Global Kids' Digital Media Initiative

Well, last Tuesday we got a tutorial on editing using iMovie! Sam did a really great quick tutorial on iMovie and editing in it. Sadly, we didn't have many people there at the Machinima program... and we were short three group members (which left only 2 people), and that didn’t help our group because Thursday I was in Albuquerque for the NYLC Conference.

However, I'm sure they were fine without me because the last time I was out they did a great job at filming, so I look forward to seeing what kind of progress the group has made on Thursday. If much couldn't be done, that's okay too because we have a lot of time to work on it the coming Thursday. Anyway, on Tuesday, we learned how to cut a clip and cool little tricks with iMovie. And then we went to editing on our own~ and my group found that the parts we wanted were extremely short! Therefore, after cutting, the edited portion we got turned out to be about a little over a second. Then, we decided that the second cut was too quick, so with some help from team "media piracy" my oh-so-blind-eyes were able to locate the slow-motion effect.

We ended up with about four seconds of video, which is still short, but we were also short on time so we couldn't really do anything much more. Although, we did think that the ghost-like effect might go well with the PSA when Miguel's avatar is dancing. So, overall, it was a pretty productive day because we did get some work done, and we did learn a lot from Sam. However, I am a little concerned about how things turned out on Thursday because we had three people who we needed to teach or update the editing process to, which might have caused a little delay in the work. Well, I'm sure they caught on quickly. I can't wait until Thursday ^^!!!!~

Posted by Nafiza - TSL Intern/VVP at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This blog entry is a directory to content from our first anniversary in Teen Second Life (okay, February was really our birthday, but we were busy...).

The events ran from March 12- March 23, 2007. The full schedule is available. Below you will find teen reports, photos, transcripts, and more. A giant thank you to the dozens of teens, as well as the Lindens, who built objects, created animations, ran activities, promoted the events, and more!

PANELS
• TSL residents present on the past year of programs in TSL.
• TSL residents debate the role of adults in online teen spaces.
• Blue and Philip Linden on the past, present and future of TSL.
• Representatives from Learn & Serve America and the National Youth Leadership Council speak to teens through a live audio stream on service-learning.
• A live video from the annual Global Kids youth conference.

ACTIVITIES
• Scavenger Hunt on global environmental issues.
• GK Birthday Cake Baking Contest.
• A tour of the new NOAA Glacier followed by a workshop on global climate change.
• Two dance parties
• Birthday card signing.

TEEN REPORTS
• Lucky on the Volcano Eruption.
• Lucky on the teen panel on GK programs.
• Mariel on assisting the interview with Blue and Philip Linden.
• Mariel on the teen debate on the role of adults in teen second life.
• Jay on running the Cake Contest.
• Mat reports on the Scavenger Hunt.
• Nic385 on running the dance parties.
• Idan from the Virtual Video Project writes about filming the Global Kids conference for an entire day, and streaming it into Second life.
• Birthday messages left on the GK TSL Answering Machine.
• Mercury, the Global Kids Intern, reports on his personal highlights.

MULTIMEDIA
• Watch the official project wrap-up video.
• View over 100 photos within seven photosets on Flickr.
• Learn and Serve America and the National Youth Leadership Council podcast.
• Machinima birthday card from TSL resident.

COVERAGE
• UNICEF wrote a fantastic piece covering the GK youth conference and the role throughout the festival of Mariel VoyUNICEF.

  

• The Pacific Rim Exchange blog covers it here.

Posted by Barry at 9:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hello everyone - Merc here. This month has been a blast (literally)! Our 2 weeks of the GK 1 Year Anniversary in Second Life celebration was a great success. From the Birthday cake contest to Blue & Philip Linden discussing the history and future of Teen Grid, to the volcano eruption! All events went wonderfully. It was very fun to plan and execute some of these events; my favorite being the Learn and Serve Panel, which I moderated. I had never moderated a panel of adults before, so it was a new and exciting experience for me. I felt as though I did well in transitioning from question to question and keeping the speakers engaged. It was wonderful to hear about service learning and the positive impact it has on youth.

Image of the Learn and Serve voice panel that I interviewed.

Another highlight of the two week anniversary events was the volcano eruption, which Ryan Dayton beautifully scripted. The particle effects and the explosive lava rocks that were ejected from the volcano upon eruption were amazing. Many gathered to watch the initial explosion including Aimee Weber from the main grid, who was visiting as an approved adult under the name AimeeDev GKid. Aimee also brought over the melting ice glacier from the NOAA sim on Main Grid. We used the glacier for another event that same week to coincide with our theme of climate change.

This pic is of the calm before the eruption! Teens were waiting on this platform and hoping that giant pyroclasts of lava wouldn't knock them down.

So many of us worked hard to make this celebration happen! I'm so glad it turned out the way it did. Thanks to everyone who attended, and HAPPY 1 YEAR in SL GLOBAL KIDS! There will be many more birthday celebrations to come.

Posted by Mercury at 8:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Below is the video from Global Kids two week celebration in March of 2007 observing our year anniversary in Second Life.

Post and read comments on YouTube.

Posted by Barry at 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday’s class was a class on iMovie editing, Having used moviemaker before, I understood the basics of amateur editing software and the rest I figured out on my own. I have this natural knack for video software that I can just work with it and figure out its features. For example, I learned Adobe premiere pro and Adobe after effects pro 7.0 on my own. After effects being a program many say is way too complex for me as well as others with more experience. So Tuesday we edited the footage further and I worked on video titles. That’s really all but there is more to come, we're almost done!

Posted by VVP Idan at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We didn't succeed in finishing the PSA machinima T_T. We added the music to the PSA but we didn't finish the text. There were some problems with iMovie where we had to cut the text up and put it in different parts because when we put it all together the words would shrink and be on one line, which made it impossible to read. Today we will definitely (hopefully) finish the PSA once and for all.

Posted by VVP Joe at 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

TSL resident Nic385 created a simple answering machine for us on GK Island, so teens could leave us one line messages. Here are a few we received during the recent birthday celebration:

Kirbit Allen said, 'THANKS FOR GLOBKIDS!!!'
Jay Clostermann said, 'Global Kids Rocks!'
Killer Mills said, 'why is there a random turkey here?'
Moose Crossair said, 'Hiya. I’m showing Olivia Gray that its ok and its not gonna hurt her to leave a message'
Olivia Gray said, 'Recording machines scare me cause they are scary....and they growl.'
Ivan Ortega said, 'happy birthday, one year guys keep it up! wt!!!'
Gompy Zapedzki said, 'Hi i think that you are awesome.com'
Markus Vanbeeck said, 'I think this is quite a place... a little more people, and it would be perfect!'
Kinzie Lutetia said, 'hi. just asking if u think pie is good'
Master Sakai said, 'this place is awsome when's the party though?'
Rihanna Vanalten said, 'i like fish head...NOT'
Issabella Sanders said, 'Your Awesome Barry Keep Up The Good work ~Your Friend issabella sanders~'
Angelo Apps said, 'Gkid!! Happy Birthday... Cant say enough to let yall know how appreciative i am of you guys... Peace out...'
Cuteboy Dix said, 'I like ya place very supporting'
Paco Rahja said, 'No soup for you!'
jayco Bing said, 'This place rules!'
Zack Voom said, 'GK IS AWESOME! YAY! HAPPY ONE YEAR BDAY GK!!'

Posted by Barry at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last thursday we learned about filming and editing and how producers and editors can include so many cuts and camera angles in a simple clip. We also learned how the angles gives us a different perspective of a certain character or an object. The angles and camera cuts affect the way the viewers see the movie. Some are more effective than others. Some shots can make the viewers feel like they're the person, or sometimes it can put a lot of emphasis in a certain scene like the one where the baby carriage was rolling down the stairs. That scene was supposed to make the audience feel more and more suspenseful like they want to know what's going to happen to the baby. Is the baby going to get hurt? Is it going to be okay? I tried to closely pay attention to the camera angles in a couple of shots and i realized it gave more of a dramatic feeling to the show. Anyways, ill see everybody at Global Kids!

Posted by VVP Alex at 9:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hey all! I just got back from a lovely weekend in San Francisco. I was invited by Linden Lab to participate in the SL Views program. For those who aren't familiar with SL Views - it is a meeting in which involved residents of the community are chosen to discuss the long term development and feature design of the Second Life platform. Sounds exciting, yeah? Well, it was definitely an experience of a lifetime! We spoke and gave our input about various topics ranging from Voice Implementation, to Group Tools, and UI design. (Look forward to some exciting new features, folks!)

I met many Lindens face-to-face and had conversations with them (very interesting to see how their RL avatar differs from their SL one). Oh, and I met some amazing residents - most of which were from the main grid. I also got to meet my longtime SL buddy Brooke Barmy, whom I've known in SL for almost 2 years now. We were a very eclectic group with skills scattered all over the spectrum, yet we all managed to relate because of one commonality. That commonality being - we are all residents of Second Life.

The actual meeting/discussion was held in a seperate building than LL's main offices, but after the meeting was over we headed over for a reception. Lindens really know how to plan a reception, let me tell you. There was lots of food and everyone was pretty eager to eat. After all, it had been a long day! LL's office and work environment in general is absolutely astonishing. They are big into transparency, and as such, all of their desks are in one large room - no cubicles or anything! Blue Linden gave Brooke and I the tour of the building. Now, if you think Blue is an interesting character in-world, he is even friendlier and definitely more responsive in First Life. haha! Oh, and he is a big fan of Kidrobot and has a real aviator cap on his desk - there's a Linden factoid for those who are interested. Gotta love Bloo!

The LL resident signature board that I forgot to sign because I was too busy talking to people! grrr

Oh, how I miss San Francisco already...

Posted by Mercury at 9:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday was an interesting day. People went to the global conference but what I got to do was film the event!

So much fun handling that...beautiful...expensive...very expensive camera. It was amazing, the camera had depth of field focus and all sorts of beautiful features not available to me on my little camcorder. The Depth of field was what really amazed me its the one thing camcorders lack that I want so bad.

But now about the conference. It was a really exciting event. The performances were so powerful. My personal favorite was Queen God Is and what she said. I thought it was very passionate and powerful.

It was a joy to be there and aid in the filming of the event. Nice job GK!

Posted by VVP Idan at 4:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last class we worked on finishing our PSA but the music was not transferrable off my i-pod so we didn't make any progress with music. I now transfered it to a usb cord and am going to put it into the PSA today! When we finish that we will work the text in on the last few shots. Then we'll be officially finished!

Posted by VVP Joe at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This blog entry is a directory to content as we post it for the 18th Annual NYLC Service-Learning Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from March 28 - 30, 2007.

Those unable to attend the 18th Annual National Service-Learning Conference in Albuquerque can attend it LIVE in Second Life!

Residents of Second Life will be able to attend conference plenary sessions in real time at the Global Kids Island in Teen Second Life and at the NMC Teaching sim in Second Life’s community for adults.

"Speakers include Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and United Nations Messengers of Peace; Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympian and founder of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation; Verna Cornelia Price, founder of the Girls in Action program; J. Robert Flores, Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; Kerri Strug, Special Advisor to the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and Olympian; and David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. More speakers will be announced as they are confirmed."

For more information on the 18th Annual NYLC Service-Learning Conference, please visit their website by clicking here.

• Representatives from Learn & Serve America and the NYLC speak to teens through a live audio stream on service-learning in Teen Second Life, prior to the conference.
• The permanent video feed of footage from the conference. (coming soon)
• Photos taken from Second Life, both on the main grid and on the teen grid.
• Photos taken in Second life and in real life at the Conference during the 2 day plenary and workshop sessions.
• Photos taken by Tabitha and Nafiza of their trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Teen post by Nafiza, on her experience at the Conference, who also presented along with Tabitha on "Youth in the Digital Age" during a workshop on March 30, 2007.
• Live chat dialogue from the workshop on "Youth in the Digital Age" by teens in Second Life. (coming soon)
• Staff post by Tabitha, on her experience at the Conference and photos from the event. (coming soon)

-------------------------------------------------------

(The event has now concluded, please click on above links for post-conference materials, thanks!)

The conference will be streamed into both the main grid and the teen grid. The location on the main grid will be at the NMC Teaching sim, this is the teleport URL for those of you who are not familiar with NMC. You must join the NMC guests group in order to access the NMC sim.

Go to this link for a direct teleport on the main grid in Second Life

Anyone who is not in SL can also copy and paste the stream below in their regular web browser to watch and listen in, just be sure to have Quicktime installed on your computer.

Copy and paste this link to watch from your Internet browser

Please see below for the specific times that will be streamed into Second Life.

NYLC STREAMING SCHEDULE (all in EST):

Thursday, March 29
11am ~ 12:30pm: Opening Plenary Session - Stream from conference to SL, and SL to conference. Audience in SL will "see" themselves on the screen of the real-life stage!

3:45pm ~ 5:15pm: Workshop Session
Topic: Resources for Recovery
Presenter: Karen McKinney, Bethel University, MN

Join this highly interactive session on service-learning as a key strategy in disaster recovery and relief. Better understand the assumptions we make when helping others while exploring how to appropriately implement genuine, thoughtful service-learning projects in the wake of adversity.

5:30pm ~ 7pm: Workshop Session
Topic:Thinking Outside the Box: Community-Based Collaborations, Service-Learning, and Urban Youths
Presenter: Ed Irwin, The Imani Youth and Family Development Center, MN

Ed Irwin has been working with urban youths and service-learning for over 20 years. In this session he will encourage you to "think outside the box" when it comes to developing effective service-learning programs for urban youths. The presenter will share insights, successful initiatives, and effective principles on how to utilize service-learning to engage urban youths and develop young leaders of the urban community.

Friday, March 30

11:45am ~ 1:15pm: Opening Plenary Session

3:45pm ~ 5:15pm:
Topic: What's the next big idea?

Presenter: David Eisner, Corporation for National and Communitiy Service, DC; Robert Flores, OJJDP, and others

Corporation for National and Community Service CEO David Eisner, OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores, and others will share the latest research findings and program opportunities for service-learning. They will challenge the audience to dream big and to think about how to work together to get out the word about the positive power of youths and service-learning in the US. The conversation will also include a discussion of Corporation and OJJDP resources, and efforts to support youth-driven service-learning.

5:30pm ~ 7pm: Workshop Session - Global Kids and Youth Noise present together on "Youth Work in a Digital World".
Topic: Youth Work in a Digital Age

Presenter: Brad Lewis, Learn and Serve America, Corporation for National and Community Service, DC

Presenters: Tabitha Tsai, Nafiza Akter, Global Kids, and Youth Noise.

This session will highlight some of the exciting work that young people are undertaking both on and off-line to address significant problems faced by youths in the 21st century, including those who are disadvantaged. Across America and around the world, young people are using technological tools in innovative ways to serve their communities. Come and hear youths and their adult allies from Global Kids and Youth Noise speak out on how they are working for a better virtual and real world.

Hope to see you in-world!

Tabitha Gkid and Nafiza Gkid will be presenting in a workshop at the NYLC conference

Posted by tabitha at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last Thursday our workshop was a good experience. We learned about editing and how it affects the look and feel of a movie. This is great for our PSA's because now we can apply what we learned in the workshop to our PSA's using iMovie. Hopefully we'll get to deeper understanding of how to use iMovie and edit our films to look as professional as the ones you see on television.

Posted by VVP Miguel at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The final event of our two week festivities celebrating the start of GK's second year in TSL was a day long youth conference, streamed live from New York City.

The Global Kids annual conference is always one of the highlights of the year - an all-day affair led by Global Kids youth leaders for over 600 teens. The topic this year was global environmental concerns.

We streamed the event into both Global Kids Island and, with the help of the NMC, to educators on the main grid as well. This was our first time handling every aspect of a live video feed into TSL on our own, and it went really smooth. We even had one of our youth leaders from the machinima program, Idan, run the camera all day. We were very pleased.

Below are some photos and the schedule for the day.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Registration and Breakfast

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM Morning Plenary

Welcome
• Marc Dones and Lilia Diaz, Students, Eugene Lang The New School for Liberal Arts
• Joel Towers, Director, Tishman Environment and Design Center, The New School.
• Daphne Farganis, Director, Institute for Urban Education, Eugene Lang The New School for Liberal Arts.
• Carole Artigiani, Executive Director, Global Kids, Inc.
• Ramon Cruz, Policy Analyst, Environmental Defense
• Undesirable Elements - A Global Kids & Ping Chong & Co. Collaborative Project with Long Island City High School, Canarsie High School, and South Shore High School
• Human Rights Activist Project (HRAP) - Amanda Arriola, Jean Fatal and Monsammet Nahar, Lafayette High School

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Afternoon Plenary

• Dance Performance: Absolute Bhangra, Long Island City HS
• Alexie Torres-Fleming, Founder and Executive Director, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice
• New York State Assemblyman Michael Gianaris
• Spoken Word Performance: Gabriel Peoples and Sharon Anne
• Proclamation by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer

2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Afternoon Workshops

• The Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Cultures
• Global Warming
• War and the Environment
• Food and the Environment
• Natural Disasters
• Women’s Health and the Environment
• Energy
• Children’s Rights and the Environment
• Consumption of Natural Resources
• Environmental Racism

3:30PM – 4:15 PM Closing Plenary and Performances

• Performance by Queen God Is
• Dance Performance: The Beacon School Dance Club
• Belly dancing by Kailie Cabarcas, Academy of American Studies
• Poetry: Children’s Aid Society

On the NMC Campus:

Posted by Barry at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNICEF posted to their site a great write up on the Global Kids conference and various workshops held. Read the full text below or view it here.

At Global Kids Conference, high school students debate environmental issues UNICEF Image

© UNICEF USA/2007/Gallegos

A participant at the 2007 Global Kids Annual Conference in New York takes notes during a workshop on water.

By Rachel Bonham Carter

NEW YORK, USA, 26 March 2007 – Six hundred teenagers gathered in New York on Friday to debate environmental issues at the 2007 Global Kids Annual Conference entitled, ‘Do you know where your environment is?’ While experts from UNICEF and other organizations helped to guide discussions, the event was entirely youth-organized and youth-led. 

“The opportunity for a young person to go to a conference that is completely run by and for youth can be a transformative experience,” said Global Kids Online Leadership Programme Director Barry Joseph. “It shows them the possibilities of what can happen when youth are given the resources and are supported to be in charge and make a difference.”

The day was split between group workshops in the morning, which focused on ‘indicators for a healthy, sustainable environment’, and separate sessions in the afternoon, which covered a variety of issues, including:

• The impact of war on the environment
• Environmental justice
• Global warming and climate change
• Food, water, children’s rights and the environment.

Global Kids

The 2007 Global Kids Annual Conference was streamed live in the virtual online world, Second Life.

Online in Second Life

“I was very impressed with the young facilitators,” said UNICEF Programme Advisor Donna Goodman, who spoke at the workshop on water. “The kids were very well prepared and well-informed. The value of working with kids in industrialized countries is to raise awareness.

“The water cycle on this planet is all connected so the more kids that know how they can support each other and connect to kids around the world, the better. Youth advocacy is really the key to meeting the Millennium Development Goals,” added Ms. Goodman.

Students from over 50 public schools and youth organizations took part in the conference at the New School in Manhattan. It was also streamed live online in the virtual world Second Life, where it reached young people and educators around the world. The aim was to help young people examine local and global perspectives on critical environmental issues and potential solutions.

UNICEF Voices of Youth member Mariel, who is from Mexico, took part in various events in Teen Second Life last week in the build-up to the conference. She helped to raise awareness of the event by facilitating online discussions amongst youth and by hosting tours of the virtual buildings created in Teen Second Life during the UNICEF World Fit For Children contest, which was held in December 2006.

Posted by joyce at 1:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last Thursday we were supposed to finish filming our PSA. This concept was simple except that our group was missing two of our members. Because of this, our filming had to be postponed. The main subject about the project we were doing on Thursday was editing. We went through the basics of editing. In the workshop we learned about the 180 degree rule which was to keep things in one half of a circle. The main reason was to make space. Space along with timing are important factors of editing. We saw a couple of movie clips to give us the idea of how editing depicts the atmosphere of a movie. If only we could finish our filming, then we could work on editing.

Posted by VVP Armando at 7:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As part of the two weeks celebrating GK's one year anniversary in Second Life, Ryan Dayton built not one, not two, but three birthday cards for over 220 teens to sign.

Thank you all for taking the time to drop by and adding your name to the card! We look forward to our next birthday. With this year's volcanic eruptions, birthday cake making contests, live audio and video panels and more... I can't wait to see what we do together next year!

Birthday card 1 of 3

Birthday card 2 of 3

Birthday card 3 of 3

Posted by tabitha at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hiya! I'm nik385 Doesburg, a GK Intern. Global Kids interns host events monthly on Global Kids Islands.

This month, as party of their birthday party, I hosted parties on the thirteenth and the twenty second. I had a lot of fun running the music stream as a DJ, and hosting a few games of hud-Bitris. People seem to like to dance on things a lot.

I learned a few things though. I need to advertise my events better, as at the second party there was a very low attendance, because it was not following a large event, and I hadn't advertised.

I had a free music download system running that allowed me to download requests as long as they weren't inappropriate. After the first party we played hud-bitris.

At the second party Rafi got "Ruthed" which is when an avatar reverts to the default avatar shape, but keeps it's skin and clothing.

We had a lot of fun at both, and I had fun hosting them and look forward to hosting events again soon. I had some trouble getting images on the Global Kids image stream, so I had to use a backup account. Hopefully, by next time, I will have everything working properly.

nik385 out.

Posted by Nik - SL Intern at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday was interesting. The first 15 minutes were given to us to finish filming but since my group was done filming we started to do the editing with an Apple application called iMOVIE. Sadly, we couldn't figure out how to do it, so that 15 minutes went to waste. But it wasn't completely useless, you learn through trial and failure--right? Anyway, the rest of the workshop Chris and Meredith led. We watched scenes or clips from different movies to see how we can make good use of the editing process or cutting scenes. We learned about the 180 degree rule and why it is applied when filming. I guess it makes sense to keep everything in one half of a circle--and the reason was to establish space. That was one of the things we were told to keep in mind when editing. The three things were: space, time, and to establish meaning.

I think it was good that we got to see the different effects that cutting can have on the mood of the film--because that is pretty important. I guess, in our PSA's we might not want to cut back and forth too much because that might kill the seriousness of the mood--but maybe if someone is making a PSA that's more entertaining then they may want to do that. I really want to learn more about the actual editing process since that will come in useful when it comes to finalizing the PSA, but we will need a lot more time to actually do that...since an hour is just too small amount of time.

Posted by Nafiza - TSL Intern/VVP at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

An interesting blog entry about Ayiti: The Cost of Life recently came from a blog entitled "Once in the morning sunlight...Take a moment to reflect on the World." In it the author, Nenya, talks about her thoughts on playing the game.

You can read her heartfelt entry below:

I'm probably going to post something about this on my other blog, as well, but from a different perspective.

Has anyone ever tried www.costlife.org ? A little game for anyone to play, and reach one simple conclusion: the poor can achieve very moderate success in life, and may be reduced to living in pityful conditions if they should make the slightest mistake, or encounter the slightest unforeseen hardship.

The poor aren't equally poor everywhere; a poor man living in New York can stil beg his way around to a couple of dollars a day, eat a burger or two, and keep clean, maybe even get some free education, or read a paper; it's not pleasant, but it simply doesn't compare with poverty in the "Least developed countries" (read, poorest), such as Haiti (or Ayiti, where the game is set). The game, which is made in cooperation with Unicef, drives home some pertinent, if sad, facts. I discovered that some things I consider crucial_ the wonders of education, children needing to be children, not wage-earners_ are, in fact, luxuries which our economic state allows us... Beautiful principles, indeed, but... how realistic?

...A lesson which, I believe, many "westerners" (or wasterners) might well to heed, before judging the poor to be lazy or sufficiently aided already.

So play the game... show it to your children. Learn for it, as I did. A la bon bagay!

Posted by joyce at 1:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last class we finished all the filming necessary for our PSA. All we have to do now is edit the film, add music, and the two clips of information and website credits! We are finally almost done! It's about 29 seconds long so far. Today we will be putting in music, and if that goes by smoothly we will put in the text at the end of the PSA! Then we'll be finally done!

Posted by VVP Joe at 4:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday we got to filming once again. We filmed the still camera shots because we took care of all the panoramic shots when we had Barry's camera in Second Life at our disposal. Once the shots were done, I imported them all to iMOVIE and began to edit them keeping the continuity of the shots clear so that the cutting wouldn't look jittery. Once it was done it was 30 seconds long exactly what we needed only problem was there were no text. So hopefully we'll be able to go a little over 30 seconds but not too much. Today I’ll be adding music to the video and then the editing process should be just about done.

Posted by VVP Idan at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After much anticipation, the melting glacier of NOAA main grid fame has arrived on GK island. We held an event on Tuesday located there, engaged in some great discussion about what NOAA is, why sea levels rise, and what it all means for the world. It was followed by an incredible debate, GK style of course (involving flying!), during which the teens showed us just how much they knew and how passionate they are about environmental issues.

Check out this great post by Kate, one of the educators that works with GK on our island:

Global Kids do Global Warming

This week is Global Kids' first birthday in Teen Second Life, which surprised me as I thought they had been around for a lot longer. To celebrate they have been running special events. Last night we saw the trademark GK volcano erupt, and this evening we were treated to an interactive glacier that shows how the sea levels rise as the glaciers melt. It was a fantastic session, with Rafi (one of the adult members of staff) asking interesting and challenging questions.

For the second part of the event, platforms appeared, one central one, and three others with textures that said either 'agree', 'disagree' or 'not sure'. Rafi said out a statement and the rest of us had to stand on the platform that fitted how we felt. We had to be prepared to defend our position too.

I was VERY impressed by the kids involved. They were attentive, made great points, supported each other, valued each other's comments, and occasionally corrected the facilitator's typing politely so that the meaning was understood by all. If kids were getting distracted by scuttling crabs or trying to find promotional jackets, other kids were politely suggesting that they should pay attention or get back on topic. A couple of kids had to leave during the debate and they were really disappointed. There was a real enthusiasm for the event, and at the end kids were asking how long the glacier would be staying and when the next events and debates would be. ... and this was all voluntary - no compulsory education involved at all.

If you would like to read a transcript from the event this is continued below. I've shortened it from 38 pages to 15 by taking out conversations not related to the debate and everyone's (SL) surnames have been removed.

The three main statements that are debated are:

• Global Warming is a problem that is too challenging for the global community to deal with.
  
• Reducing carbon emissions to safe levels won't be possible because it will hurt the economy too much.
  
• It is the responsibility of governments, not of individuals, to make sure that the global climate crisis is solved.

  FYI Rafi, Tabitha, and myself were the only adults in the conversation.
  

Rafi: On the main grid there's an organization called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and they have a whole sim dedicated to looking at all sorts of stuff related to the environment. This year’s Global Kids annual conference is on the topic of the environment, so in honor of that, we thought we'd ask NOAA if they'd help us to move this massive glacier from the main grid to the teen grid! And they agreed, because they love each and every one of you. :D and think that it's important for you all to learn a bit about the environment. So, that's story of how the glacier got here. But now that it's here, what of it?
Rafi: Can I ask one of you fine teens to hit the animation on this puppy? and show us a bit of what it does? There we go!
Rafi: So, using /me raises hand, can one of you tell me what happened, and what it's illustrating?
Elgion: wow
Daniel: wow
Jay raises hand
Rafi raises hand
Elgion: /me
Rafi: Jay?
Ryou: Oooh.
Elgion: /me
Jay: Global Warming has affected ice glaciers just like this in real life, even to this extent!
Demon raises hand coz they all did
Ryou: o_o
Tas: I got a great snapshot
Rafi: So what happened when the glacier melted?
Rafi: Demon?
Jay: This is an illustration of the damage this is doing.
Jay: Flood!
Rafi: Gereat Jay!
Elgion: Polar Bears are dieing because they are losing the Glaciers they have they're homes on
Rafi: Yup, the water levels rose.
Tas shouts: When the glacier melted the water level rose quite rapidly
Rafi: This is true Elgion.
Daniel: wow
Rafi: But there are also other things that contribute to rising sea levels
Rafi: Take a look at the sldie to my left
Rafi: your right!
Rafi: This slide here offers some reasons why the sea level changes.
Elgion: Also people have said that the World Sea Level can raise up to 20ft of water
Rafi: So, fkrom the slide what are some other reasons that the sea level changes?
Jay: Pollution?
Rafi: Indirectly, yes. as it adds to CO2 which increases atmospheric temperature and melts sea ice
Rafi: Anyone have any idea what happens to water once it gets warmer though?
Elgion: it evaporates???
Rafi: When it boils, yeah, but when it warms, it expands.
Rafi: And when it expands....
Rafi waits for a clever teen to finish his sentence...
Jay: IT FLOODS.
Elgion: when it expands it rises
Rafi: About right jay, when water expands the sea level rises
Rafi: Exactly Elgion!
Storm: when it rises it floods!
Rafi: So we know that sea levels are rising....
Rafi: But what was one of the things that caused rising?
Rafi: Jay Mentioned it...
Rafi: Begins with a P.
Jay: Pollution.
Storm: Pollution
Rafi: Totally.
Daniel: o.k
Rafi: Anyone know what some different types of pollution are?
Storm: I know a few
Rafi: Go for it Storm.
Storm: Carbon Dioxde and Carbon monoxide
Storm: erm
Jay: Well, we are ripping up the ozone layer with our waste.
Storm: let me think, they are green house gasses that cause global warming, and the green house gasses are
Rafi: You got it.
Elgion: What if they had a way to throw waste into Space??
Daniel: wow
Rafi: So as Storm said, when greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere
Jay: They pollute.
Rafi: it causes the temperature to rise.
Storm: As they cant escape
Daniel: right!!!
Storm: :)
Elgion: Also Bomb testing and Automobiles recks the Ozone
Tas shouts: It would take a few centuries for the tempurature to stabalize
Rafi: Can anyone looking at the slide tell me how long it will take for the temperature to stop rising if we stopped emitting greenhouse gasses right now?
Tas: a few centuries
Quert: 1000 years
Storm: 100-300
Daniel: a long time
Jay: More than 1,000 years.
Daniel: wow
Daniel: is that true?
Storm: Yeh
Storm: maybe 1000+ years
Rafi: Yup, temperature will stabilize in a coupe of centuries...
Tas: Long time
Daniel: scary
Storm: 100-300?
Storm: Like i said?
Daniel: so what can we do about it then???
Rafi: And the see level will continue to rise after that for thousands of years, potentially.
Jay: *sea
Tas: So theres no way to stop it rising?
Rafi: Ah... that's what we'll talk about next.
Storm: Stop giving out green house gases
Rafi: Storm makes a great point, and he's created the perfect bridge to the debate we'll be having.
Rafi: Before we move into the debate though,
Storm: :)
Rafi: I encourtage you all to take a free crab!
Tas: omg
Tas: yay
Rafi: and snowsuit!
Storm: I love crabs :D
Quert: select the crab
Rafi is prepping for the debate...
Tas: got it
Mercury: It moves fast..so try to select it if you can
Storm: :o Kate you got your snow sute on :D
Tas: i got it
Tas: just
Tas: :)(
Storm: :o
Kate: if you can catch it ;-)
Tas 's sister wants to go on the computer :(
Blind: dont let her xD
Blind: :P
Tas: I hate it when events r on weekdays
Quert: me 2
Blind thinks that tas's sis should learn to wait XD
Tas: she needs to do homework
Rafi: okay folks... so as you can see the human barometer boards have mysteriuously appearred from the sky! Can folks join me up on the main panel?
Tas: ok
Tas: sure
Rafi: Come on up everyone!!!!
Quert: come
Storm: Quick folks
Storm: hehe
Storm: This is fun
Tas: es hurry i gtg soon
Storm: :)
Tas: ok
Tas: QUICK QUICK
Tas: xD
Daniel: can i have a jacket please
Storm: You need to get it from below
Daniel: where
Jay: On the end of the bridge.
Ryou: Do I have to wear a jacket?
Tas: no
Ryou: I'm quite warm already
Tas: but its warmer
Ryou: Sweet.
Tas: xD
Rafi: lol, no, just helps you stay warm!!!
Tas: yup
Rafi: So okay everyone....
Tas: im warm
Kate: not if you forget to put shoes on!
Jay is warm in his tuxedo.
Rafi: We're going to play something called the human barometer...
Tas: Ok
Rafi: has anyone here ever heard of a barometer?
Tas: no
Storm: Nope
Quert: no
Storm: But ive done somthing like this before
Storm: To advertise Camp Gkid
Storm: With mercury
Rafi: Okay, let's see if I can pull up a definiteioon...
Tas: ok
Rafi: /define barometer
HUD Thingy whispers: This system is currently down. Please try again later.
Rafi: oh well, no go there.
Jay: RAGE AGAINST THE SYSTEM.
Rafi: A barometer is a device used to measure pressure.
Mercury: /wiki barometer
Tas: Oh k
Rafi: Anyone have a clue what a human barometer would be then?
Quert: oh. yes
Jay: Humans measuring pressure?
Tas: where we are used to see the presure?
Rafi: What do you think Quert?
Quert: measuring humans
Rafi: The pressure of what Tas?
Tas: the pressure of water?
Storm: the air i beleve or the water
Rafi: lol, nope. In this case we'll be measuring the pressure of opinion!
Tas: Cool
Quert: oh
Storm: Argh ok
Quert: cool
Rafi: So...here's how it will work,
Quert: agree.. dunno or disagre
Rafi: I'm going to say a statement. And then each of you has to choose a board: agree, disagree, or not sure
Tas: ok
Rafi: Once you're on the appropriate board begin to type up your reason for why you chose to go there and be prepared to share it with the group.
Tas: then u ask us 1 by 1?
Rafi: That's the idea.
Tas: This will be fun
Daniel: o.k
Rafi: But have your statement prepared in advance to save time!
Tas: ok sure
Rafi: Also---
Rafi: YOU CAN CHANGE BOARD ASFTER SOMEONE ELSE SPEAKS
Tas: ok
Rafi: If they managed to change your mind. :)
Tas: :)
Tas: ok we starting now?
Rafi: yup,
Rafi: Is everyone ready for the first statement?
Daniel: yes
Tas: YES
Jay: Yes.
Quert: yh
Quert: yeh*
Rafi: w00t!
Rafi: here we go!
Tas: lol
Kate: yup
Rafi: Global Warming is a problem that is too challenging for the global community to deal with.
Rafi: Everyone find your board and start typing!
Rafi: What do you think Ryan?>
Ryou: >_>
Rafi: Okay, so first, can everyone 'hear' me?
Ryou: Yeahup.
Storm: Yep
Jay: AHH!
Jay: I need to go eat!
Jay: afk
Tas: ok
Rafi forgot that he shouldn't ask questions when everyone is typing up their responses.
Ryou: I'll vouch for Jay.
Storm: hehe
Ryou: By imposing my opinions.
Rafi: Jay, do you have a quick statement ready that you'd like to share before you go?
Storm: I've typed mine.
Rafi: lol
Tas: hes gone
Daniel: whats next then
Rafi: Oop, looks like we lost him!
Tas: lol storm
Tas: me
Rafi: Do we have a volunteer from the disagree side that wants to share their statement first?
Storm: I will!
Rafi: Great, so just to remind about the statement:
Rafi: Global Warming is a problem that is too challenging for the global community to deal with.
Rafi: Tas, then storm.
Rafi: Tas, whatcha got?
Tas: ok
Tas: Global Warming Can Be Stopped By Anyone, They Just Have To Put All Their Effort Into Research And Facilities. They Also Need Statistics And With That And Everyones Help, Global Warming Can Be Tackled By Anyone :)
Quert: hmm
Rafi: Okay, so Tas thinks that research and study are the keys.
Ryou: Nobody want's Ryou's opinions. Yeah. I see how it is.
Rafi: Quert, you hmmmed, do you have a respoinse to that?
Rafi: We'll get to you Ryou! Promise! : D
Ryou: I'll hold you to it! :O
Rafi: Ok, Storm, let's here what you came up with.
Storm: Okie Its not to challenging at all. Its becuase most people cant be botherd or they think why should i help save the planet if no one else is bothering!
Tyguy: Let's pay attention.
Tas: Yeh True
Daniel: true
Storm: If everyone puts some effort into this we can save the planet!
Tas: WOOOO
Tas Claps
Storm: We just need you guys to help and NEVER give up
Quert: i changed idea
Rafi: What do you mean, no one can bother with it Storm?
Storm: Well Some people say Why should i bother if no one else is
Rafi: Just a minute, I want to hear form some of the unsures.
Rafi: So Storm thinks there's a problem with 'group-think"!
Kate: Its too expensive and difficult for politicians to deal with. They're only elected for a few years - why worry about the future? But we will have to start dealing with it soon
Rafi: That if nobody takes action, other people feel less inclinded to take action too.
Storm: Yes indeed
Storm: Thats right!
Rafi: Katharine, so you feel like our political systems might be something that can prevent action on Global Warming?
Kate: yes
Ryou: That if political figures don't take action then petty people such as ourselves are less inclined to.
Tas: yup
Kate: politicians want to be popular and let people drive nice cars
Ryou: Or be the ones driving the nice cars.
Kate: they can't say "stop flying and driving 4x4s"
Tas: thats stereotypical..
Rafi: Anyone have any thoughts on that? Agree? Disagree? You can do this popcorn style.
Ryou: Agree with what?
Daniel: are you enjoying this event peoples???
Tas shouts: i am
Daniel: i am
Rafi is too, and glad you all came!
Rafi: With the idea that our political systems might be part of the problem.
Ryou: Oh, totally. That's mmy biggest problem.
Ryou: Agreeeee.
Rafi: So Ryou thinks politics is the problem.
Lucky: Agree. Obviously. Many important leaders in todays society are aware of Global Warming, and some are trying to stop it. But the majority of them are too involved in money, and power; that they don't take the time to realize that they're hurting the earth.
Rafi: Okay, anyone else want to share what their statment before we move on to the next one?
Quert: me
Daniel: nope
Rafi: Thanks Lucky!
Lucky: =]
Ryou: About politics being the problem? Or can it be something completely irrelevant to politics?
Quert: no
Rafi: Okay, it sounds like people are generally agreeing on one thing, that politics has to change to find a solution, with some feeling it's more grim than others.
Tabitha: niow now guys
Tabitha: no pushing off the boards
Tas: i fell accident
Lucky: -sticks out tongue- Can't push me off, nananana!
Tabitha: oh LOL
Kate: to change it we need to rock the vote
Tas: :)
Rafi: Lucky doesn't think we can fully adress it, Storm ahs faith that if enough epople put in effort, things can change.
Storm: :) they will and can
Rafi: Ok, let's regather on the main platform, and I;m going to get the next statement ready.
Ryou: I seriously think the only real problem IS politics and restrictions on what we are allowed to help, or prevent.
Rafi: Ok next statement:
Rafi: Reducing carbon emissions to safe levels won't be possible because it will hurt the economy too much.
Rafi: Take your places!
Rafi: Okay, is everyone typing up their statementS?
Daniel: yep!!
Rafi: People on the far boards, can you move closer to the center so that we can all hear eah other type?
Quert: im not on a board cause i dont know what to answer
Rafi: Quert, you can go in the not sure then. Thanks!
Storm: I've done mine
Rafi: Ok, I want ot hear from someone on thew agree side first this time.
Tas: Me
Rafi: Tyguy or Daniel? We haven't heard form you guys yet.
Tas: oh ok
Storm: Im on not sure
Daniel: yes i agree
Rafi: How about you Tas?
Tas: I got a statement can i share with you all?
Rafi: Go for it.
Tas: If you had to reduce carbon emissions then companys would not be able to produce enough of their product if it entails emitting Co2. Therefor they would not gain a profit and would probably come out of business. Their company would be no more :(.
Daniel: cool
Tas: yup
Daniel: nice one
Tas: thanks
Daniel: anybosy else
Rafi: Tas makes a good point. There's no question that reducing emissions will cause some businesses to be hurt.
Daniel: ???
Tas: yup
Daniel: thats true
Lucky: Our economy has grown custom to the technology we have today. Asking the world to cut down on driving cars that run on gas, and heating homes with oil; isn't going to work. Plus, many major companies would go out of buisness; people would lose jobs.
Rafi: Let's hear something from the other side though....
Apple: gradually reducing the carbon emissions will not affect the ecconomy because the economy will get used to it if we reduce the emissions slow enough
Ryou: Jay, statement is, "Will reducing C02 hurt economy?"
Apple: no
Rafi: Thanks Lucky, so yeah, much of our current economy is dependent on systems that create CO2 emissions
Ryou: Can I state my opiyunn now?
Tas: My mind is changed
Rafi: Apple makes a great point 0
Rafi: maybe gradual change is the answer
Storm: Dont forget the other green house gasses
Rafi: Ryou?
Apple: we can reduce the co2 emissions gradually over time so that companies hay time 2 gt used 2 it
Ryou: I'm pretty sure that planting many trees, and developing cars that aren't as wasteful and polluting will not harm economy. If they have enough money to find out why ridiculous things like, "Why kids like the color blue?" (Example) or just eliminating some unnessacary things will not harm the economy. Trees will absorb the carbon dioxide, and help the enviorment. Planting trees shouldn't be a problem for countries nations that have enough money to build bombs to kill each other with.
Rafi: Nice statement!
Lucky: Global Warming has been an issue for a few years now. I respect the projects to spread awareness of it, and I support them fully. But how long have they been trying to make a change? A few, and little has been done so far. Sure, we have cars running on electricty; but honestly, how many of them do you see a day?
Ryou: Thanks.
Tas: I love navy blue
Tas: :)
Storm: I've never seen an electric car before Ive need a milk man one
Rafi: This is a pretty healthy debate we've got going, does anyone want to respond to these statements that pople have put out there?
Tas: lol
Apple: u do no their building archs 2 send 2 space becoz the world mite cum 2 an end in the nxt 100yrs coz of global warming
Storm: Its longer than 100 years
Apple: we need 2 reduce co2 emmisions now
Ryou: Yes. I would like to respond to the one about electric cars.
Tas: Well All I have to say is that both agree and disagree are right
Tyguy: The economy may be hurt if we cut C02 emmisions, but the environment is more important than economy.
Storm: I'm sure
Rafi: Tyguy, are you saying that something has to give?
Apple: no its not if we carry on burning co2 @ the rate were burning it @ da mo
Tas: without the eniroment there would be no economy
Rafi: Either the economy or the environment?
Jay: I'd say the economy has to give.
Tyguy: I would too.
Tyguy: We can print more money.
Storm: I dont hink it will harm the envoroment that much becuase im sure we can cope without 4*4s leaving your pc on all the time, leave your light on and things like that
Apple: yes if the economy doesnt giv then our granchildren and us will suffer
Tyguy: WE can't make another earth.
Tas shouts: well there is a moon near jupiter that has signs of a beach
Ryou: How do we respond to statements?
Tas shouts: and lifer
Ryou: True that.
Storm: People do un neccssery things to waste resorces
Apple: we will n ot survive by doing that all the time
Rafi: Ok, I'm hearing a lot of great thoughts and idea, and think that they tie in well to the last statement....
Rafi: Can I ask everyone to come to the center platforms once agian?
Tas: phew i gtg soon
Rafi: This will be the last statement.
Tas: gr8 i wont miss nothing :)
Apple: we also need 2 find a bakup 4 coal and oil or were gunna find us selves unstuk wen they run out
Lucky: =[
Storm: Woops
Lucky: I wanna play again.
Kate: yup - no plastic when oil runs out!
Tas: samre
Tas: but we can have virtual plastic ;)
Rafi: Okay everyone... here's the last statement:
Rafi: It is the responsibility of governments, not of individuals, to make sure that the global climate crisis is solved.
Rafi: Find your squares!
Apple: individuals make a difference
Storm: Humm
Storm: Ill go here
Tas: hmmm
Lucky: GAH
Rafi: Start typing up your initial statements everyone!
Tas: got mine
Jay: I do not believe this statement is true. It is a fact that the goverment has WAY too much power over the situation, but individuals make a big difference too.
Apple: individuals make a load of difference!!!
Storm: There aint realy a square wher i can go so i choose this one. It's upto the goverment and the indervidual to amke sure as the planet is changed.
Apple: it is a group of individuals that make the government
Rafi: Hold your horses on your statements everyone!!!
Rafi: Jus a minute,
Rafi: give people a chance to formul;ate their thoughts.
Tyguy: Both the government and individuals should help.
BenSp: ahh cool
Tas: can I say mine?
Rafi: Just a minute Tas. I'd love for someone new to start off....
Tas: ok
Ryou: It is never the responsibility of the government to solve problems such as these. It's the individuals the government rules over. People think their government will refuse them, and a lot of the time, they do, but what people need to understand is that a lot of governments nowadays give people a voice. Capitalist, Communist, and others give the people power to speak forth and express opinions and change the world. People simply believe that without a government's intervention, they are powerless in a matter. This is not true, if we wanted to stop caring if the government allowed us and just acted the way we saw fit, we'd set rules for our governments again.
Tyguy: The government can help with policies, but there are many ways that individuals can help.
BenSp: global warming is something that the government DOES need to help solve etc. But, if the people wont do anything nothing will get done
Rafi: Tyguy - tell me more!
Tyguy: There are more individuals than the government.
Rafi: What can individuals do?
Apple: government can help but so can individuals
Ryou: The government! The government may own the money, but we as the people own the many resources that fuel the government. It may seem a little cruel, but if governments don't do something about world problems and are too busy worrying about how they should kill their fellow man, and use them for their own benefits, we should take the matter into our own hands. It's our world, and we deserve to shape it the way the individuals see fit.
Tyguy: The government can pass policies.
Tas: Am I allowed to say mine now?
Apple: we hav 2 live on this world 2getha so we need 2 work 2getha rather than leev everything 2 the government
Rafi: Go for it Tas
Tas: ok thx Both, Everyone must work together in order to stop all of this. Without Everyone there would be no way to stop the global climate rising. Individuals have a better chance on their own other than the government because there are more individuals
BenSp: something people dont realize is that the government cant solve everything
Ryou: True that.
Tas: ya
Apple: that is so true
Jay: I do not believe this statement is true. It is a fact that the goverment has WAY too much power over the situation, but individuals make a big difference too.
Rafi: Okay - so I'd like to shift it for the last part to go deeper into this question:
Ryou raises a fist. "Power to the people!"
Kate: lol yeah!
Rafi: What's the role of the government? And what's the role of the individual? What does each need to do?
Tyguy: There are many things individuals can do to cause global warming, and many people in the world.
Tyguy: So there are many things to stop it too.
BenSp: exactly
Tas: well the government has the money indivduals have the will power
BenSp: people cause global warming people need to stop it
Rafi: So what can indivuals do specifically to stop warming and carbon emmissions?
Jay: Role of the government: To take part in creating this economy and country. Individuals: To take part in shaping the entire world.
Apple: people think that because the government rule da country they can do nething. thats not tru we NEED to work 2getha
BenSp: hybrid carbs etc
Ryou: The government needs to regulate money and give people a general law to follow. The people need to shape the government according to what will do the world better in the end, and what will make us more prosperous as a human race. The government needs to give people justice according to crimes such as murders and other obsceneties.
Alpha: ok, thats officially cool
Rafi: Okay, so using technologies that use less fuel and emit less carbons, great! : )
Tyguy: Everyone is to blame for global warming, both the people of the world and the government.
Lucky: May I add my opinion?
Tas: They can group up create projects and take statistics which can be sent to the government so then they can use money and the information they got from individuals and stop this problem
Tyguy: To making the C02 emitting cars to driving them.
Rafi: Tyguy, I thinkwe're past blame at this point,
Rafi: what i'd like ot hear is how to stop it.
Lucky: *coughs*
Rafi: What are some small things that individuals can do to stop warming?
Tas: To stop I think we need bans
Tyguy: Use cars less.
Tas: small things
Jay: An individual can help stop global warming by using less wasteful and un-efficient waste uses, e.g using un-recyclable products.
Kate: turn lights off
Rafi: And lucky, I'm coming to you, I promise!
BenSp: stop it? i dont know
Tas: They can use persil 30oc and light up to 1000 villages save energy and carbon emissions :) they can also switch lights and things of when not needed
Alpha: dont use incandesent bulbs? (I know, thats probably not how you spell it)
Rafi: So yeah, recycling, turingin out lights, less use of things that emitr carbons like cars.
Rafi: Great alpha
Apple: u can se gases 2 reduce the amount of co2 emissions in ure cars so u can drive just as much and u dnt create andy co2 emissions. the problem is the enviromental groups wont let us use these gases
Tyguy: Use a power source that doesn't run on coal, oil, or anything else that emits greenhouse gasses.
Kate: stop playing Second Life! (avatars use more electricity (from servers running) than the average resident of Brazil!!)
Alpha: hehehe
Rafi: Kath - I've actually heard that the numbers on that study were pretty iffy.
Alpha: use a black and white avatar to preserve energy from your LCD Monitor :P
Rafi: Who here's got a bike?
Jay: In real life? Yes. SL? No.
Tas: not me
Lucky: *coughcough* You actually gave me another point, Rafi.
Kate: Just jump in Lucky :-)
Lucky: What about those who can't ride bikes, or walk?
Kate: good point, but what can each of us do to help?
Tyguy: Turn off everything electric that you don't use.
Ryou: Hydro Carbons. They exist, but the government limits research for them because there is so much money already invested in Oil, and our feeble economy would fall without it. Hydrocarbons are created by using.. air, or something. Only emissions are a little bit of water.
Tyguy: As I already, we can print more money, but we can't make another earth.
Rafi: Yeah, go fir it Luckster!
Alpha: whats the oppinion Im voting on
Apple: y dont we use the gases that reduce co2 emissions in ouor cars. its more expensive but wots more important money or the earth
Tyguy: We can recycle. So we don't cut down trees and mine resources.
Rafi: Was there something else you wanted to add Lucky?
Tyguy: We can preserve the economy and the environment by recycling.
Lucky: Alot, but I don't think we're on the proper topic anymore
Apple: recycling newspapers is bad 4 the earth because u hav 2 use chemicals 2 get the ink out of the paper and that chemical is bad 4 the earth
Rafi: Hmmm... yeah, we have drifted a bit...
Alpha: my aunt is a NOAA weather spotter or something.. shes pretty cool :)
Kate: Tyguy we can print more money, but the value of it goes down. Pretty soon a pint of milk will cost 300US$ not linden $!
Rafi: Awesome!
Alpha: inflation for kidz
Rafi: This is true.
Rafi: Ok... so it looks like we've gotten a good groundwork laid for further conversations here.
Tas: Rafi I have a question, well 2
Rafi: This was a bit of a teaser, but we hope to do much more on the topic down the line!
Apple: i hav a question nas well
Rafi: If there are people that want to do more study and debate about the issue, let me know, and we'll see about doing more events!
Rafi: In the meanwhile, definitely visit NOAA's website!
Ryou: I love ripping on the government. It rules.
Kate: lol
Lucky smiles
Kate: which government?! ;-)
Rafi: Finally, some Q's!
Tas: Rafi can I ask you something?
Rafi: Apple, Tas?
Tas: How long will the glacier be staying for?
Rafi: Until further notice!
Tas: ok thanks. Is this debate going to lead to creation of a building or monument of carbon emissions? like with Hiv Aids? To learn from? :)
Rafi: We haven't thought about making a contest yet, but if people are really interested, we can certainly think about it!
Rafi: or monument I mean.
Tas: ok gr8 Well I must go now
Rafi: Thanks for coming Tas!
Jay: Alright, Rafi, I'll see you later.
Tas: Np its been fun
Mercury Metropolitan: Thanks for participating everyone!
Rafi: This was great everyone, you're all really proving the TSL residents DO care about the issues!
Lucky: Rafi, you guys need to host these more often.
Lucky: I don't think I've seen one since what, September?
Rafi: Yeah, It's been a while. Thanks Lucky, we are looking into doing more stuff like this.

Posted by Rafi Santo at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I think I realized something very important about second life today. Every time when we decide that we have to get something done in one day, there is always some kind of net issues. Thankfully the rest of my team did a lot of the filming when I was out last Tuesday. So all we had to do was get a good beginning shot and we were set!

Problem was....second life was lagging. First, I couldn't log into second life at all. Then, when I finally got on, I couldn’t teleport to the location where our set for the PSA was. When I finally got to the set area I found that the house I had set up disappeared and everything in it, as in the computer table and the DDR machine was floating on open air because along with the house went the walls and the floor. Anyway, I got the house back and edited it a bit to suit the surroundings and then we got the shot we needed. Then Sam showed the group how to edit, or the basics of editing and I helped the discrimination group a little but not much. I technically couldn't help much because second life made an "actor" invisible on my computer, and since I was going to do the filming, that did not turn out to be too helpful. But Ting did get to make the T-shirt with the flag on it ^^~ which was good and useful.

Anyway, the day wasn't so bad. We did have a lot of issues, but everything came together at the end and we did get to finish what we needed to finish, of course, then again, we need to do a lot more when it comes down to the editing. I think we need to do more in the editing process than we did in the filming process since we relied a lot on editing when we made our storyboard, and we have long clips that we need to cut down from. Over all, it was a pretty interesting day ^^~

Posted by Nafiza - TSL Intern/VVP at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This post is kind of late since this is the post referring to what happened last Thursday when Jack and I did our workshop with the Machinima group!

I think it was a good workshop overall because I got the experience of what a real audience/crowd of people may act like. Although I have seen people get training in my school, I think we all got a little over-board with making it very difficult for the person up there presenting the workshop. So it was kind of nice to just run a normal workshop, where...everyone was corporative and typical. Although I can't say that we didn't meet any challenges. First, Manpreet asked a question about o.o cockroaches x.x~ and why they were significant to the environment, that was an interesting question actually. Since Jack and I didn’t know the answer we opened up the question to everyone else, and had a slightly weird but short conversation on it, so we all decided to go home and look into it. Technically I haven't looked into it, not because I'm not curious, it's more like I'm afraid to see some pictures of cockroaches while I'm doing research O-o~.

Anyway, one situation I did not know how to manage was when we were going through sustainability indicators and the economic indicator group said that chopping down trees was what was necessary to sustain the economy. I don't think we really took care of that situation well, and the only thing I could come up with was asking everyone else if they would like to add anything to the group’s list of indicators. But besides that, I think the workshop did not go too horribly...especially since that was our first time doing it ^.^~! Everyone at Machinima was great and we got some really good feedback from everyone~!

Posted by Nafiza - TSL Intern/VVP at 8:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday's class involved a practice presentation for Jack and Nafiza. This Friday will be the Global Kids youth conference and at this conference Nafiza and Jack will be hosting a workshop. As we all know these kinds of things are really nerve racking so I think a little practice wouldn’t hurt. Luckily that was exactly what Jack and Nafiza got to do on Thursday. Their presentation was very good, they both had presence which is really important. Their presentation was well done, the only thing I think needs improvement is the explanation of the directions. I notice most of us at one point or another were confused on what it was we were supposed to be doing and why. Besides that the overall presentation was good. Nice job guys!

Posted by VVP Idan at 4:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last class Jack and Nafiza practiced their presentation that they were going to present on Friday at the GK youth conference. Their presentation was very good. It went rather smoothly, I think it was because they knew us well and we were all close. I hope it goes well when they are presenting in front of strangers XD. I also really liked the way that their presentation had so many hands on activity. The only thing wrong with the presentation I believe was that their instructions for the activities need a bit more detail because a lot of people were lost or confused during the activities. Other than that it was pretty good =D

Posted by VVP Joe at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The second week of Global Kid's Anniversary celebration has begun!
And oh, boy. This week started off with a bang; literally!
The huge volcano that has been on the island since it arrived in Teen Second Life, erupted.
Ryan Dayton scripted it, and he didn't let us down.
It was amazing! Particle smoke, and lava rocks; everywhere.
It was truly a sight to be seen. I'm pretty sure everyone there enjoyed it, as everyone wanted an encore. We also got another surprise.
Aimee Weber, from the main grid was standing there as 'AimeeDev GKid', watching the volcano.
Just one look at her famous wings and stocks got me to realize who she was.
It was all very exciting.
I took quite a few pictures of the event; and you can see them by reading on.
-Lucky Figtree<3

A few teens and Tabitha get cozy, while waiting for the event to start. Lovely chairs made by Jay Clostermann =]]

As the event draws nearer, more and more teens show up.

The lovely Aimee Weber as AimeeDev GKid.

Oh no! Hang on to your hats! D=

Don't get hit >.<;;;

Posted by Lucky - SL Intern at 7:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From March 12 - 16, 2007, 15 residents in Teen Second Life competed in the first annual Birthday Cake Making Contest on Global Kids Island, organized by teen resident Jay Clostermann. Each day teens worked on their cakes and invited their friends from all over the world to come and check out the event. Visitors were asked to examine the cakes and to vote for their favorite one.

On Friday, March 16, 2007, Tabitha Gkid along with 25+ residents announced the winners of the contest followed by a brief discussion on the event.

Ryan Bartz was the first prize winner of the contest, with the higest count of 62 votes.
Ryan was awarded $1000 Linden, and was so excited about winning that he wrote a notecard to share his experience with everyone.

Ryan Bartz – GK Birthday Cake Contest Winner

I first come across this event because I have been involved with Global Kids for some time now, and the message was being passed around. I just had to enter!

I got started by simply doing the outline, and thinking what could be unique, but good. I decided to go for a square base with a round top. I added some twisted boxes to make the swirly cream around the edge of the base (hope you know what I mean). Then I used some pillars to link up to the round part of the cake. I added some icing to those. Then I made one more set of pillars to create a base for a 3D sign saying "GK". Then I simply textured it and made sure everything was looking ok and in the right position.

My cake also has some flags on the base of the cake sticking out with the Global Kids logo on them, then decided to put a slow rotation in the cake as it was for display. Then I added 4 mini men climbing on the cake to add more style to the cake! One man laying down, one man looking off the cake, standing proud, and 2 men sitting down having a nice time.

I wanted to get some votes, so i decided to add another flag with floating text, giving the cake (without the mini men) for free, full permissions. And as a Thank-You, they would vote for me.

Also, I invited some of my friends to GK to help me get votes for my cake and any suggestions to make my cake better without going other the prim limit. My friends were very helpful and I thank them for helping me out.

The voting process was very good, as you could only vote once and you could easily change your vote for another cake during the week.

Happy Birthday Global Kids!

- Ryan Bartz

Jamesy Lopez, came in second place with 54 votes.

When I first joined the GK birthday cake making contest I was really excited. When I found out that I could win 1,000L and a special prize I just got more excited. When the day came to put your cake on a table I was left out by accident since I was not on at all the day before, then I got put back in the cake making group and got started right away.

At the end of the competition I was surprised to see that I was in second place. This was my first contest I have ever participated in, so I am happy to get in 2nd. I had the most fun time making and participating in this contest. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR!
_________
Cake description: My cake had vanilla outer coating with strawberry frosting. In the middle of the cake is vanilla and chocolate, A.K.A. marble. I think my cake is unique because of the candle script I added, it allows people to blow the candles out and light them again!

P.S. i couldn't have done this without my manager Dude Coldstream!

Here are the 2 winners standing next to each other

Teens attending the announcement of the contest winners, along with discussion on the whole event.

Ryan Bartz, the first prize winner of 1000 Lindens, answers questions from the audience.

Posted by tabitha at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello! Let me introduce myself. I am Jay Clostermann. I am an active Global Kids volunteer in the world of Teen Second Life. The past few weeks have been quite fun, as I have been volunteering in the Global Kids 1 year anniversary in Teen Second Life. There have been cake baking contests, debates, scavenger hunts, a new island and much much more! I am hoping to write a post at the end of the celebration about all the fun, so stay tuned to Holy Meatballs!

I have been mostly volunteering, and managing the GK Cake Making Contest. We had a lot of fun, and a lot of participants! (Don’t forget also the delicious cake eating!) I will display these cakes in alphabetical order of the creator.

One. Ryan Bartz’s cake:

Maria Book’s cake was pretty special. It is a chocolate delicacy! It also had the letters “G” and “K” at the top, to know it was special for Global Kids! You could also click a slice to get a slice!

Three. Adam Cranes’ cake:

Redsamba Hall’s cake was a cool chocolate cake, with prim hands holding up the earth! A great representation of the Global Kids logo!

Five. Nikki Joans cake:

Nikki’s cake was a pink, Oreo and black sparkler topped cake! And with a Global Kids flag on top!

Six. AngelHeart Kubo’s cake:

You can “light” and “blow” on this interactive cake, really cool!

Eight. Sean Marsi’s cake:

Sean Marsi’s cake was a cool white cake. It had delicious sprinkles and a cool Number 1 on the top too!

Nine. Ivan Ortega’s cake:

Ivan’s cake was a cool trophy cake, with awesome toppings all around!

Ten. Blind Paine’s cake:

Trexton’s cake was (obviously) the TALLEST of them all. It also had a HUGE extravagant Number 1 at the top!

Thirteen. Jason Taka’s cake:

Zack’s cake was a very cool, detailed, colorful, and shadowed cake! It looks like quite a tasty morsel!

Fourteen. Draverm Young’s cake:

Paul Zapotocky’s cake was another delicious chocolate cake, with a candy apple on top!

Running the event was quite fun. Talking to people, voting for cakes, and checking the votes. The cake bakers were quite suspensful about the votes their cakes were getting, they even told me they found a non-existant bug in the voting boxes! I also loved watching people bake their cakes, and what awesome ideas the guys had! They each had a 100 prim limit, and 4 days to bake their cake. For some, they stretched out the baking for days, and for others, just a few minutes.

The winner was chosen by the amount of votes they received. The winner was Ryan Bartz, who received 1,000 Lindens (Second Life currency)! And the runner up was Jamesy Lopez, who received 500 Lindens. These cakes are still up for viewing at Global Kids Island in Teen Second Life, so if you want to see them, but don’t know how, create an account on Teen Second Life, and enjoy yourselves!

Posted by Jay - SL Intern at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tonight, Blue and Philip Linden presented on GK island about the past, present, and future of TSL, as part of Global Kids two week long celebration of our first year in Second Life. It probably had the most participants ever at a live Global Kids event in TSL.

To extend the reach of the event, we not only held the event on GK Island, but we held the Interview NOT in the public chat but within the IM chat of the Global Kids group; that way we could invite people to listen in from all over the grid. We had never tried that before - we had less control over people talking out of turn - but it still went fairly well. Meanwhile, teens on GK island could use the public chat as a backchannel and sent questions to TSL resident Mariel VoyUNICEF. Along with Mariel, TSL resident Lucky was also kind enough to blog about the event.

Below are a few photos from the event. You can also view all of the photos on Flickr.

The transcript follows:

OPENING

Barry GKid: Welcome everyone
Blue Linden: Happy Rezday GKids :)
Barry GKid: We just announced to those on GK island
Barry GKid: that we will be carrying on the interview in this IM window
Barry GKid: For that to work, I must ask that unless you are Blue or Philip or myself, you refrain from posting in here during the interview
Barry GKid: If you would like to come to the island, please tp Mercury Metropolitan
Chilko Tardis: sims full
Barry GKid: Because it is full, we are going to hold the conversation here
Barry GKid: but only if people agree not to post here. So please understand, for the next 45 minutes, if anyone else posts here me might need to remove you from the Global Kids group.

Philip Linden: I was just saying that I wonder how long it took for the main grid to get as big as the current teen grid.
Blue Linden: A couple years perhaps Philip
Philip Linden: Yes I think so.
Philip Linden: Something like that.
Blue Linden: TG is just over 2 years old
Barry GKid: Philip! Blue! Thank you so much for coming today
Philip Linden: Thanks you guys.

Philip Linden: It was never really a 'game' to me.
Philip Linden: I just wanted to build this place.
1000 Carlos: Second Life is more than a 'game' it's well.. a life
Dude Coldstream: well, its become a real second life to many

Barry GKid: So, let's begin!
Barry GKid: We thought an excellent way for Global Kids to celebrate our first year in TSl was to ask you questions about what has come before and what is to be
Philip Linden: Sure!
Barry GKid: We have asked teens questions they want to ask
Barry GKid: so for the next 30 minutes I would like to ask you both these questions
Barry GKid: and then open it up for new questions
Barry GKid: and if you have a new question in the audience please send them to Mariel Voyunicef
Barry GKid: Before we begin, is there anything either of you would like to say?
Philip Linden: Well I would just say thanks for having me here.
Philip Linden: it has been so crazy for the company that I haven't had as much time in-world as I would like.
Barry GKid: the residents miss you :-)

PAST

Barry GKid: What did you think when you first thought about the idea for a separate grid for teens? Where did the idea come from?
Philip Linden: Well let me remember...
Philip Linden: Basically we didn't really know how Second Life would shape up.
Philip Linden: And we were afraid that without understanding how people would behave better
Philip Linden: we might be better off separating teens from others.
Philip Linden: And I looked at Whyville, and it seemed like they had a cool idea...
Philip Linden: just asking the teens to turn on the adults...
Philip Linden: and a proof that this worked pretty well.
Philip Linden: So we went with that for a start, and that is the teen grid.
Blue Linden: hehe...yes teens have been extremely protective of their space
Philip Linden: At a high level we don't even want to separate anyone from anyone.
Philip Linden: So now that we have more experience, we are thinking about how to also create the option to have everyone together.
Barry GKid: In what way?
Philip Linden: Well I think it would be great if there could be an area with all ages, but no mature content.
Philip Linden: And I think we can make that work.
Philip Linden: We have so much more experience now.
Philip Linden: I think that where we are today... a place for only teens...
Philip Linden: makes sense too. It is up to you.
Blue Linden: Yes, there has been a lot of thinking along those lines. There will be much work to do before we know we can get there successfully

Barry GKid: Alpha Zaius asks, Why did you call your company, Linden" lab?"
Philip Linden: We called the company 'Linden' because I started it in a warehouse in an alley... 'Linden Alley'. Here in San Francisco.
Blue Linden: Hehe, I've still never found Linden Alley, need to look harder ;P
Philip Linden: You can look it up on googlemaps... 333 Linden, SF
Philip Linden: It is in hayes Valley near Hayes and Gough.
Philip Linden: It is also a cool word... a tree... some neat mythology.
Blue Linden: Yes, it's the Buddha tree :)

Barry GKid: How has the teen grid grown differently than the main grid? Do teens use TSL different than adults use the main grid?
Philip Linden: Frankly, I don't think they do.
Philip Linden: There is a sort of mythology that teens and adults live different lives.
Philip Linden: SL shows that for the most part they really don't.
Philip Linden: I always thought that was funny.
Blue Linden: Agreed....much of what goes on is so very similar.
Philip Linden: Folks on the main grid suggested that teens wouldn't build things for example...
Philip Linden: that was clearly ridiculous.
Barry GKid: They must have been surprised. :-)
1000 Carlos: We've proven that statement wrong
Barry GKid: Were you? Have the teens used SL in ways that were unexpected?
Ty Dejavu: Go us. =)
Philip Linden: Yeah I remember feeling a certain satisfaction when the teen grid became interesting just as quickly as the main.
Blue Linden: My collection of teen avs is highly coveted at MG meetings
Philip Linden: And the amount of fighting, etc, was about the same.

Barry GKid: Given that teens have used the SL tools in similar ways to the adults, I wonder if you have noticed the grid being shaped differently since it was coming from a youth voice?
Philip Linden: I don't feel like I've been here enough. Blue?
Blue Linden: I think the cultural differences are mostly stylistic
Blue Linden: there's a bit more Anime influence here
Blue Linden: but the functionality remains the same
Blue Linden: Multi-tools, land barons etc etc
Blue Linden: these things are universal to SL

Barry GKid: How are the economics that support the teen grid different than the business model underlying the main grid?
Blue Linden: the economics are surprisingly similar
Barry GKid: Please say more. In what way?
Philip Linden: Yes the economics are basically identical, in every way I am aware.
Blue Linden: lack of credit cards make it harder for many teens, but that's mostly a scale issue
Blue Linden: there is still a robust consumer vs. creator interaction
Philip Linden: I haven't checked on stats like producers/consumers, etc, but I'd be surprised to see a difference.
Blue Linden: and millions of L$ are transacted per month here on TG
Blue Linden: just between residents
Philip Linden: In general SL has an enormous diversity of content creators, I don't think it is different here.
Barry GKid: Well, I guess I mean the economics for Linden Lab. Since teens have less money does that effect the funding Linden receives from the grid, or the resources you can allocate to it?
Philip Linden: Oh, that.
Philip Linden: Yes, last I checked, I think the teen grid had less % landowners.
Blue Linden: Yes, quite a bit fewer
Philip Linden: But the concurrency isn't much different/acre, so that means the costs are the same to us.
Philip Linden: it is possible that support costs are different, but I'm not aware of it.
Blue Linden: It's been interesting to see the proportion of private sim owners grow
Philip Linden: So we really aren't going to do anything different here based on economics.
Blue Linden: so it could very well be that in the next year, island ownership by individuals as well as edu/non-profits like Gkids becomes the primary business model for TG

PRESENT

Barry GKid: Blue can you say a bit about current demographics of the grid and where it is projected?
Philip Linden: Blue do you know the average age or gender breakout?
Philip Linden: I don't have those stats for the teen grid.
Blue Linden: TG is 75% male....average age is 15.5
Philip Linden: I only know them for the entire grid. Average age = 32, 43% of concurrent users are female.
Philip Linden: The concurrent female teen % is probably higher.
Philip Linden: On the main grid, women use SL more than men on an hours basis.

Barry GKid: Mariel Voyunicef asks, Is the TG going to expand culturally" as in terms of promotion in non-English-speaking countries? I saw a reportage on local news (Mexico City) about SL, but it focused on adults+MG, so I'd like to know if it will be popular for teens as well."
Philip Linden: There isn't any restriction on TG growth based on country,
Philip Linden: but probably we need better web pages.
Philip Linden: I'm not sure if we have localized the download TG pages... probably not.
Philip Linden: We'll get to it.
Blue Linden: New identify verification methods will help to expand TG to countries not so Credit Card oriented
Blue Linden: Yeah, currently website is in English only...we could stand to work on that hehe

Barry GKid: Mariel asks, Given the male majority on TSL, are LL going to target girls specifically to get a more balanced population, or is it not a priority?
Philip Linden: That is a good point Zach... we were just trying to be protective of you, but probably matters less now and with open source.
Philip Linden: We've never really 'targeted' anyone, frankly.
Philip Linden: Our media comes to us, we don't really seek it out.
Claudia Linden: (There are some groups working on projects for girls in Second Life...coming soon).

princeszELLIE Jaxa: philip how old are u?
Philip Linden: I am 38 years old.
princeszELLIE Jaxa: NICE! can i have ur autograph now
Philip Linden: When I was a teenager I most mostly programming :)

Barry GKid: When the main grid dropped credit cards last summer as a requirement, the same occurred for a short time in the teen grid. During that time I understand non-US teen residents increased
Barry GKid: But then it was reinstituted to be able to keep the grid safe. Can you comment on that?
Blue Linden: Because credit cards are hard for teens to get, that's a limit....during the brief period when they were not required, signups jumped
Philip Linden: Yep the credit cards are pretty effective in helping only have teens register.
Blue Linden: we're working on some really cool ID verification methods for all of SL that will benefit teens most
Philip Linden: I realize it isn't ideal. Like Blue said we are working on a cool new age verify system.

Barry GKid: What role do you see for adults in the teen grid? What role have orgs like GK played and what role can we play in the future? How do you decide who gets islands in TSL and who does not?
Philip Linden: We will give out islands as quickly as we have capacity to process them.
Blue Linden: as far as who gets islands, we do want to make sure that people coming to TG add value, but we don't have a strict set of rules
Blue Linden: we've never turned down a request, because people interested are usually working on cool projects
Barry GKid: Are there orgs whom you would not sell and island to, for ethical reasons?
Philip Linden: That is a good question... about ethics.
Blue Linden: Yeah, that is a good one
Philip Linden: We are very principled about making the world a better place by connecting people and empowering them.
Philip Linden: I guess if someone wanted space that was radically opposed to those principles, we might say no.
Philip Linden: But we are also very aggressive about preserving freedom in SL, which means being very open and open minded.
Blue Linden: Luckily we haven't had to make a call like that

Trevor Ball: How much do you get paid working as a linden?
Philip Linden: We get paid mostly an unlimited supply of beef and turkey jerky.
Blue Linden: oh yah, Jerky :D
Blue Linden: tofu Jerky
Philip Linden: Fruit, lot's of fruit.
Blue Linden: and Bagels on Monday which rocks

EDUCATION IN TEEN SECOND LIFE

Barry GKid: Another teen asks: Do you think that, now that educational projects are growing on the TG, people will see TSL more as an educational place than one to have fun?
Philip Linden: I will be very surprised if there are not very cool new ways to learn on the grid soon.
Philip Linden: I personally can remember being very bored in school.
Ty Dejavu: me too
Tas Zenith: same
Ty Dejavu: cept im still in school 0
Tas Zenith: lol
Philip Linden: And I think about how much faster I could have learned things here... seems like a big opportunity.

Barry GKid: Can you say more about the expansion of educational, adult-owned sims on the TSL, like Global kids, and the impact it has had on the community?
Blue Linden: I should point out that Global Kids pioneered all education on TG....helped us learn a lot in the process :)
Blue Linden: There have been other groups that have started using TG for edu and non-profit projects and they've basically benefited from GKids work
Philip Linden: Well I'd like to see things like what GK is doing expand as fast as possible.

Barry GKid: Savion Willsmere asks, I see a lot of new sims made by the lindens what will be the plans of those?
Philip Linden: We've been just overloaded here... hence the slow speed on some of these things.
Philip Linden: But the possibilities for educational applications, and education sims attached to TG seem big.
Blue Linden: We're all very big supporters of the idea of SL as great educational tool :)

Barry GKid: What do you see teens learning as they play in Second Life?
Blue Linden: I always call SL the greatest creative tool ever made available for free so I consider collaborative creativity to be something teens learn here
Blue Linden: it's not always as easy in RL to get 20 people on a team to create something amazing

FUTURE:

Barry GKid: Tads Vollmar asks Could you please ask if you could from me if the TG is ever going to get as big as the main grid?
Philip Linden: Well the TG is already bigger than the main grid 2 years in.
Philip Linden: TG will only get bigger than the main if there are more teens wanting to use SL than adults.
Blue Linden: hehe, TG growth will apwws up over time as well :)
Philip Linden: And that is an interesting question I don't know the answer to.

Barry GKid: nik385 Doesburg asks: It's undeniable, the TG has a large number of foreign players, some not speaking english, isnt there a way to bring a translator over from the main grid, or integrate one into the SL client?
Philip Linden: Wow blue we should definitely get some translators here. Good point.

Barry GKid: Scott Deharo asks, Where do you see the teen grid in 1 year?
Philip Linden: I wish I knew where things would be in a year!
Blue Linden: I think it's safe to say that in a year there will be twice as many people on TG....that's looking at how the MG grew when it was 2 years old
Philip Linden: Like SL, I think we will look a lot better graphically, hopefully have better search tools, and crash less!
Philip Linden: Yes it is very likely >2X as large.

Barry GKid: What would you like to see in TSL, that is possible, but hasn't occurred yet?
Philip Linden: I'd like to see the same improvements I'd like to see on the main grid.
Barry GKid: Like what?
Philip Linden: Better physics, voice, HTML
Philip Linden: things like that.
Barry GKid: Those three reflect many of the questions we have been receiving to ask, about those three things
Barry GKid: So clearly the teens agree
Barry GKid: Blue?
Blue Linden: yes, I get questions about those things regularly
Philip Linden: We will move to the latest version of Havok, yes.
Philip Linden: That is correct.

Barry GKid: And for both of you, any disappointments with the teen grid? Things you would like to see less
Blue Linden: not really barry....have primarily been excited by the Teen Grid. Lots of enthusiasm here...

Barry GKid: What role do you see for youth in actively shaping the future development of the teen grid, not just through objects they build and activities they run, but in shaping the public policies that drive the grid?
Philip Linden: I see no difference between ages in shaping policy.
Philip Linden: And, of course, we try to have as little policy as we can.
Philip Linden: Better to let you all decide.

Barry GKid: Ryou Debs asks, I have a lot of friends that I'd like to get into SL. They’re all into MySpace, and their profiles. I've heard quite a bit about the SL profiles becoming much like that of a MySpace Profile some day. But the problem is, SL only runs on high end machines. Will there be a day when SL min requirements will be dumbed down?
Blue Linden: I think open sourcing the client leads to people's ability to develop aspects of SL on other platforms
Blue Linden: someone could very well make a small SL client that runs on any machine, or even mobile devices

Barry GKid: Paul Zapotocky asks What kind of new projects will be coming on existing or new sims?
Blue Linden: most of the exciting projects come from people like Gkids and not LL itself....the residents create many of the truly compelling experiences
Barry GKid: Claudia - great to see you. Is there anything you would like to add to all that has been said so far?
Claudia Linden: Just to say how much I have enjoyed working with all of you.
Barry GKid: Aw!

Barry GKid: At what rate are new island coming in from adults in the teen grid and what are your thoughts about how that will impact the youth-only aspect of the community as more approved-adults like GK come in?
Philip Linden: I'll let blue answer that one... I don't know.
Blue Linden: a number of projects that buy islands are closed....single classes for example
Blue Linden: but those that are open to teens are OPT IN only
Blue Linden: so they won't impact the TG Mainland at all....teens can choose to engage them
Blue Linden: or choose to ignore them completely

Barry GKid: A year from now - if I can dare to ask you to make such a bold prediction - what might we look back and say “Wow, I never expected THAT to happen in the teen grid! But I am sure glad it did”?
Philip Linden: I've got a dream... don't know if it will be in a year :)
Blue Linden: hmmm...How about I never expected the President to speak to the TG
Philip Linden: What if most of what we thought of as 'school' today... happened in here instead?
Tas Zenith: omg that would rock
Ty Dejavu: awesome
Dereck Drebin: That would be awesome
Zack Voom: Awesome.
Scott Deharo: that'd bee awsome, if we didnt have to go to school
Tads Vollmar: awesome
Barry GKid: For many of those home schooled that GK works with in TSL, it already does.
Philip Linden: If you look at how people are studying SL in developing countries... where schools are terrible... it could happen.
Philip Linden: And if it happens there, it could rapidly be a model for other countries.
Philip Linden: Imagine that.

CLOSING

Barry GKid: Thank you both for spending your time this afternoon/night/morning speaking with TSL residents at the Global Kids birthday party
Philip Linden: OK, it was great to be here.
Barry GKid: Would either of you like any final words before we bring this to a close?
Philip Linden: Some good things for me to think about.
Philip Linden: These were good questions.
Philip Linden: Take care.
Mercury Metropolitan: Thank you both very much for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here!
Andrew Montagne: Thanks phil
Dereck Drebin: You need to visi more often
Philip Linden: I will try and visit more. Point taken.
Philip Linden: Take care everyone.
Barry GKid: All questions not asked, and the transcript of this interview, will appear on our blog Http://www.holymeatballs.org
Blue Linden: Thanks for having us :)
Ace Amat: Thank you very much for taking the time to visit us here on this Teen Grid. We hope for you guys to visit more
Barry GKid: Thank you both
Scott Deharo: thANKS MR. PRESIDENT
Blue Linden: look forward to another year of GKids. Keep up the good work guys :)
Barry GKid: Night everyone!

Posted by Barry at 8:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a remarkably comprehensive overview of the game, its educational resources, and the process it took to create it.

Read the post here.

Posted by joyce at 3:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hiii! Mariel –Voyunicef- here again.

Honestly, I think the title of this post speaks for itself. For non-SLers: Have you ever been at a place so crowded that it feels as if the building were going to collapse? Well – that is precisely what I felt today at the event with Blue and Philip Linden at GK Island.

As I can’t decide on what to name the highlight of the event (the fact itself of having ,a href="http://www.holymeatballs.org/2007/03/sl_blue_and_philip_linden_pres.html">Blue and Philip Linden speak about the present, past and future of the Teen Grid, the audience at the event, or the questions from the audience), I will simply speak a bit about each in this post.

In the year Global Kids has spent on the Teen Grid alone, Second Life has evolved into a system that today portrays things that were unimaginable before, and that’s something that Blue and Philip Linden were there to talk about. They spoke about the technical parts of Second Life and about the projects that take place in it. Also, they told us about their plans for the future of Second Life. In summary, they provided us with the other perspective of the story – Lindens’.

The audience… literally overwhelming. Residents kept on arriving since there was one hour left for the event to begin, and most of them stayed. I wouldn’t know the exact number of participants, but it was wild.

I had the honour of helping with the event a tiny bit by receiving the letters from the audience so that they could be asked in order. Not only did I learn the real meaning of multitasking on Second Life, but also I got to see all the questions from the audience. Many of them were concerning the aspects of the Teen Grid we all care about.

To finish, I think it was a good experience for both the Linden Labs and Global Kids to host an event in which the main adults from Second Life inform teens about the status of the program. Teens have proved to actually worry about this space, so I hope there will be a stronger commitment from the behalf of adults to promote a good growth in the Teen Grid.

Posted by Mariel - SL Intern at 2:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello, everyone! This is Mariel –Voyunicef- again.

As you most probably have already noticed, Global Kids is celebrating its first year in TSL. It has been a year of events, success and, above all things, hard work; therefore, it has had a huge impact on the concept of Teen Second Life.

Apart from providing teenagers with a space to learn and make a difference by owning a sim on TSL, Global Kids is the pioneer of education/activism on the Teen Grid, and also most probably the basis of all the related projects on the same grid. As it happens with everything, some think that’s good, and others thing that’s bad. That’s why we gathered on Thursday, March 15 to debate the role of adults in online teen spaces.

Holding a debate was a real challenge, I think, because of the technical part of it. Keeping control of the interventions to avoid interruptions was very hard, but I think it ended up well thanks to everyone’s cooperation. Also, at first things were difficult because four of the participants of the debate were in favour of adult presence while only one was against it; however, more people joined this debate and there was a balance of positions.

Barry set the guidelines of the debate, which were the main points we discussed: What can adults offer to teen spaces? What does their presence take away? When is it not safe to have adults and teens interact? When are teens ONLY safe when adults are present? As each of the questions received different answers, new points arose to the debate.

After some minutes of participation of the panelists, residents from the audience were invited to participate, too. At this point opinions were more diverse, which represented more obstacles and yet more benefits to this debate.

In the end, no conclusion was reached; however, as the different opinions faced each other, we were able to find common points we all agreed on, like the fact that some adults are needed in places like TSL to protect teenagers from online predators.

What I conclude after this experience is that the debate was very useful because, no matter that we didn’t really get to an absolute consensus, the whole Teen Grid community (and also the adults who are interested in running projects in it) will have a stronger basis to work on now that we’ve found the points at which both perspectives meet. Now I’ll just encourage you to judge by yourself – here is the chat log.

Posted by Mariel - SL Intern at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey guys!
As most of you know, Global Kids is celebrating it's year anniversary in Teen Second Life!
It's been an incredible year, and they've reached some very important milestones.
The past week has head many awesome activities for the residents of TSL.
I wasn't present for them all, so I can't tell you -all- about them.

I can say that on Wednesday, The Global Kids had some amazing teens talk about their experiences. I sadly could not make it to talk, due to personal reasons; but I've read what my fellow campers, and others have said.

Yesterday, Barry managed a debate. The topic was something along the lines of, 'What do you think of adults in a teen space?'
There were many more subjects covered, though.
Some talked about what teens can gain or lose through a virtual world, and others focused mainly on the topic of adults in the teen space.
Although there wasn't much opposition; everyone had opinions, very different from the next person.

Today we had some guest speakers come to the island!
Blue and Philip Linden came for a visit to the island, to talk about the past, present, and future of the teen grid.
Almost everyone had a question, and there were so many people on the island that others couldn't get in, due to the limit of avatars in one sim.
I am extremely proud of Mercury and Mariel for this event. I'm sure they had to work with many pesky and curious teens, who wanted their questions answered. I wasn't even running the event, and I was being asked plenty of questions.

Today was definitely busy, and I want to thank everyone who made it great for all of us :]]

And because it's the year anniversary of Global Kids,
I really want to thank everyone who has made this year amazing. I've made so many friends through Global Kids, and I wouldn't trade the friendships for anything. This past year, working with Global Kids has really opened my eyes, and helped me in ways you can't imagine. I really want to stress how amazing and important you all are to me.
Thank you for everything, guys =]
You rock.

-Lucky

Posted by Lucky - SL Intern at 10:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

During the recent appearance by Blue and Philip Linden on GK Island, we invited teens to send questions to Mariel VoyUnicef. As we could not ask most we decided to list them all here:

Scott Deharo asks, "When will the TG get more beta testing sims? We only have one and we cant build or script in it?"

Jon Daikon asks, "When will the simulator source code be open sourced?"

Mariel Voyunicef asks, "Is the TG going to expand "culturally" as in terms of promotion in non-English-speaking countries? I saw a reportage on local news (Mexico City) about SL, but it focused on adults+MG, so I'd like to know if it will be popular for teens as well."

Mariel Voyunicef asks, "Do you think that, now that educational projects are growing on the TG, people will see TSL more as an educational place than one to have fun? Are LL doing things to prevent that, or do you consider it not necessary?"

Ty Dejavu asks, "Is there gonna be a TG stats thing on the forums or Website?"

Wayne Riederer asks, "could you make scripting simpler?"

Ace Amat asks, "could you please ask them what do you plan to do or suggest about the high amounts of lagging here in Teen Grid?"

Skyline Crosby asks, "why dose the grid go dawn every week insted of every month or somthing i know it's a stupi question but i realy would like to know"

Jon Daikon asks, "Will secondlife.com ever have a Teen Grid only statistics page?"

Akeem Hax asks, "how do we make mony i make mony becouse i desighn but i mean i cant buy no land no nothine all i can do is rent wy dont they start atomatic job opnings that mean you get payed to make somwere look preety you know what i mean make this SL more real thiers to menny ppl just Tp'n and looken for things to do and to menny ppl with 0L $"

Savion Willsmere asks, "I see alot of new sims made by the lindens what will be the plans of those?"

A message from Ace Amat: "could you tell them that i could posibly translate their website into Russian if it was needed, since i was born in russia and my family could help."

Jon Daikon asks, "When will the live grid client support voice interaction?"

Mariel Voyunicef asks, "Given the male majority on TSL, are LL going to target girls specifically to get a more balanced population, or is it not a priority?"

Mariel Voyunicef asks, "Education, business and activism are already present in SL. What do you think will come up next? It wouldn't surprise me to see really solid artistic expression in the future, but I'd like to know your thoughts on this".

Debaser Woodget asks, "when will we have more exploration areas? (i.e. oil rig in Bleu, hydroelectric dam i forgot where, etc.)"

Katherine Palen asks, "where could we get fourms to fill out to teach and stuff anf how long will it be until the education stuff is up and running"

Malarthi Behemoth asks, "Has there been any thought given to putting the Teen Grid on a seperate Asset Server?"

Savion Willsmere asks, "Will there be any more linden land sales like protected land etc.?"

Mariel Voyunicef asks, "Do you think politics in SL/TG will become more complicated -like offline ones- as more residents join?"
[16:48] Barry GKid: everyoen's questiosn suck compared with yours! :-)

Mariel Voyunicef asks, "Would you ever accept, now that you mentioned translators, to have volunteers translating on both grids?"

Scott Deharo asks, ""What do you think about the idea of a seperate TSL ecomeny, I think the L$ prices should be seperate for the grids."

Ty Dejavu asks, "Is there any tour or a learning station in the real life Linden Village?"

Skyline Crosby also says, "i olso want to know how they think the sim is going to react more later in the year or maby next year E.G: how much it may crash"

Ryou Debs asks, "I have a lot of friends that I'd like to get into SL. THey're all into MySpace, and their profiles. I've heard quite a bit about the SL profiles becoming much like that of a MySpace Profile some day. But the problem is, SL only runs on high end machines. Will there be a day when SL min requirements will be dumbed down?"

Mariel Voyunicef asks, "So far, most actions seem to have been taken by residents/organisations/outside investors. Do LL plan on including more of their own projects, or will it all be resident-led in the future?"

yumsum Bartz asks, "wat if a kid gets raped from chatting on sl?"

Scott Deharo asks, "When will SL get a packet load cap?"

Natalia Obscure asks, "Can Linden Labs integrate classes that will educate TSLers business practices that will promote profit on the TG and business/economic education?"

nik385 Doesburg asks: Wouldnt there be a simple-enough way to make an island with acess to both TG and MG residents, but dissallowing inventory transfers, if it's the mature objects you're worried about?

nik385 Doesburg asks: It's undenyable, the TG has a large number of foreign players, some not speaking english, isnt there a way to bring a translator over from the main grid, or integrate one into the SL client?

Posted by Barry at 8:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week Ze Frank will finish his year of regular video podcasts about digital media, current events, and general Web 2.0 zaniness. He invited his listers to create 15 second-long videos for showing during one of the final podcasts. This is what we submitted:

Posted by Barry at 1:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jim Kielsmeier, Founder and CEO of National Youth Leadership Council, along with Amy Cohen, Director of Learn & Serve America at the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Bradford Lewis, Program Officer for Learn & Serve America at the Corporation for National and Community Service, talked with residents for the first time in Teen Second Life on a live audio panel on Wednesday, March 21, 2007.

The 90 minutes panel featured a discussion on "Service-learning in America, what does it mean and why is it important?", and was well received by over 45 teens that dropped by to listen in. Mercury Metropolitan was asked to be the teen interviewer and moderator for the event.

Each guest shared about their experience in the service-learning sector, talked about their work abroad and provided vivid real-life examples on how teens are making the world a better place by serving their local schools, communities, and volunteer work.

The audio and virtual avatar interactions made it possible for teens from different parts of the United Kingdom and U.S.A. to participate and ask questions on how they can get invovled in real life, while some even managed to make friends with the guests after the panel ended.

Click below for the audio recording of the entire event, and click here for the photos taken during the event.

Thanks to New Media Consortium, the live audio stream was broadcast simultaneously on the Teaching sim on the main grid for educators to listen in. Next week during the 18th annual NYLC Service-Learning conference, adults will also be invited to witness the live video and audio stream of the conference along with teens in Teen Second Life.

Stay tuned for the 18th Annual NYLC Service-Learning Conference (March 28 - 30, 2007) that will be streamed LIVE on Global Kids Island and on the NMC campus!

Adults in the main grid were welcome to join us via a live audio stream host, while residents in Teen Second Life attended the discussion on GK Island.
Click here to download the audio or listen to it below.

powered by ODEO

Meet Dr. Jim Kielsmeier

President & Chief Executive Officer

NYLC’s founder, Jim has committed his life to transforming the roles of young people in society — building youth-adult partnerships that help young people grow from recipients of information and resources to valuable, contributing members of a democratic society. In the process, he has woven concepts of national service and experiential learning to pioneer service-learning, an educational approach that has benefited countless young people, including many who haven’t responded to traditional educational models, and helped strengthen communities around the world.
Jim’s work is rooted in his time as a youth worker in Harlem and then as a U.S. Army Infantry platoon leader and community relations officer in Korea during the 1960s, where he saw firsthand that the potential for life and learning were not equal for all. With the Army, he developed a program placing GIs as tutors in Korean schools, an approach that not only had educational benefits but also improved relationships between GIs and the communities in which they were stationed. This experience would feed his ongoing passion for combining community service and education.

Meet Amy Cohen

Director of Learn and Serve America at the Corporation for National and Community Service. Prior to joining Learn and Serve America, Amy was associate director of what is now the Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania. Cohen received her degrees from Brandeis University and the University of Pennsylvania. She currently resides in Falls Church, VA, with her daughter, Lia.

Learn and Serve America is one of three programs of the independent Federal Agency, the Corporation for National and Community Service. Learn and Serve is the leading national funder and resource provider for service-learning. Learn and Serve supports School- and Community-Based programs as well as programs in Higher Education institutions throughout the United States. These programs engage individuals and institutions in school-community partnerships to address local community needs while building students’ academic and civic skills. Learn and Serve America also administers the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (www.servicelearning.org), the nation’s source for service-learning information as well as recognition programs for service, including the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Meet Bradford Lewis

Program Officer for Learn and Serve America at the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency where he has served for nearly 12 years. He manages a grant portfolio in the North Central region of the United States as well as working on youth voice, community-based issues and technology initiatives. A past grantee of the Commission on National and Community Service, Mr. Lewis received his Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University in 1983 and then worked in New York City and Connecticut for the next 10 years. Positions he held included directing youth leadership/after-school/service-learning programs, teen travel/residential summer camps, and Assistant Executive Director of a community YM-YWHA. He also served as a Governor's appointee on the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and more recently as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Maryland Graduate School of Social Work and Field Instructor for the Howard University Graduate School of Social Work.

Posted by tabitha at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tonight, as part of Global Kids birthday party in TSL, we hosted a debate about the role of adults in online teen spaces (which quickly became about the role of adults in TSL).

TSL resident Mariel, from Mexico, reported:

"...the debate was very useful because, no matter that we didn’t really get to an absolute consensus, the whole Teen Grid community (and also the adults who are interested in running projects in it) will have a stronger basis to work on now that we’ve found the points at which both perspectives meet." [read more from Mariel...]

It was a very rich and honest discussion, and involved a number of panelists and a very active audience. Below is an abridged log from the discussion.

But first, some photos!

Barry Gkid: Thank you all for coming today, to this special youth panel during Global Kids anniversary week in TSL. We hope you have been enjoying the fun stuff - the birthday cake building contest, the scavenger hunt, the volcano countdown (watch your head!), the birthday cards and balloons - and enjoy the live events like this one.
Barry Gkid: Okay, so, I will introduce the topic and then pass things over to our teen panelists.
Barry Gkid: Many teenagers find their thinking disrespected, on a regular basis. They are often said to be self-centered, concerned only with themselves or trivial matters. Weighty world issues bore them.
Barry Gkid: Many teenagers often have their bodies controlled, told where they have to be, what they have to do and, at times, find themselves exploited with no place to turn for help.
Barry Gkid: As a result, many young people, after fighting and resisting this daily, often socially sanctioned, mistreatment, slowly forget how competent they are, how smart they are, how important they are. They come to believe the lies they have been fed about themselves.
Barry Gkid: This is sometimes called internalized oppression, when a group that is targeted comes to believe the misinformation said about their group.
Barry Gkid: Many organizations like Global Kids believe that it is never too late for youth to reclaim their voice, to reclaim their power. That on their own or with the help of thoughtful adults, they can develop critical thinking about themselves, and the world around them, and see their voice as an invaluable contribution to improving the world.
Barry Gkid: That is what we do with youth after school, in New York City, working with students to develop their critical voices and abilities for expressing it around local and global issues.
Barry Gkid: This is the perspective we bring to our work in TSL, which is perhaps the largest youth-run community in the world, perhaps in history. This is a place where teens take on leadership to run business, develop activities, educate, manage property, and more. The opportunities to develop leadership are unlimited.
Barry Gkid: We at GK do not take our role here as adult lightly. There is a role we can play, supporting the development of those in TSL as empowered youth leaders. At the same time, we know that as adults we are not exempt from the same ball of confusion that leads adults to mistreat youth. So we understand at times when our presence might not be fully welcome, no matter how "good" we act.

Barry Gkid: It is in that context that, last Fall, Global Kids began to wonder about the general issue of adults in online teen spaces... and what TSL residents might have to say about this issue.
Barry Gkid: Last January we moderated an online discussion, which can be found on our blog,http://www.HolyMeatballs.org, or at http://spotlight.macfound.org/main/entry/adults_role_online_teen_spaces
JayClostermann: Hi, I'm Jay Clostermann.
JayClostermann: I am an active Global Kids volunteer.
Barry Gkid: Today we have invited many of those participates back this afternoon/morning/evening to revisit the issues in a live discussion.
Barry Gkid: I will be asking questions and they will be using the lightbulbs above their head to line-up to respond. Later on we will give you your OWN lightbub for the questions and answer period.
Barry Gkid: Before we begin, I'd like to ask each panelist to introduce themselves. This is also a good time to test out the lightbulbs!
Barry Gkid: So please click your bulb
Barry Gkid: and in the order shown above the White GK box, please introduce yourselves
Barry Gkid: Jay?
Jay Clostermann: I find it easier to only volunteer in the online spaces that Global Kids provides, which is why I am against taking these spaces away.
Lucky Figtree: Hello :] I'm Lucky Figtree. I was active in the Camp Global Kids as a reporter, and since then I have been working with the Global Kids in Real-Life.
Barry Gkid: And when you are done introducing yourself
Barry Gkid: please click your bulb
Barry Gkid: so the next person knows to go
Lucky Figtree: I'm often called on for events such as this one :P
Mariel Voyunicef: Hi. My name is Mariel, I'm 17 and I live in Mexico City. I "met" SL because of UNICEF and Global Kids' joint project "A World Fit for Children Festival".
RavenAnn Tiger: Hi :D im ravenann tiger and I’m NOT apart of global kids because i dont think adults should be allowed on the grid
Ryan Mauriac: Hi I'm Ryan Mauirac
Ryan Mauriac: I was apart of camp global kids summer 2006, i also joined in on the world fit for childern :)
Barry Gkid: Thank you all for joining us
Barry Gkid: The panelists will be asked to address a number of questions
Barry Gkid: both for and against adults in teen spaces
Barry Gkid: and then we will give all of YOU in the audience light bulbs and invite you to join us
Barry Gkid: So, after I ask the question, let's use the same process
Barry Gkid: if you want to answer please click your bulb
Barry Gkid: when done, please unclick it
Barry Gkid: If you want to RESPOND to something another panelists said, feel free to reclick your bulb
Barry Gkid: Question 1: What can adults offer to teen spaces?
Camari Beaton: ao off
Jay Clostermann: In teen spaces, adults can offer education, fun, and creative outlits.
Lucky Figtree: I think that adults can offer a lot of leadership, and set goals for teens. They're there to help us, and educate.
Mariel Voyunicef: I think adults can offer in virtual spaces the same things they offer offline without the barriers that exist there.
Ryan Mauriac: Adults can share their wisdom on how the world is, and bring up topics that we'll have to deal with when were adults.

Barry Gkid: Second question: What does their presence take away?
Barry Gkid: What does the presence of adults prevent from happening?
RavenAnn Tiger: I think that adults can prevent teenagers from having fun because they expect us to act certain ways when we're usually the total opposite
RavenAnn Tiger: (hold I’m on the phone)
RavenAnn Tiger: hold on*
Barry Gkid: Please say more
Barry Gkid: lol. okay, we'll come back to you
Lucky Figtree: I don't think it takes away too much, but having adults and educators around may create a problem of being themselves; as well. Adults can often be intimidating, and teens have a tendency of acting a certain way around them.
Lucky Figtree: [teens being themselves]
Mariel Voyunicef: The strange feeling of "ownership" that we tend to have when we're in teen-only places, perhaps.
Barry Gkid: Where do you think that comes from? That sense of ownership? And why is it important?
Jay Clostermann: Perhaps, teens have a rebellion against adults, which somewhat makes them mentally lose independence.
Mariel Voyunicef: I think it comes as a response to the ownership adults have of certain things because of legal reasons.
Barry Gkid: And RavenAnn, are you back from the phone yet?
Mariel Voyunicef: I think it is important because, after all, it is something that shows the impact of laws on youth, and I think it comes down only to personal choice whether this feeling of ownership should prevent adults from being on the TG or not.
RavenAnn Tiger: k I’m off the phone
Barry Gkid: I'd like to push more on this topic - why do you think teens gain from having a space they can call their own?
Jay Clostermann: Teens possibly could gain from having a place called their own for the reason that it would help them mentally gain 'imaginary independence'.
Jay Clostermann: Because Second Life is a virtual space.
Barry Gkid: Why do you qualify that by saying imaginary?
Barry Gkid: RavenAnn, sounds like you are back
Barry Gkid: Please tell us what was on your mind
RavenAnn Tiger: ok well teenagers like to have their own space to feel independant since they have had to live for so many years under someone else's rules. We like to be able to think for ourselves every now and then
RavenAnn Tiger: Parents and other adults usually tell us what to do and how to do it
sam Doigts: but we need someone to keep us inline
sam Doigts: we have all seen how bad the sandbox can get
Isadora Petrova: i think also it gets us ready for the real world u know
Lucky Figtree: Teens obviously gain a huge sense of freedom, and responsibility. Although, it's in a virtual world; And while some aspects may be quite similar or the real world, many are not. They gain independence, that may help when they're older; but much of what is learned is based on something much different than the Real World, and therefore much of what is gained in a virtual space can't be used in the real world.
Barry Gkid: So are you saying this indepances learned in a virtual world like TSl does not translate offline?
Barry Gkid: If not, why not?
Lucky Figtree: As I said, some is taken from SL into RL; but you can't use eveything that you learn in TSL in RL.
Lyle Zabelin: yes it is
Picard Zhu: Yes that is true
RavenAnn Tiger: shh
Barry Gkid: Before we move on, what is an example of something you CAN talk from TSL into the real world?
Isadora Petrova: i think people gain confidence from sl
Jay Clostermann: Please, if you are in the audience, please wait for the audience's turn to talk.
Ryan Mauriac: huh? just got confused xD
Barry Gkid: What does the presence of adults take away from youth when in a teen-only space?
Ryan Mauriac: There presence takes away creativity that they want to express, even if there no adult run sims like global kids adults would still be in second life in form of the lindens.
Ryan Mauriac: Lindens often tell us what we can do or what we cant do.
Ryan Mauriac: Giveing us rules to obey and follow.
aviator1223 Ascot: i got banned for 4 hours cussing one out
Isadora Petrova: lol
Isadora Petrova: besides if it weren’t for them u wouldn’t be here
Jay Clostermann: Shh, isadora.
Mariel Voyunicef: Well - from the little experience I have from teaching practices, I can tell that this sense of ownership is really needed when you want to get a message through. When people have this feeling, they seem to be more comfortable with the environment itself, which I think is the success of SL -and perhaps the reason why we're debating this today-. I wouldn't know about something that goes beyond that.
Mariel Voyunicef: Also, if you let me respond to Lucky's comment here, I do think that perhaps not all the knowledge you gain in TSL can be transmitted, as she said, offline (I don't like calling it RL) - however, I do think that you can transmit all the SKILLS you gain here (excuse the caps, needed to stress it).
Barry Gkid: So skills translate, but not always knowledge
Barry Gkid: What sort of skills? What sort of knowledge?
RavenAnn Tiger: Well, about you asking what skills we take out
Jay Clostermann: It can give you architectural skills.
RavenAnn Tiger: Into the real world if you make clothes for sl, like myself, you learn to be a better artist irl
RavenAnn Tiger: i don’t think building can make you take anything into the real world
RavenAnn Tiger: but scripting can also help, im not sure how cause im not a scripter, but its usually the smarter people who do script
Camari Beaton: scripting helps understand computer code for who ever wants a career working with computers
Mariel Voyunicef: Knowledge in terms of information - perhaps the things we learn accidentally, in general. Perhaps the basis of programming, even architectural (??) styles, haha, marketing.
Mariel Voyunicef: Skills - all of them. From social (because, after all, it's a second life indeed) to even better spatial relationships (building here does offline magic for real), marketing again... Better mental structures... All that.
Jay Clostermann: I'd say SL gives you computer skills, obviously.
Jay Clostermann: But the biggest skills you can learn are math, architecture, some physics, and computer code.
Jay Clostermann: Building in SL has gained me my love of architecture.
Barry Gkid: So on this topic, do you think the presence of adults could HELP you develop this skills? Do you think the presence of adults hinders you from learning them? What would you preferring an ideal TSL?
Barry Gkid: *in an ideal TSL?
Barry Gkid: Do adults help or hurt the learning?
Barry Gkid: and in what ways?
Lucky Figtree: Adults can be a huge help. They can help you learn such skills as we just talked about; and give you a better idea on how you can use the in the real world, or offline.
RavenAnn Tiger: Adults can both help or hurt, some adults could really help you with your building issues or if your having troubles in real life, but others don’t want anything to do with it
Mariel Voyunicef: Definitely! I think that, instead of hurting the feeling, online education might relieve the wounds made by offline education or even everyday offline circumstances. I don't think this is reduced to adult educators, but covers all types of educators.
Isadora Petrova: this is TEEN second life were TEENS can interact and share there ideas with other teens,there shouldn’t be adults on because its defeating the entire purpose of TEEN sl i feel like this is sort of my only place to express myself and when u add adults to that everything gets everything messed up
Malarthi Behemoth: Pardon me whilst I rez.
Ryan Mauriac: most adults will share thier knowledge with most teens, thus teaching us a lot more then we could learn on our own.

Barry Gkid: Well, let me follow-up with this question? Do you find the learning you do in TSL fun?
Barry Gkid: And, if so, does the presence of adults change that? And, finally, if so, is there anything you would want to tell adults so that they CAN help out but without changing the sense of fun and play?
RavenAnn Tiger: I do find the learning i get in tsl fun because of how i get to stay home and be comfortable while talking to many people from all over the world who know more than we do in just our small confined cities and towns, you can learn some interesting facts from both adults and teens, some helpful some just fun facts
Jay Clostermann: Wait.
Jay Clostermann: I forgot the question.
Jay Clostermann: Oh wait.
Jay Clostermann: Absolutely.
Jay Clostermann: It's funner than heck.
Jay Clostermann: (yes, I'm a nerd.).
Ryan Mauriac: Yes the learning i do in tsl is fun, adults don't change a thing most adults that are in tsl are lindens all the other are in private sims like global kids, we have the choice to go there and interact and learn from them.
Mariel Voyunicef: Well - I think that, after all, this is an issue people will never agree on because, after all, it all comes down to personal experience and tastes in this case. I do think, though, that to please both parties adults should continue to give opportunities like this to the ones interested in e-education, and at the same time never impose the models on the teens who aren't willing. I think this demands flexibility from both sides.
RavenAnn Tiger: (bathroom break brb)
Ryan Mauriac: my choice was clearly to learn and interact with the adults in second life.

Barry Gkid: Final question
Barry Gkid: before going to the audience
Barry Gkid: But before I ask it I want to say this has been a fantastic panel and we appreciate each of you spending the time to share your thoughts here
Barry Gkid: We also appreciate those in the audience who have been patient andbeen listening
Barry Gkid: and we look forward to shortly learning what is on your minds
Barry Gkid: last question:
Barry Gkid: When is it not safe for teens to not have adults around online?
Jay Clostermann: It isn't safe for teens to not have adults online when it is an EXTREMELY large game, with tons of potential predators, e.g Second Life.
RavenAnn Tiger: I dont think adults should have many adults if any besides lindens on the teen grid because of predators, I’m not sure if I’m speaking for anyone else here but im paranoid and i hate when adults are around me that i don’t know or that my friends don’t know :)
RavenAnn Tiger: i don’t think adults should be on the tg*
RavenAnn Tiger: I agree with ryan :)
Ryan Mauriac: It's not safe when they pretend to be teens so they can access TSL with out being a Certifiable adult, the best type of adult to do this would be a online predator trying to get a teen to meet them, Myself can say i have never had such a thing happen to me before, as long as LL dose background checks on Certifiable adults then we should be safe :)
Mariel Voyunicef: Well, I can sadly say because of personal experience that predators are a risk always in online places, so I second what has been said. :)
Barry Gkid: We have found some consensus, agreement. Yeah!
Barry Gkid: With that, we will give mariel the last word
Barry Gkid: before Mercury turns on the red boc
Barry Gkid: when the red box is turned on, you can click and get you OWN lightbulb
Barry Gkid: wear it. Click it. And then your name will appear on the list
Mariel Voyunicef: Also, I'd like to give a final message to everyone - please remember this is a debate where two different viewpoints are supposed to reach a solution for the problem, so we all should be flexible.
Ryan Mauriac: Brb washroom :)
Barry Gkid: let me remind everyone that is the first of two weeks celebrating Global Kids' one year anniversary in the teen grid
Lucky Figtree: Yay! Happy Rezday!
Barry Gkid: Please click on the red box
Barry Gkid: Then put on your lightbulb
Barry Gkid: and if you are number 1 please either ask a question of the panel or share your own thoughts
Barry Gkid: when you are done please click your lightbulb again
Barry Gkid: IF you are number 2 or 3 please start typing what you want to say in advance
[Fur.Tool] v2.4: Scripter: Bhavin Poindexter - Designers: Inuyasha Overlord & Reggie Clifton
Case Damone: I believe, that adults play a major role in second life.
Case Damone: But, they could definitely interfere with the creativity of the teens.
Barry Gkid: Case, Please say more. In what way?
Takura Thielt: I think adults should be allowed on TSL but only a select few with full background checks. They could help us with scripting, building, etc.
Case Damone: Well. What if someone was building something, and an adult came up, and said, "No no, you do it this way." It could really mess around. Also, a lot of teens use TSL to get -away- from adults. Just to be with people that could have the same thoughts as them.
Isadora Petrova: i feel that teen second life is a place for teens to interact and hang out, its one of the only places i have that’s my own so i feel like having adults interfere makes everything harder although i do think that case has a point about a few adults that can help u maybe four or five people that the lindens have met personally
Isadora Petrova: really quickly can everyone in the audience say yay or nay to having adults in the TG
Bellia Zou: yay
Davidius Drake: nay
Isadora Petrova: ok so far we have 3 nats annnnnnnnd 7 yays
Jay Clostermann: Yay.
Joe GKid: yay
RavenAnn Tiger: nay, unless its lindens
Ryan Mauriac: YAY!!!!
Takura Thielt: yay
Barry Gkid: Interesting. Good sense of the "room". Good idea Isadora. Thank you
RavenAnn Tiger: do you think that people moving to the mg from the tg should have a choice to move? some people dont want to move if they have so many friends here who are leaving in a year for the mg or so and want to wait for them
Barry Gkid: While ISadora prepares her comment, Jay why don't you go ahead
Jay Clostermann: Well...
Jay Clostermann: I would say that adults may cause some stress on the teens.
Jay Clostermann: The adults have seen the MG, and what perfection in the catagory of builds and resident made items it brings.
Isadora Petrova: well i feel like some people have thoughts that they r uncomfortable sharing with adults, so tsl is a place t share there ideas without adults, so i feel like some of the adults on the tg are being mean and taking teens fun also, some of the adults i have met have been weird and mean so i think several people over the TG have several opinioms so i think I’m gonna go and prepare to have a vote if u don’t mind
Jay Clostermann: TG residents do not have the experience to match that, which is why some of the TSL approved adults believe that our items don't match the quality that the MG's items do.
Jay Clostermann: Thus, the adults push for more and more perfection, which puts teens under stress.
Valenteen Gastel: Certain Adults should be allowed in TSL, but on special conditions and restrictions. Meaning, they should only be here to help us, not to look over us like every other adult we've known. What I mean by conditions and restrictions is having them in one certain place and not roaming around TSL, that way if teens WANT to be helped they can go to that certain place to get it.
Barry Gkid: Thank you for coming and sharing Isadora. Your comments and everyone else's in the public chat can be seen later at holymeatballs.org
Malarthi Behemoth: Well, I'll say that in blatant self interest, I'm leaving soon, and honestly, it's not a thing I look forward to. I helped found this place, I don't want to leave. If adults can't be here, I'd be locked out forever.
Malarthi Behemoth: And that's... Well... Not something I'd want @.@
Malarthi Behemoth: I think that I personally, and people like myself, have a lot to offer to the "new generation" of TSL residents.
Barry Gkid: very true. Someday everyone in the current teen grid will be adults -it is an interesting issue to think about what that will mean for both grids at that time
Takura Thielt: I think adults should be allowed on TSL but only a select few with full background checks. They could help us with scripting, building, etc.
Takura Thielt: also
Takura Thielt: they could help the older teens (about 14-17) with jobs..
Takura Thielt: like I've read things on other websites about big businesses hiring people through SL
Malarthi Behemoth: I'm not supposed to be on the list, it's broken >.<
Mariel Voyunicef: I think we should keep in mind the situations in which adults make us stressed. Personally, I wouldn't compare SL, a place where you can leave elsewhere whenever you want, to a classroom where you must stay in the class no matter your opinion of the teacher.
Mariel Voyunicef: And about the current system - well, personally, I wouldn't have any problem if adults went around the other sims; however, I do think that, in order to respect both parties (those for and those against adults here), the current system is the fairest.
Valenteen Gastel: I believe this system works fine. Teens come here by choice, knowing that there adults here.
Barry Gkid: Thank you Takura
Barry Gkid: So popcorn style - let it pop!
Barry Gkid: 60seconds
Jay Clostermann: I think the system works fine. Though, possibly, if a friend of a TSL approved adult comes to TSL, and then is told by an adult friend that THEY have an educational island on the same grid, maybe there should be an exception for them to be allowed to those islands only.
Malarthi Behemoth: It's true Takura. But that's a problem I've grappled with since I started thinking about it.
Malarthi Behemoth: You can't stop them getting in anyway.
RyanMauriac: teens have been living with adults in secondlife even before tsl teens would fake their age to get on the mg to play sl, we infact do have the same quality items they have.
Takura Thielt: bad thing about adults on TG... one bad thing
Takura Thielt: predators
Takura Thielt: I'm sure there might be a few other things but...
Barry Gkid: 30 seconds
Barry Gkid: 20 seconds
Barry Gkid: 10 seconds
Jay Clostermann: BLAST OFF!
Takura Thielt: 9
Takura Thielt: 8
Takura Thielt: 7
Valenteen Gastel: Predators true, but keeping adults in one place lowers the chances of that
Barry Gkid: 6
Barry Gkid: 5
Barry Gkid: 4
Barry Gkid: 3
Barry Gkid: 2
Barry Gkid: 1
Barry Gkid: Thank you everyone. This has been a fascinating and rich conversation
Barry Gkid: We will edit it for clarity and post it int he next few days at our blog where many of you post:
Barry Gkid: http://www.HolyMeatballs.org
Jay Clostermann: yAy!
Barry Gkid: Feel free to continue the conversation there in the comment section
Barry Gkid: Please remember - big event tomorrow at 4pm SL time - Blue Linden and a special quest on the past present and future of the teen grid
Barry Gkid: Plus the winner of the cake contest
Barry Gkid: cake contest*
Barry Gkid: next week we will have the volcano erupt,
Barry Gkid: two live event, one with voice and one with voice and sound
Barry Gkid: Check the Global Kid group notices for the schedule
Barry Gkid: thank you to all of the TSL residents who have helped make this event and continue to make this festival so fun.
Barry Gkid: Night everyone!
Barry Gkid: Oh, and thank you to all of the panelist!
Jay Clostermann: :D.
Jay Clostermann: MUCH better than I expected.
Malarthi Behemoth: And NOW I rez.
Ryan Mauriac: :)
Ryan Mauriac: Anytime barry
Ryan Mauriac: it was a great debate

Posted by Barry at 6:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Wednesday March 14, 2007, as part of the one year anniversary celebration in TSL, GK leaders gathered up on the GK event stage to reflect on their experience with Global Kids through various activities and programs, and talked to teens from all over the world. The GK leaders shared about their accomplishments, provided examples of their past work in TSL, and encouraged teens to get involved with future GK activities. Some of the teens are from our after-school programs based in NYC, while others participated in other activities such as the UNICEF World Fit for Children Festival.

Below is a short excerpt of the dialogue during the panel:

Tabitha Gkid: The panel begins now! Please have a seat everyone. Well welcome GK leaders! Please tell us about yourself and how you got started with Global Kids…

Tyguy Homewood: There's all kind of people here.

Introduction – Joe Gkid and Jack Gkid from our after-school Machinima program

Joe GKid: Hi my name is Joe.
Joe GKid: Well the funny thing about me getting into GK is that they were passing out flyers to certain schools and my school wasn’t one of them, but I managed to get my hands on it through my music teacher
Joe GKid: I read about the GK Machinima program and I found it very interesting so I signed up
Jack GKid: ok : ) Hey people I’m jack
Jack GKid: I got into this program because Tabitha came to our school and gave out information
Nicholas Burns: cool
Jack GKid: the funny thing was I never thought so many people from
Jack GKid: I joined since I’m a sucker for computer stuff and because i wanted to learn more about global issues.

Introduction – Mercury, Nate, Malarthi and Brooke, from Camp GK, 2006

Mercury Metropolitan: Hello everyone! I am a teen intern that works for Global Kids remotely from home.
Mercury Metropolitan: In May of 2006, Global Kids was looking to hire an intern to help with the development of their Camp Global Kids Summer Program in Second Life, so I wrote an essay describing my interest in the position and submitted my resume.
Mercury Metropolitan: Shortly after, I was accepted.
Mercury Metropolitan: During that time, I helped to advise other staff members about the overall designing of the Camp GK Program in Second Life, helped to facilitate events, and managed our estate.
Mercury Metropolitan: More recently, I have been hired by Global Kids again to advise them on their upcoming programs and to do lots of behind the scenes stuff that most of you don't get to see.
Nate Kongo: Alright, hey guys, I'm Nate
Nate Kongo: well one year ago, a new island came to the Teen Grid, Global Kids island..
Nate Kongo: this was amazing for all of us that were current residents as there was no private island owned by an organization yet
Redsamba Hall: that’s very true
Nate Kongo: alright, and on one night Lori GK and Mercury here had a special announcement
Nate Kongo: and that announcement was about the summer program Camp Global Kids
Nate Kongo: I signed up, and a year later here I am
Nate Kongo: camp was in summer 2006
Malarthi Behemoth: For those of you who DON'T know me, I'm Malarthi, the big bright (literally) dog that took that first small step for teens, first huge step for man kind.
Malarthi Behemoth: I was really just sitting in world one day as I'm wont to do and a friend of mine told me that Camp GK had a summer camp that was going to be happening.
Malarthi Behemoth: I came over to Global Kids island (the only one at the time) and poked around until I found the booth about summer camp.
Malarthi Behemoth: And I took a notecard, went to the website, started filling out the form, asked a few questions, filled out some more stuff, asked a few MORE questions, then hit submit and waited :)
Malarthi Behemoth: So I ended up being one of the people in the first Camp GK
Malarthi Behemoth: And we had TONS of fun.
Brooke Barmy: So.. I'm Brooke Barmy
Brooke Barmy: and I originally just signed up for the summer camp
through Mercury
Brooke Barmy: I knew they had to be pretty big and all of this to be able to want to have an island on Second Life and start reaching out to teens
Brooke Barmy: It went on for ~ 3 weeks
Brooke Barmy: I wanted to learn what global kids was about
Brooke Barmy: and I learned that if it wasn't for people like Rafi and Barry and Lori, then this great place wouldn't be here
Brooke Barmy: Because they really do awesome things for this place and make it all work for you guys
Brooke Barmy: So I ended up building a lot for GK during the camp, when they needed certain things and I even build a bit randomly after the camp now, as you can see I created this stage
Brooke Barmy: So I just like being able to help people out with my talent and being able to share what I have

Introduction – Jay, GK volunteer on the GK anniversary celebration event

Jay Clostermann: Okay, I'm Jay.
Redsamba Hall: yay jay
Jay Clostermann: So, how I got involved...
Jay Clostermann: I had actually heard about Global Kids in Teen Second Life from a friend. Which is one of the reasons I joined.
Jay Clostermann: So, when I got to global kids, the maze was in it's final weeks of being.
Jay Clostermann: Sadly, I didn't have enough money to donate, but I was still extremely interested on the subject.
Jay Clostermann: I knew that Global Kids island was probably extremely educational and interesting, so, I came alot.
Jay Clostermann: And as you can see, I built the Birthday Cake Making Contest area as well.

Describing their experience:

Joe GKid: So I was in the machinima program also known as the virtual video project and what we basically do is learn about film making in real life so we can learn how to use it in machinima in secondlife
Joe GKid: right now we are working on PSAs (public service announcements) which we will use to talk about an issue
Joe GKid: for example my issue is media piracy which is like illegal downloading
Trextron Sukra: yah
Joe GKid: I have sets of CD stores closed down and a set of a house where there are tons of CDs in someone who has a media pirates room
Ivan Ortega: good idea...
Jack GKid: my PSA is about identity theft
Jack GKid: so we have this one guy who gets his credit card info stolen, due to his carelessness of checking whether the thing he was buying off the website was approved or not
Quert Donaldo: COOL
Jack GKid: and he clicks it and the next day he finds out that he has nothing left becuase they stole his information such as his credit card number, bank account etc.

Mercury Metropolitan: Camp GK was a wonderful experience - Teens took part in various interactive and engaging events relating to Global Issues
Mercury Metropolitan: All ranging from gross Domestic Product, to the very final PROJECT - building a maze to end Child Sex Trafficking
James Canto: cool
Mercury Metropolitan: We also held a workshop outside of GK Island, in which other teens were made aware of our final issue - Child Sex Trafficking
Malarthi Behemoth: Well, as some, though not most of you may know...My favorite experience was what we called the "Race to the Bottom"…
Malarthi Behemoth: Basically, we were assigned a team of 3, and a third world country to represent. And then we had to decide how much financial, legal, ethical and other kinds of incentives we were going to give to a large corporation that was considering moving it's labor to a foreign country to increase profits.
Malarthi Behemoth: The amazing part for me was when I realized that the name of the "game" wasn't random, it was directly related to what we were doing. So I tried to get everyone to take a stand against the corporation, and it didn't work. And I realized that's the problem we face today.

Nate Kongo: well the one thing that comes to my mind right away was fixing the maze, malarthi probably knows what i'm talking about;)
Nate Kongo: There wasn't anything as far to say challenging, but we really had to work together to plan our final project
Jay Clostermann: I wasn't at Camp GK, sadly.
Jay Clostermann: But, I have been involved since January.
Daniel Voyager: any more events happening on global kids soon please
Storm Basiat is Offline
Jay Clostermann: I have been involved with sometimes "personally assisting" the GKids, which I actually enjoy quite alot.
Jay Clostermann: And I have also been running the GK Birthday
Jay Clostermann: It was quite fun setting it up, and even more fun to watch people's ideas of what and ideal GK cake would be when they make it in SL.

Question from the audience

Redsamba Hall: what did you find most enjoyable in your experience for working for global kids?

Jay Clostermann: Well, for one, Genocide in Darfur
Nate Kongo: Well, yes the Darfur one was rather important
Jay Clostermann: I find just helping out and stuff is really great.
Nate Kongo: we even had a guest speaker come in to us at camp and talk to us about it
Nate Kongo: another issue was racism, we did an activity on that
Redsamba Hall: all you guys have filled the empty void the was the boredom of having nothing to do in the teen grid
Mercury Metropolitan: My most enjoyable experience with Global Kids was planning out the Child Sex Trafficking Awareness and Activism event. The audience was very attentive and understood the validity and importance of the issues being presented.
Mercury Metropolitan: It was executed very successfully, and we all worked together to make it happen.

Comments from the audience:

Trextron Sukra shouts: *Repeats* Global Kids Rocks!!!!
SupaNeo Nori: I loved this! Awesome!
Jay Clostermann: Global Kids Rocks!
Nafiza GKid shouts: LOl YepYep~ GK is the best~
Redsamba Hall: *Gkids are the best*
Ivan Ortega shouts: yeah!!!!!
James Canto: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Ivan Ortega: WOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTT!!
Daniel Voyager: this was great today thanks!
Isadora Petrova shouts: I just want to applaud everyone that just got up there because you guys are making TSL a better place!!!!! *claps*

A later comer strolls in…Alister Harrington wonders what he just missed…

Posted by tabitha at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well as my title says we finally got our cameras after the long wait it was finally here. The thing is we have only one and its barry's so, we worked with him and commenced filming. We got the two panoramic shots done and now the rest of the video will consist of just short still shots so that the others in our class can get to use the camera for those harder to film shots.

Posted by VVP Idan at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ok so last class we finally got to start filming. We worked with Barry and started using his working camera to start filming the main scenes in our machinima that require the most movement. Now that we have that finished we can simply film the rest through mouse look and camera views if we have to. Also yesterday I attended a youth panel in second life where a few of us spoke on our experiences in the Global Kids classes we've attended, and I described our work with machinima. It was all pretty cool. Just for all who are reading this we are having events on Global Kids Island in second life everyday for the next two weeks. Go and check it out =D

Posted by VVP Joe at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reported by GK Volunteer - Mat Brocco

Here on Global Kids Island, the second event for the Global Kids Anniversary Celebration took place today. It was the scavenger hunt that requires contestants to explore all of Global kids island.

As explained to me by Rafi Gkid who was the event host, both blue and green recycling containers had been spread out throughout the entire island. There were exactly 15 containers hidden around GK Island, each of the containers when clicked represented a pop up which had a question about the environment. If a person had guessed the correct answer, they were rewarded with one point, and whoever had the most points at the end of the game wins.

For the first round many residents of the Teen grid scattered about the island to find the blue and green bins, for their chance to answer a question and score a point. As time went by, the first round came to an end and weall gathered up by the scoreboard. At the end of the first round the winner was Trextron Sukra, who was rewarded 50 Linden dollars.

Check out a pic from right before the end of the first round:

After the first round came to an end, Rafi counted down again as another round of the scavenger hunt began. Teen residents buzzed overhead, flying about the island, finding the blue and green bins, and answering educational questions for points.

Here are some of the bins that were scattered around the island:

When time was up, Rafi then again had all participants meet up by the score board. Once everyone had gathered around, Rafi announced that Jase Cao was the second and final winner of the day, who was also rewarded 50 Linden dollars.

After an afternoon of games, everyone on the island was called to the dance floor for the second half of the fun event planned for the day. People on the island danced as nik385 the party DJ had played songs requested by the teens. As the event came to an end the last few request of songs were played, and people started to get ready to go. Some residents stuck around for a few rounds of "Word Spill" as others had gone to other parts of TSL or had logged off.

Everybody at the event seemed to have a great time playing games, answering questions, and dancing at the dance party. A great second day of events on Global Kids island, and hopefully everybody can make it tomorrow for another great day of events to celebrate Global Kids one year in Teen Second Life.

Posted by tabitha at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hi everyone!

For this week only, 15 teens are busy competing in the Birthday Cake Making Contest on Global Kids Island, a first time initiative that we hope will become an annual event. The baker with the highest votes will win $1000 Linden (roughly $3.50 USD) and we will announce the winner on Friday, March 16, at 6pm EST. Good luck to all the participants!

Here are some examples of the cakes:

Made by Redsamba Hall. With splashing white fireworks and a rotating number 1.

Made by Draverm Young. Want a slice?

Made by Angeleart Kubo. With fireworks and animated flags!

To see more, go to this link

Posted by tabitha at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As many know, Henry initiated a three-way blog debate about Second Life amongst Beth Coleman, Clay Shirky and himself. In his most recent post, he had very nice things to say about our work in that space.

Those who have read my blog know how much I respect the work that Barry Joseph is doing through his Global Kids organization in Teen Second Life. Joseph has a strong commitment to using the virtual world to educate and empower young people and redirect them towards dealing with problems in the real world. Consider, for example, their recent collaboration with the U.S.Holocaust Memorial Museum to make images of the genocide occurring in Darfur visible to young visitors to Teen Second Life. The Museum was already projecting these photographs onto its own facade in the real world. The Global Kids group worked to showcase these same images within the virtual world, in the process learning more about real world suffering, and using Second Life as a platform to educate their contemporaries about a world problem that might otherwise have escaped their attention. By all reports, this was a transformative experience for the teens involved, resulting in them putting greater energy into trying to change the real world. Perhaps, Barry, who is a regular reader of this blog, will share more about his experiences.

To read more, and our response, go here.

(note: ironically, I learned of Henry's post as re-blogged on a Russian blog. Gotta love the Web 2.0 world...)

Posted by joyce at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

TSL resident Zack Voom posted a video on YouTube, dedicated to Global Kids, for our own year anniversary in Second Life. It documents his building, in-world, of a birthday cake as part of our anniversary contest.

Along with the video, he sent this note:

HI! My name is Zack, a 14 year old machinima maker, SL builder and SL scripter. I am a big fan of GK Island(s) and felt that, out of my care (and boredom), I would take part in GK's birthday bash. The video I am sending you is of me building my GK birthday cake. The music is legal and made by Torley Wong (Linden). Enjoy :D

Posted by joyce at 8:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This past Tuesday the group got things organized and we started storyboarding. Storyboarding basically is a draft showing how the PSA is going to be done. It shows what is going on and at what angle. It was amazing to see how fast the process was going. We didn't get time to start filming, but the progress we made was very good, so if we keep at this pace we'll be catching up to the other groups in no time. It’s just a matter of patience and organization skills for us to finish our PSA and make a good one too.

Posted by VVP Armando at 6:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In March we began developing our curriculum for educators to teach themselves, their peers, and their students how to teach Second Life and use it for education.

While we develop it, we are fortunate to be working with a student group who can test it out. The students attend the unusual McKinley Tech High School, in Washington, D.C. The high school works with youth similar to ours in NYC, but offer high tech training in a number of fields. What a great group to work with to train how to use Second Life.

So here's the plan - twice a week, a teacher at McKinley will organize the students into a classroom, taking them into Second Life. With Skype broadcasting our voices into their classroom, and then occasionally speaking back, we have folks in NYC and Scotland who will run the program and facilitate the use of the curriculum. The curriculum itself is a self-guided program and available through TakingITglobal's new TIGed system. Between Second Life, TIGed and Skype, we have a lot going on!

It turns out a number of teens already have experience in SL. One below runs her own clothing business.

Posted by Barry at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last class Barry came back with exciting news about working cameras but alas it still didn’t work for anyone that Barry gave it to. So we are still stuck with no cameras. My group is basically done and we are just biding time. Also last class my personal project advisor Mr. Pollack came to the museum with me to see what we did in classes. He was really interested and loved the idea of machinima and really wants to bring it to our school next year. Well that’s about all we did last class. I hope the cameras work today!

Posted by VVP Joe at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

+++++ Anniversary Celebration+++++

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GLOBAL KIDS!

February was GK's 1 year anniversary in TSL (woo-hoo!), and we want to celebrate it with you! Which means not only do we want you to help out, but we need you to pass the word and invite others to the grand celebration.

Some major highlight of the festival will include a birthday cake making contest, a live audio discussion on the history and future of the teen grid featuring Blue Linden and a secret SURPRISE visitor, a beautiful and giant photo montage displaying all of GK’s work in the past year, and last but not least, a live streaming of our annual Global Kids Youth Conference so all of you can SEE us in real world!

The New Media Consortium (NMC) from the main grid will be co-locating these events on their campus in the main grid, so they can listen in and participate in the events across grids with us!

For more photos, click on this link

Below is the list of events and schedule of the 1 year anniversary festival, see you there!

Starting from March 12 to March 23, 2007

Monday, March 12
When – Open all day from 7am ~ 2pm SLT
What – GK kicks off the first day of the GK Birthday Cake Making Contest!
Join the “GK Birthday Cake Making Contest” group if you think you got what it takes to make the most creative and original GK birthday cake! For one week only, everyone is invited to participate in the birthday cake making contest and the cake that wins the highest vote for the week wins $1000L. Open enrollment will begin on Monday, March 5, 2007, and end on Monday, March 12, 2007. Blue Linden along with GK Staff will announce the winner of the cake making contest on Friday, March 16, 2007, winner will be awarded $1000 Linden!!!
Who– Tabitha Gkid and Mercury Metropolitan will be running the contest. If you want to compete or have any questions please IM Tabitha GKid.

Tuesday, March 13
When – Open all day from 7am ~ 2pm SLT
What – GK kicks off a new environmental scavenger hunt challenge! 15 recycling boxes will be secretly placed all over the 3 islands, the first to find all 15 recycling boxes wins the scavenger hunt challenge!
Who – Rafi Gkid will be hosting the game along with Storm Basiat.
Where - GK Serious Games Island
The scavenger hunt challenge will be running throughout the 2 weeks of anniversary so if you miss the kick off, be sure to come back and play it the next time!

Wednesday, March 14
When – 2pm ~ 3pm SLT
What – GK invites Global Kids Youth Leaders from NYC to discuss their experiences in our in-person programs that use Second Life. Following the discussion, GK leaders will give tours of GK Island, visiting items that go back to our first day in the grid up until last week, and give out freebies!
Who – IM Tabitha Gkid or Mercury Metropolitan if you have questions.

Thursday, March 15
When – 3-4:30 SLT
What – Join in the debate with other TSL residents about the role of adults in online teens spaces? What can adults offer to teen spaces? What does their presence take away? When is it not safe to have adults and teens interact? When are teens ONLY safe when adults are present? We are still recruiting the teen debaters, so If you want to participate on the stage please IM Mercury Metropolitan and we will be in touch with you soon.

Friday, March 16
When –Between 2pm ~ 5pm SLT (exact time TBD)
What – GK invites Blue Linden, along with a surprise guest from the Main grid, to talk about the history of TG, GK’s impact and the future of TG. It is a great honor to have Blue talk and share his experience with us, so be sure not to miss the event. A TSL resident will moderate.
Also, Blue along with GK staff will be announcing the winner of the birthday cake making contest! Throught the week, everyone is invited to vote on their favorite birthday cake, and by 1pm SLT, the winner of the highest vote will win $1000L, be sure you stick around to see who wins and invite friends to vote for the best cake!
Who – Blue Linden and a secret surprise main grid guest.

Monday, March 19
When – 2pm ~ 3pm SLT (Countdown begins at 8am SLT)
What – VOLCANO ERUPTION! Gather around the famous GK volcano for this first ever-spectacular event. The first 20 teens to arrive will receive miniature volcanoes, exact replica of the GK volcano. (insert mini volcanoes here)
Who – All Gkid staffs will be present

Tuesday, March 20
When – 1-2:30 SLT
What – Ice glacier and interactive weather map from the main grid has moved to GK Island! For a limited time only, we have successfully moved a gigantic ice glacier from the main grid into TSL, and there is more to it than meets the eye. Listen in to what the glacier is about from Rafi Gkid, and tell us what you think of the glacier.
Who – Rafi Gkid and GK helpers

Wednesday, March 21
When – 12:30 ~ 2:30pm SLT
What – GK invites 3 new guests to GK island! Jim, Brad and Amy representing the 18th Annual National Service-Learning Conference in New Mexico will be *talking* for the first time with teens in TSL about the work that they do supporting teens in communities like you own. One teen will be interviewing the 3 new guests, so come out to meet their avatars (that looks just like them in real life) and mingle with the newbies.
Who – IM Tabitha Gkid if you want to be a reporter or photographer for this event

Thursday, March 22
When – 1:30 SLT
What – Dance Party with a guest DJ. This is your time to unwind, socialize, mingle, and stretch your arms and legs on the dance floor. We will be recording a live machinima of the event, and we want you in the video! So come on the dance floor and get your groove on.
Who – IM Tabitha Gkid or Rafi Gkid if you’re interested to record or report on the event.

Friday, March 23
When – ALL DAY
What – Each year, Global Kids Youth Leaders hosts a real world youth conference with over 600 teens in New York City. We will be streaming the video live onto the event stage so you can “watch” what we do in real life! Barry Gkid, Rafi Gkid, and Tabitha Gkid will all be there in real life so don’t miss your chance to “see” us on the screen!

There will be other games and activities throughout the weeks so even if you miss everything on the schedule, you can still sign the giant birthday card, explore the beautiful photo montage, check out the glacier, take a balloon, just hang out near the volcano, and more.

Posted by Mercury at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This past Thursday we had to review all the progress the groups have made and present their idea of how their PSA was going to come about. Then it would be determined if the PSA was good to go so that they could start filming. My group is missing a couple of things, so we have to continue to work on it and we have to do it quick because we have to catch up to the other groups that are ahead.

Posted by VVP Armando at 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Due to a recent visit through New Zealand by TakingITglobal, at least two educators are blogging the use of Ayiti by their students. Check them out:

http://24learning.blogspot.com/2007/03/two-games-have-caught-my-eye.html
http://room3tai.edublogs.org/2007/03/games

Posted by joyce at 4:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival (FLEFF), in Ithaca, New York, has a special section on games this year, and Ayiti has been included.

They describe the Festival as a" one-week multimedia inter-arts extravaganza that reboots the environment and sustainability into a larger global conversation, embracing issues ranging from labor, war, health, disease, music, intellectual property, fine art, software, remix culture, economics, archives, AIDS, women's rights, and human rights. This year's festival will focus on new content streams: Maps and Memes, Metropoli, Panic Attacks, and Soundscaping."

Their Digital Art and Gaming Salon is described as such: "Don't miss our Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival digital art and gaming salon, running throughout the festival in 220 Park Hall in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. Computer stations in this festival lounge area will feature the work of this year's digital artists and game designers. Drop by and let these innovative works rewire and recode your preconceptions about the environment,
digitality, and sustainability."

Check it out here.

Posted by joyce at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In their own words: "AppScout is brought to you by the editors and analysts of PC Magazine, who scour the world in search of the best software, sites, and Web apps. We're reporting on it all: the killer apps, the crazy startups, the useful (or just gimmicky) Web sites, and the beta software that crashes our machines. And we love to give advice, so ask away!"

Here's what they had to say:

From UNICEF, Gamelab, and Global Kids comes a web-based game that feels like Oregon Trail with a heavy dose of global social awareness. Ayiti: The Cost of Life puts you in control of a Haitian family of five over the course of four years. You must try to strike a balance between health, happiness, and education, while still having enough money to maintain survival. Is this easy? Of course not. If not for the game's chipper sound effects and almost uncomfortably cute graphics, this would be a sure winner for the Web's Most Depressing Flash-Based Game. Can you keep your entire family from dying in poverty of diphtheria? Probably not. Consider yourself lucky you, internet-enabled mouse-clicking person, can have the option of reloading and trying again.

Read their write-up here.

Posted by joyce at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ayiti: the Cost of Life got DIGGED. And, not only that but the digg has spurred a wide array of comments from people. One commenter even explains how to hack the game so you can play it offline and make yourself rich (in the game, of course).

Check our Digg out here.

Posted by joyce at 3:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sure, we know what people PLAYING Ayiti have had to say... but what about professional game testers?

Global Kids heard from someone at a game testing company (or perhaps a game testing division within a larger company) who report what the testers said TO THEIR SCREEN while playing Ayiti this week:

"What? Sick? I don't care.. get yer butt to work".

"You've been resting all season! How can you still be sick"

"Look.. he's crying... oh, dyptheria, no wonder"

"Oh crap I'm broke and they are all sick"

"Well I could sacrifice one kid working him to death and get one educated."

Posted by joyce at 2:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Global Kids' was delighted to be selected as one of the new Adobe Youth Voices' Project of Change. More details will follow over time. For now, here is their description of the project:

Listen Up! -with the support of Adobe Youth Voices -is proud to recognize exemplary projects created by young people. Each of these outstanding projects were made possible through a unique set of processes, signature pedagogies and best practices in youth media education designed by their sponsoring organizations. The Projects of Change website aims to uncover the process behind this product and to better understand the contexts in which progressive media education takes place within youth media organizations.

Posted by joyce at 2:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A new report, "Afterschool for the Global Age," produced by Asia Society and The George Lucas Educational Foundation, features Global Kids work as an example of best practices developing global education, both in person and online.

Learning Locally, Connecting Globally

Global Kids is a New York City basednonprofi t that works with youth after school and online to build digital literacy,foster substantive virtual dialogues about current events, and promote civic participation through interactive games. Global Kids holds in-person and online youth conferences, including roundtables and summer institutes at the Council on Foreign Relations as well as online in Teen Second Life. A multiplayer virtual reality environment, Second Life users from around the globe interact within an online community. Global Kids students create action campaigns to educate Second Life participants about global issues. Global Kids students also create educational video games, such as Ayiti: The Cost of Life, in which players learn about poverty by taking responsibility for a family in rural Haiti.

The report is described as: "A pathbreaking report for education and youth development leaders who wish to expand and deliver the highest quality afterschool programs in our increasingly diverse, global communities. The report offers a research-based overview of why international education is so vital today, and highlights promising practices, new innovations, and recommendations to mobilize action on building effective programs."

To download the full report, go here.

--------------------------------------

More coverage on this can also be found here.

Posted by joyce at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So last class we were still building. I changed CD WORLd to MEDIA WORLd (yes I kept the “d” small on purpose). Then we started building props for the room where the media pirate is but for some reason that night, all the props we built disappeared. Then when I tried to build again the props would disappear the moment I let go of it. This will be a problem and will cause a stop in the development of our machinima. I hope it is fixed by today!

Posted by VVP Joe at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Still got some problems with the scripts but now it’s finally done! It’s the same story as last time, we were setback a bit on building and confirmation that come along with this line of work but all in all it wil soon be time for us to film. I look forward to the day that we finish pre-production. The whole process is a lot of back in forth but it’s necessary for the perfection and outline of what we wish to accomplish. Today will be smooth sailing, just got to touch up some sets and we should be ready for filming! Hope today goes well.

Posted by VVP Idan at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday~ oh Tuesday. It was a long day~ But really--it was. It seemed somewhat chaotic to me. Everything was out of place, and I realized that the one thing I was forgetting about the PSA was the fact that it was actually a PSA--or in other words, I forgot that I had to add in references to other places for further information. It was really dumb--but I guess it can happen...it’s strange though, we have been looking at this for so long~ and no one even noticed and I didn’t know what I was expected to do with the script in the first place--because I made the changes Barry wanted me to make (as in wording) but Sam wanted me to add something else? I was a little confused; at first, I was looking for more information because Tabitha thought it would be a good idea to back up what we had with more information--but later Sam said to add more action instead of words~ o.o~ and I was just there looking at a screen with a script that I didn't know how to approach or even begin to change. Anyway, Meredith gave the group some great advice on how to edit and change the script to make the actual PSA better. She told us that we could take out the whole ending part where we detail the person losing weight, and instead we should just allow people to see that. And also, she gave us a idea on changing night and day to make it seem as though the person had been doing this for a while....and he is working hard~. I thought it was a great idea....but then...I realized that if we do that then we have to take out the part where we saturate the color of the video to bring out the text more. The process itself is...really insane and I don't think that we will ever finish our PSA's~ but I guess I am looking forward to seeing what kind of camera Barry has for us~ Maybe that would be helpful, but we should probably not spend the whole hour and a half just messing around with it--because it’s just a waste of time. I think we are better off just learning it or trying to learn it on our own...or maybe one demonstration would be nice ^^;;~ considering how confused the last camera left most people.

Anyway, I forgot to note the most important thing! At the end, we shared out scripts--Tabitha helped us share by reading them out loud to us--but we did not have time to get to the last two...so I look forward to seeing them Thursday! ^^

Posted by Nafiza - TSL Intern/VVP at 8:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last Tuesday was the day we had to finish the scripts and present them out loud to the other groups as well as Ken Miller, a member of the board who was present that day. Thursday we will start to work on the production. We will have to organize the props that we have received from Tabitha and get news headlines on controversial issues. We will also be using the new camera for second life which we have heard is better and easier to use. Hopefully all goes well and we can present an educational PSA.

Posted by VVP Armando at 5:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last class our group went back and looked over our scripts. Barry had commented that our argument wasn't really defined or strong so it was back to the drawing board for us. Our entire group went back and started researching alternative arguments and we went from saying that media piracy is destroying the industry to saying it’s hurting the development of the media industry as a whole. Regardless if it is downloading or selling, the entire media world's growth is being stunted. So with our new argument in place we returned to set design and prepping for film!

Posted by VVP Idan at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last class in Global Kids we worked on our machinima. We fixed up our sets once more trying to get it to look the way Idan drew it in the storyboard chart. We also changed our argument due to Barry's questioning. He brought up good points saying that our arguments might not necessarily be the best way to get people to listen to the problem we presented. So we went online to find more information on the bad effects of media piracy so that we can provide more things for people watching the video so that they relate more to the issues. Today we are going to go finish up our sets and possibly start filming!!

Posted by VVP Joe at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

TakingITGlobal recently posted to their site up a curriculum focused around Ayiti: The Cost of Life. The site has a series of lesson plans that relate to the game and the challenges that are faced daily in Haiti.

From their site:

Working with youth leaders at South Shore High School, Global Kids and Gamelab have developed Ayiti, a role-playing video game in which the 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. The player must make many decisions that contribute to or detract from achieving his or her chosen goals.

TakingITGlobal is proud to partner with Global Kids to offer Ayiti on TIGed, a thematic classroom that connects the Ayiti game to a virtual classroom toolset, allowing educators to guide their students through a rich, interactive learning experience that includes Ayiti gameplay!

View the lesson plans and classroom activities for TIGed + Ayiti below:
Play Ayiti: The Cost of Life

Class Discussion About Playing Ayiti: The Cost of Life

Reflections on Playing Ayiti: The Cost of Life

Take Action Haiti

Children of Haiti Summit

Posted by joyce at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Voice coming to Second Life is all the buzz lately. It could bring with it some interesting ways to add to communication and collaboration in SL and the Teen grid.

A recent blog post from Tech News World covers the topic of voice in Second Life and also mentions the work of Global Kids as a non profit in SL. An excerpt is below.

Second Life Residents Speak for Themselves Several universities hold classes in the virtual world, bringing together students from around the globe. In addition, well-known businesses, including American Apparel, Sire Records and singer Regina Spektor, as well as smaller businesses and nonprofits such as Neo-Realms Entertainment, Crescendo Design and Global Kids, have set up shop in Second Life.

"[Virtual worlds] are also advertising Email Marketing Software - Free Demo and [promotional] platforms, collaboration platforms, software Make sense of your IT infrastructure - Click Here. development environments, online communication platforms, environments for testing new ideas for the real world, virtual sex playgrounds and potentially new content distribution platforms," Cai continued.

In that context, Cai explained, having voice is very important. Although people who see Second Life as simply a game may not be keen to use their voice because it might "ruin the virtual aspect of the game" for those looking for an alter-ego experience, people who use it as a collaboration and communications platform will definitely value voice.

Read the full post here.

Posted by joyce at 12:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Eliane Alhadeff covered us recently in her blog Future Making Serious Games. In her post she writes about the launch of our brand new sim. :)

The text from her post is below.

Global Kids' Inspiring Launch: Serious Games Island

Global Kid's relentless production always amazes me.

This month marks Global Kid's one year anniversary in the teen grid and in celebration Global Kids has just purchased a third new island and named it the Global Kids Machinima Island!

At the same time, they have changed the existing Global Kids Island II, to the new Global Kids Serious Games Island, for those who like to play games in TSL and run gaming-related activities about important issues.

Moo Money from the main grid will be helping out and bringing over cool new stuff on the Machinima Island while Storm Basiat, the current GK Games Group leader, will be hosting games on the new gaming Island.

Both islands will develop communities that will support related after school programs while providing an environment to engage TSL residents around the same issues.

View the original post here.

Posted by joyce at 12:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HFC MAGAZINE, or Haiti Financial & Cultural Magazine, is a monthly publication that covers social and economic topics related to Haiti. They recently wrote up Ayiti" The Cost of Life. An excerpt from their article is below.

Ayiti: The Cost Of Life

Global Kids, Inc., one of the largest game development company in New York City, recently announced the upcoming release of Ayiti: The Cost Of Life (www.CostofLife.Org), a game which uses Haiti to educate players about the obstacles the education and literacy process faces in underdeveloped countries.

Global Kids, Inc., a non-for-profit company dedicated to educating students in underserved communities about international affairs, announced that the game will be free and published with lesson plans for educators through a UNICEF website Child Alert (www.unicef.org/childalert/Haiti) and the educational network TakingITGlobal (www.takingitglobal.com).

According to a brief description of the game’s concept, in Ayiti: The Cost Of Life, each player will assume the role of a family member living in Haiti, whom balances the goal of achieving literacy, make money to raise a family, staying healthy, and maintain happiness while facing numerous types of challenges like diseases and hurricanes.

Currently, the educational effectiveness of the game is being evaluated by the Educatinal Development Corporation's Center for Children and technology.

Read the rest here.

Posted by joyce at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesdays was "work day" for many of us. We began finalizing our work and considering our storyboard my group has been ahead so far and we still were Tuesday but stupid ole me left our script and finalized storyboard at home. So luckily our script was approved for production but Sam had not seen our storyboard yet so I quickly drew it up for him again. Once everything was said and done we had our props our sets are set the pre-production is over and now its time for the filming and actual production of this PSA. I’m looking forward to it and hope that all will go according to plan.

Posted by VVP Idan at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We had our script and storyboard approved now! We started to build for our machinima now. We received props for our video thanks to Ryan Dayton and Mercury Metropolitan! We have the CD store finished. We have the media piracy room finished and I put in lighting for the rooms. I think we can start filming as soon as we add stacks of CDs for both sets.

Posted by VVP Joe at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)