I.D.I. Island.
If you want to make sure you get updates about these events, join the
D.I.D.I. Initiative group.
+++++RECENT EVENTS+++++
++ GK Fireside Workshops go Nuclear! ++
This past month we had a great Fireside Workshop that focused in on the important issue of nuclear proliferation. Titled "Nuclear Proliferation and the Future of the Bomb", the workshop not only informed residents about current issues regarding the development of nuclear weapons, but also gave them opportunities to articulate their views about what might be done in the face of the global challenges.
Read about their policy positions here:
++ GK Fireside Workshops go Nuclear! ++
This past month we had a great Fireside Workshop that focused in on the important issue of nuclear proliferation. Titled "Nuclear Proliferation and the Future of the Bomb", the workshop not only informed residents about current issues regarding the development of nuclear weapons, but also gave them opportunities to articulate their views about what might be done in the face of the global challenges.
Read about their policy positions here:
http://tinyurl.com/yo7wuf
++ Totally Wired: How Technology is Changing Kids and Learning ++
On Wednesday, December 12th, we had the opportunity to stream a great panel featuring media scholar Henry Jenkins, game designer Katie Salen and child development scholar Howard Gardner. The panel explored how technology is changing the learning process in kids, and coincided with the release of the MacArthur Series Volumes on Digital Media and Learning, which our own Barry Gkid has a chapter in!
Full video, podcast, photos and media coverage of the event can be found here:
++ Totally Wired: How Technology is Changing Kids and Learning ++
On Wednesday, December 12th, we had the opportunity to stream a great panel featuring media scholar Henry Jenkins, game designer Katie Salen and child development scholar Howard Gardner. The panel explored how technology is changing the learning process in kids, and coincided with the release of the MacArthur Series Volumes on Digital Media and Learning, which our own Barry Gkid has a chapter in!
Full video, podcast, photos and media coverage of the event can be found here:
++ Intern Event: Violence in Video Games ++
GK Intern Nicholas Kit held his second event this past week, focusing in on the topic of violence in video games and what effect they may have (or not have) on the behavior of teens.
Check out his blog post about the event here:
++ D.I.D.I. Selection Panels Decide on
Ventures ++
December 18th and 19th marked the beginning of our virtual selection panels for social entrepreneurial teams on the Dream It. Do It. Island in TSL. The first team to present, "Beat Bullying", comprised of three exceptionally talented young people committed to benefiting their local and virtual communities on issues related to cyber bullying.
TGS, Jump Start Park, and Body Rider presented the following day with strong plans to support their communities through interactive peer-education and support projects. All three teams envisioned the amazing potential of using Teen Second Life as a fun and creative learning environment. A short video of the panels can be watched at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_3rJwITNUU
December 18th and 19th marked the beginning of our virtual selection panels for social entrepreneurial teams on the Dream It. Do It. Island in TSL. The first team to present, "Beat Bullying", comprised of three exceptionally talented young people committed to benefiting their local and virtual communities on issues related to cyber bullying.
TGS, Jump Start Park, and Body Rider presented the following day with strong plans to support their communities through interactive peer-education and support projects. All three teams envisioned the amazing potential of using Teen Second Life as a fun and creative learning environment. A short video of the panels can be watched at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_3rJwITNUU
December was the beginning of a new
exciting collaboration for Global Kids! Students from Peggy Sheehy's
Tech Club at Suffern Middle School joined TSL to take part in the
D.I.D.I. Initiative! For updates, visit Peggy Sheehy's blog at:
http://rampoislands.blogspot.com
+++++ANNOUNCEMENTS+++++
The latest news on GK, opportunities to get
involved, and non-GK TSL news and events. This month, our own
Barry Gkid gets published, the first D.I.D.I. ventures are selected
and we reveal what will happen on GK's Imhotep Island!
++ "Witnessing History" Build Open to the Public ++
**Coming to the Main Grid
soon!!**
Following the completion of this virtual
exhibit's development over the summer by teens from the US Holocaust
Memorial Museum in Washington DC and the teen-led SL development
company Digital Refinery, this amazing interactive exhibit about the
Night of Broken Glass is officially open to TSL
residents. Main grid
residents will also get the opportunity to see this is in the coming
months, as we work to get the build to main grid.
++ New GK staff hired ++
After a long and complex Fall hiring process in which we utilized an innovative "Choose Your Own Job Description" application, we now have a great bunch of new people working with us here at GK! Learn more about Rik, Shawna, and others that have joined our projects here:
After a long and complex Fall hiring process in which we utilized an innovative "Choose Your Own Job Description" application, we now have a great bunch of new people working with us here at GK! Learn more about Rik, Shawna, and others that have joined our projects here:
++ "Science Through Second Life"
Afterschool Program Launching In January ++
Beginning next semester, two dozen freshmen at Global Kids' high school, the High School for Global Citizenship (HSGC) will take part in a daily class using Second Life to learn the life and physical sciences. Our new island, Imhotep, will be devoted to the program. Hopefully, just as we have with our Virtual Video Project afterschool program, we'll figure out ways to integrate the larger TSL community into the program's development. We'll keep you posted as things develop!
Beginning next semester, two dozen freshmen at Global Kids' high school, the High School for Global Citizenship (HSGC) will take part in a daily class using Second Life to learn the life and physical sciences. Our new island, Imhotep, will be devoted to the program. Hopefully, just as we have with our Virtual Video Project afterschool program, we'll figure out ways to integrate the larger TSL community into the program's development. We'll keep you posted as things develop!
++ Barry Joseph's Chapter on Gaming and TSL
in MacArthur Volumes now available ++
With the release of the MacArthur Series on
Digital Media and Learning, GK's own Barry Joseph (Barry Gkid in TSL
and GlobalKids Bixby on the main
grid) has a full chapter that can be read
in the Ecology of Games volume. It in, he discusses two of our
projects that utilize gaming (one focusing on TSL) and lays out the
implications of gaming for youth media programs. Go Barry!
The whole chapter is available free online. Get to it here:
http://tinyurl.com/23c3qv
The whole chapter is available free online. Get to it here:
http://tinyurl.com/23c3qv
++D.I.D.I. Pioneer Ventures Selected ++
As a result of their outstanding Venture idea and presentation, the D.I.D.I. Initiative Selection Panel has selected the first four D.I.D.I. Venture Teams!
We are proud to announce the following teams as pioneer Venturers in Teen Second Life and as members our growing movement of young changemakers around the world:
Jump Start Park
Body Rider
Beat Bullying
TGS
As a result of their outstanding Venture idea and presentation, the D.I.D.I. Initiative Selection Panel has selected the first four D.I.D.I. Venture Teams!
We are proud to announce the following teams as pioneer Venturers in Teen Second Life and as members our growing movement of young changemakers around the world:
Jump Start Park
Body Rider
Beat Bullying
TGS
Congratulations Teams on becoming D.I.D.I.
Venturers. We are all very proud of, and impressed by
you!
++ Global Kids Staff are Officially "Reflective" ++
Thoughts are abound here at GK at the turn of the year, so check out this month's staff reflections from the Online Leadership Program staff:
http://www.holymeatballs.org/staff_reflections/
++ Virtual Video Project Teens in TSL ++
Teens from our face to face Virtual Video Project afterschool program are taking their first steps into Teen Second Life, and are super excited to learn and explore this new world! If you see people with 'GKteen' last names hanging out on GK Machinima Island, feel free to stop by and say hi!
In the meantime, see what they're saying on
the VVP blog about their first SL experiences:
________________________________________________________________________________
To keep up-to-date on Global Kids, join our
group "GK Allies" on the main grid. You can also learn
more at our blog,
http://www.holymeatballs.org,
subscribe to our Twitter feed at www.Twitter.com/Holymeatballs or IM
Bhikku Beeks (MG) for info on Global Kids.
--
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