Global Kids' Digital Media Initiative

This week was full of new experiences for students. They learned two very important skills in Second Life; building and textures as well as how to create a comic page with Comic Life.

In the building session, students were all very engaged in trying to figure out how to create and edit basic shapes. Then, they got their first building mission to create a snowman! Some students' snowmen were tilted on one side where some snowmen had disproportional body parts.
At the end of the class, one of the students commented "This is the most difficult Second Life class, so far! " Indeed...building in 3D environment is very tricky, they spend a lot of time on aligning the prims, so I recommended them to look at the snowmen in different perspectives to make sure it's what they want.
At the end of the session the sandbox was full of tiny to huge spheres waiting to be part of a snowman, and completed snowmen who are proud of their creators :)
After their building activity, students discussed how they would build in SL some of the furniture in their classroom, and if it would be difficult or easy. Here is an answer: "Door would be easy. Make a cube, then press it make flat and stretch it into a rectangle. That' it." I think this is a good example to show how students create mental animations to transfer their Second Life experiences into real life concepts.

It feels to me, for Second Life, building is like bones, muscles and whatever gives body to a creature where scripting is the brain and heart of the Second Life which makes it alive, interactive. And, the communities are the Soul. So, learning how to build is a big step in Second Life experience.

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

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life, where I sat on a panel alongside a number people that had a good amount of experience utilizing Second Life to support not for profit missions. I had about 5 minutes to say what I had to say, and was asked to specifically speak to common pitfalls that educators entering SL might make. During my preparatory brainstorm, I came up with two core points: Don't replicate broken pedagogies in a virtual space, and start thinking like a designer.

In a recent thread on the Second Life Educators (SLED) listserve, a heated debate occurred about the idea of spaces designed for education. Many were of the camp that any kind of space within the virtual world (and without) could be used for education, be it a dance club, an "adult" oriented island or traditional lecture hall. On the other end of things were people that believed that the best education happens in spaces that are intentionally created for the explicit purpose of education, rather than those that are created for another use and then appropriated by an educator that can leverage spaces to teach.

While much can (and was) said about this topic, the one thing I noticed was the way that those that hailed more designed learning experiences were somehow treated as "close-minded traditionalists" and those that argued that any kind of space, be it intended for education or otherwise, could be utilized for learning seemed to be taking the "progressive educator" high ground in the argument. I was struck by this largely because of my experience with those thinking about games and learning, where designed education is hailed for it's ability to effectively scaffold and provide "just in time" learning.

In my own comments about educators thinking like designers, I can now reflect that what I was really referring to was the ability of educators to think outside the confines of the both the physical as well as mental classroom. To explore limitless possibilities in utilizing the incredible resources that are now at hand to support education, whether it be in creating a space that allows for certain types of interactions to occur, or exposing them to ones that we'd never be able to create as individuals.

Posted by Rafi at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

How you say something means more than what you say. There is a misperception among many people, specifically progressives, that in order to make the world a better place, we simply need to use rational arguments to teach people of the present problems and explain reasonable solutions. “Speak truth to power!” the activists cheer. The gentle drone of Ralph Nader will topple the walls of Jericho. Orderly marches into police-constructed Free Speech Zones and speeches by left of center politicians will send the pilots of the War Machine fleeing for the hills. It’s not true though, of course. Let’s be clear here: despite sporadic victories and brief flashes of human goodness and communal justice, the world has been dominated by power-mad oligarchs since at least Sumer. The bullies hold guns and use double-speak propaganda to cow the public. The Republic stands head down, stupefied by the flickering idiot box and fish-gene tomatoes.

That said, the ecstatic busts of genuine decency and cooperative, respectful human solidarity are so precious they justify infinite struggle. From the indomitable inquiring of Socrates, to the maroon colonies of Spanish Florida, the Boogie Down Bronx, and the “Ya Basta!” crying Zapatistas, humans rise up against oppression and for Life. The question, then, is how do we motivate humanity to behave at its best more often? How do we inspire individuals to follow the Golden Rule instead of despots?

I can’t answer this question definitively, of course, only offer suggestions gleaned from wiser minds than I. People need vision more than they need critique. Analysis has its place, of course, but very rarely does a lab report inspire action, and I’ll be shocked the day a Harper’s article launches an Orange Revolution. Seeing a dream differed can prompt an uprising, but the dream must come first.

We need to point out the clear and present danger, but point past it to the reality that’s possible. We need to create that reality in small pockets and steer people to those places. Great social movements are not sarcastic snickers; they are vision quests. Gandhi didn’t only talk of oppression, he spoke of freedom, and created it with local cloth and salt form the sea. The Civil Rights Movement was framed as a moral duty in line with the story of Exodus, members of the movement lived righteously. The Black Panthers wanted autonomy, and they created it with social programs. They asked their communities what they needed and then figured out ways to accomplish those goals. People fight oppression when they have pride and dignity. People revolt when they have a dream of a world after the revolution. We need to help people dream and help people understand their dreams are realizable.

Crisis can be used to pitch humanity into the oppressor’s palm, such as the corporate land grab following Hurricane Katrina. It can also, however, cause humans to rise up and stand as noble family, such as efforts of the Cajun Navy and Common Ground during Hurricane Katrina. Faced with hell on earth, the majority of New Orleans residents didn’t resort to savagery; they carried their grandmothers through knee-deep water to safety and floated injured strangers on air mattresses to higher ground. This is humanity surviving free from the rabid aggression of consumerism and the heavy boot heel of politico-corporate bureaucracy.

Humans are beautiful, amazing, brilliant animals, but they can be tamed and trained just like any other beast. They can be taught to feel scared and alone. They can be grown twisted, intertwined through a fence like ivy. Shrunk and manicured like banzai, beak shorn and feetless like Purdue poultry. We need to reclaim out right to be independent, thoughtful, generous, gentle souls.

The time of criticism is closing. The time to stop asking permission and manifest our better world is here. We can make our demonstrations actualized examples of what the world can be. We can show our neighbors reality’s potential before explaining why the current system stifles. No election can give us freedom. No politician will resurrect halcyon days. We must do for ourselves. We must be the change we wish to see and wait for the government to come ask how it can help.

Posted by Jay at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

February was a very interesting month for me. I was able to publish something official for the first time. Albeit it was a long process, it was certainly rewarding so hopefully it won’t be the last. Sometimes we concentrate so hard on challenging the teens we work with that we forget to challenge ourselves.

Second, I had to let two students go in the program, while another had to leave because of personal reasons. Losing students in the program is not something I take lightly, I probably get too attached to the teens sometimes that I often have to make a conscious effort to draw the line, so this time I am learning to let go and accept the fact that I can't always be the one to help them mature, be all that they can be, achieve nothing short of what they can do, etc.
So for the 2 students who had to leave the program, I wish them best of luck, and perhaps they will return next year, you never know.

I got to know my students better this month, and I am very very happy about that. Now that we are more familiar with each other, they have become more comfortable sharing with me on a personal level and the feeling is mutual. I know what songs they like, not the songs we assume they "should" like based on their age or gender, I know what goes on in their school and home lives, how many siblings they have, who grew up without a mother, or father, or who has never moved away from their neighborhood. I am also realizing my "role" in their lives, which is always evolving in a good way. I might be a friend to some of them, but to most, I am still seen as a "teacher", even though I don't work at their schools as a regular teacher, or have any obligation to evaluate their academics career on a regular basis. So the interaction we have with each other is special, and for this I am thankful.

I want to share one story of a teen, someone I was afraid of losing in the beginning of the program. This student grew up without a mother; her sister has raised her since her mother’s death. She is intelligent, warm, and possesses a wicked sense of humor. However, she is also defiant and strong opinionated, and does not always work well with others. Over the months she came and went, at times she would not show up for the program for 2 to 3 consecutive sessions, or arrive late with no valid excuse. She felt frustrated with the program and was often distracted. However, instead of confronting her with problems I noticed with her behavior, I showered her with encouragement and small talks. I knew she has it in her to do well and excel, and I also knew that she was not the type of person who could take criticisms well. Let’s face it, who can? Especially when you are a teenager.

Then I noticed that she started coming more frequently, more and more on time, and befriended another student in the program. Now she is becoming a leader in her own ways, and when she smiles, it brightens up the room.

Lesson learned for me this month is that the extra few minutes you take to get to know someone, will get you a story, a deeper understanding of who it is you are really talking to. Noticed I said someone, not “student”, or “teen”?

Get to know one of your teen today, and leave work out of it. Who knows, maybe you secretly admire the same pop singer or watch the same TV show just as religiously as they do.

Posted by tabitha at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On February 28, 2008, we paid a visit to the Museum of Moving Image for the first time this year. It was good timing on our part because starting next month, the museum will be under construction for a major change, and therefore closed to the public for a year or so, until they re-open with brand new facilities and exhibits! We got to see all three floors of the museum, and by the time the tour was over, most did not want to leave.

The teens had a fabulous time and we want to thank Maggie and Chris again at the museum for their wonderful hospitality and generosity.

In the end, Maggie presented us with printed flipbooks that the teens created during their tour, and we presented her with a brand new GK-VVP shirt to thank her for her time.

Watch a short video from our visit:

Teens posing to make their flip book

Teens learning about movie pictures

Maggie demonstrating how moving images work

The camera to the right is exactly 100 years old!

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

Today as educators we are challenged to think ahead of education.

Today we witness our youth becoming a part of the democratic process through YouTube and not the picket line.
They are empowered to have their voices heard sooner and to more people than ever before.

They gain knowledge, the way they should, in repositories that are no longer vacuums but constantly evolving, in places like Wikipedia and comment threads.

They learn early that they are a part of change, contributors as much as seekers of knowledge, of processes.

They learn that they are experiencing something unique in their country’s (and their world’s) historical trajectory. They learn that the system that they are a part of depends on them as much, if not more than the system they have been taught to depend on.

And so they network. They speak publicly. They think critically. They advocate.

And all of this is done beyond, above, even against the confines of the classroom teaching that dominates their education.

So as educators, our roles now must not be about preparing our young people for the real world. They are already a part of it.
Our role must be to facilitate and ensure that the opportunities to thrive are in place for them. To imagine the new ways that our youth can and do thrive in the changing and challenging society that they are connected by.

Posted by Amira at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I would really like to share my experience as a jury at the Media that Matters film festival jury screening in February. I really enjoyed watching the movies but also talking about the different genres and the impact that they would have on different audiences. It triggered different thoughts on how OLP's work impacts so many audiences including educators, scholars, students and much more. OLP not only creates digital media with a message but it also exposes urban youth to different types of media. OLP helps to empower youth by providing them with a digital venue (second life) where they can create worlds and express their concerns. OLP, along with Global Kids really encourages kids to be concerned global citizens and it feels good at the end of the day to be a part of that. I am interested in seeing Global Kids create a short film festival by the youth that we serve. We could stream it into TSL or on our blog but what's most important is giving youth an opportunity to feel proud about creating meaningful media messages.

Posted by Kathy at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last month Rik and I made a trip to the Hague in the Netherlands to pursue their involvement in our creation of the International Justice Center in Second Life. The responses we encountered to the concept of using a virtual world like Second Life for the public good was unexpected and surprising.

Rik, Nicola (our amazing point of contact at the court), and myself:

However, before I can get to that, I wanted to post about today's headlines, read in the national free newspaper within the cafeteria of the International Court a half hour before our meeting, making fun of recent U.S. efforts to track terrorists... in Second Life!

Watch the video to hear the translation. It would be funny if, as an American, it wasn't so embarrassing, as well as indirectly implying that nothing "real world" or "serious" could be occurring in this "game":

This press encounter is what I am used to around Second Life. Either a dismissive attitude towards Second Life (the reporters), an irrational response to overblown concerns (the U.S. government), or, in the case of this article, both. What surprised me about the responses to Global Kids' proposed use of Second Life, over the course of four meetings with three organizations, was the striking absence of either.

It seemed clear to all with whom we spoke that virtual worlds are just another viable media with which they should be engaged. No one asked about sex in Second Life, or the presence of gambling. No one suggested that it was too different or weird to expect regular folks to use, or too otherworldly to tackle real world problems.

Rik and I were prepared to make the case for the relevance of virtual worlds as a vehicle for social change and education, not prepared to have to reign in people's imagines as they explored with enthusiasm the various ways our project could support their work - whether it was for lawyers around the world, journalists covering the court, or the workings of the court itself.

It was very refreshing and helped the project get off to a tremendous start.

The question, of course, is why? Why were all of these ex-pats in the Netherlands able to approach this new medium without prejudice and lacking the protective cynicsm I so often encounter? If you have thoughts, please post them below.

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

when i closed my eyes i and felt something i felt me shirt if i could of took photo of something to represent it i would choose cotton. then i felt the desk it felt rough i could of took a picture of computer top to represent it.

Posted by Rakeem at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I felt the to top side and bottom side off the chair.
The top side of the chair felt very smooth ad shiny and the bottom felt just a little more rough then the top side an it felt porrose
to display the texture of both sides of the chair i would would draw the bottom sides with holes in it because it feels very porrose and the top side smooth and shiny.

Posted by Allister at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

. When I reached out I felt my sweater and I could compare it to my stuff animal. And when I reached out again I felt the computer I could compare to how hard andy feels.

Posted by KoraAnne at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I can draw a picture of a smooth object because the desk is smooth. I can also draw a picture of a sheep because I felt my shirt.

Posted by Lucius at 8:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If i was to close my eyes and reach for something i would feel my hard ring and my soft clothes. if i was to take a picture of it i would daw something soft and warm.

Posted by Zana at 8:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One text that i felt was the texture of my sweater. The texture of my sweater is soft. The second text that i felt was the table it is hard i can take a picture of something hard like a chair or something.

Posted by Latisha at 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I felt on Ms Ryba basket behind me then i touched some papers. i would say that the basket feels lumpy.

Posted by Daquan at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

These two textures that I chose was my bag and my belt. My bag felt kind of rough and my belt felt smooth. These to textures felt very different.

Posted by Eaon at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

one of the textures were rough and i had touch the wall,and another texture that i felt was smooth and that was my skin.

Posted by Brandon at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One texture i felt was the texture of my uniform pants. I would draw a picture with a bunch of fuzzy lines to communicate how this texture feels. The second texture was my desk top, it smooth so i would take a picture of a baby's skin.

Posted by Shabede at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I felt the heater.... some way i can describe how to draw it it hard, flat and hot{ouch!!}
Another thing i felt is my back pack. Some ways i can describe how to draw it is by mentioing that it felt like a soft and hard layered object.

Posted by Demetra at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

the two textures i touch was the computer and the desk. the computers texture is smooth,soft,and jagged. the texture of the desk is jagged and rough with a ittle bit of smoothness.

Posted by Naomi at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two different textures within my reach that i can feel are both soft.The textures i touch was my sweater and my pants. I can show how the fabric is by taking a picture.

Posted by Andrysse at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I close my eyes I felt my backpack and the leg of my chair.If i could make a picture out of this i would draw me and a chair with my arm around it with my backpack on.

Posted by Egypt at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The two textures that I felt were my desk, and computer. I could probably draw the texture for the desk may be by putting many dots or a night pencil/colored pencil this way it will make a sort of rough yet soft texture which explains how the desk feel. And for the computer I could most likely just draw the shape of it on a clean sheet of paper without coloring it, this way it looks completely smooth which explain how the computer feels.

Posted by Shaquille S at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

when i close my eyes i felt my pants and i felt my heart beating

Posted by Shaquile B at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I had a great time in the museum today. I saw and learned about many things. I had fun playing games. They had different kind of masks in the museum . Some of them were a little scary. We also looked at the pictures of actors and their costumes. We also learned about king kong, games, small tv, video cameras, and some of the cameras that were invented many years ago. I also learn how to add sounds to a clip or movie and I am going to use that technique in my VVP movie.

Posted by VVP Sabina at 11:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi! One thing that I liked about the visit to the Museum of Moving Image is that I now know more things about moving pictures. For example, identifying which is a wide shot and which is a close up shot. One thing that would help me for my 10 second movie would be cutting down some things that won't fit my movie, or something that doesn't make sense. Like the picture that we took altogether it had many shots. We could make movie out of that too.

Posted by VVP Jamila at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Some materials that we use to construction are land,cars to carry all he materials that are heavy,men to work,water,cement,and all we need to build something like buildings,house etc...

Posted by Katerine at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I think of my school and what it is made of i think of
~wood, glass, cement, bricks, paint, and lights

Posted by KoraAnne at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The things that went into the school bricks, windows, chairs and other tings to make this school and board computer and basketball

Posted by Daquan at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

To build my school i think that they needed bricks, glass, cement and wood. Also you would need people.

Posted by Eaon at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The materials that make up my school are bricks, cement, paint, metal, wood,and many more that i cant think of at this moment.

Posted by Shabede at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The materials that i think are out in the school are brick,metals,wood,paint, and cement

Posted by Latisha at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Some things i think went into the construction of our school are cement, wood,glass,tiles,and glass

Posted by Demetra at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The materials in building the school is cement,paint,electrical wires, a lot of pipes, wood,glass,tile,and a lot of lights.

Posted by Brandon at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In my school materials that helped to make it were a lot. There was most likely a lot of concrete, bricks, wood, metal, glass, plastic, paper, and many more materials. Most of all there is the staff an faculty which help keep the school the "great" place that it is. For if these people weren't here this school would more than likely be in a terrible state. Another thing that you can't forget is the students who help populate the school greatly while helping the staff and faculty prepare fun activities, and fundraisers for the school.

Posted by Shaquille S at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The materials that i think of that went into the construction of my school are wood, bricks, compound, cement, railings, doors, and windows.

Posted by Asha at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Materials that i could think of that went into the construction of the school is bricks ,glass ,wood,wire and cement .

Posted by Andrysse at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

the materials that i think that make up this school is bricks,wood,sheet rock to make the celling, cement,and railings

Posted by Naomi at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

the materials that i think that make up this school is bricks,wood,sheet rock to make the celling, cement,and railings

Posted by Naomi at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

i think that in the construction of the school a lot of wood cement and metals where used and tiles where used to construct the school

Posted by Allister at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I think that a lot of wood and foundation built this school. i think that a lot of cement also held the wood together to make it sturdy.

Posted by Zana at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What it takes to make a school building. The materials i think i will need to build a building are blueprints,a few extra 100 people clay, water, rulers, wood,ladders, craters, computers.glass,steel,iron,wire,paint,etc.....

Posted by Rakeem at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The material I think was used to build this school is, bricks, wood, metal,steel,glass,you need light, books, tables you need student and teacher to make a school.

Posted by Egypt at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

well to me um the things they used to build this school is bricks metal /steel wood electric utilities / light books supplies students and importantly teachers

Posted by Shaquile B at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The materials that I think went into this school building are:
*Steel Beams, Sheet Rock, concrete, insulation , paint, molding, wood, doors, bricks, Gates, (etc....)

Posted by Ernesto at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last time we met in VVP, we all played Bingo! It was Valentine’s Day, and Kathy gave out Hershey's kisses as prizes. It was fun!! We watched High School Musical and looked for certain things that were on our Bingo papers.

I think more so than the movie itself, I loved Vanessa's reactions to Zack Efron!! Another funny part about it was that people got many bingos at once, so they would scream "I have Bingo!" "I have two bingos!" Although I am not a big fan of the movie, I still enjoyed the session. It was also a good way to analyze and break down techniques used during the filming and editing process, conveying the significance of objects, or maybe even the time and placement of the objects and scenes themselves.

I think for this year, we will have a lot more ideas going into the making of our final movie, and I really can't wait! I also want to know what topic everyone is interested in doing amongst the group. I also can't wait for this Thursday because we get to go back to the Museum of Moving Image! I think it will be a complete deja vu moment once I step into the museum, but I'm afraid I would miss last year’s VVP teens.

Although the new office provides a nice, warm, welcoming, and bright area, the Museum still has the nice nostalgic vibe to it...I wish we could have a VVP reunion there!! I also wish we have another Online Leadership Program Symposium this year. But first things first, I can't wait for the Annual Global Kids Conference either. Ah, I am going to miss all of this when I am off to college....... !!!

Posted by Nafiza - TSL Intern/VVP at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

if i were to make a comic book it would be about a superhero fighting enviromental issues. it could raise awareness because more people would feel it would be their right to help out

Posted by Naomi at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If I could create a comic book it would be about super heroes and villans and sustainability.

Posted by Lucius at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I would make a comic book about freddy and jason cleaning up the evil city and recycling and f evil people can clean up you can

Posted by Daquan at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If i could make my own comic strip it would proboly be about something very funny to keep a loyal follwing and if had to base it on global issues i would make large polltion creating industrial companies the villans and people who want to help our planet and conserve energy the super heros.

Posted by Allister at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If i could make my own comic book it would be about a group of teenagers that have special powers and live a secret life. I could use my comic book to raise awareness about a global issue i would make the super heroes solve problems that deal with global issues

Posted by Shabede at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If i were to make a comic book, it would be about a man who fights against evil villains such as global warming, acid rain and pollution. this would teach how to prevent these issues in the real life.

Posted by Demetra at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If i can make my own comic book it would be about the issues that are going on in the world because most people read comic books so if you write about the things that happen i the world, put it in a fun way with the pictures and everything, people would read it and take it in to consideration. It would raise awareness because if the kids see the pictures of the bad things thats happening and what it can do to us Like how global warming starts and what can happen to us.

Posted by Latisha at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If I could make my own comic book i would do it on the danger of tree and how using a lot of water can harm the planet and the growth of our food. then i would show how many of american use and waste food and water.

Posted by Egypt at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)