Tag: global kids

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Save the Date: April 12 Global Kids Roundtable on Nonprofits & Virtual Worlds

You are cordially invited to Global Kids’ Winter 2010 Roundtable on Virtual Worlds and Nonprofits on Monday April 12, from 12-1pm PST on MacArthur Island in Second Life (teleport link). Representatives of six nonprofit organizations will give brief presentations on their initial explorations of Second Life and other virtual worlds, and how they are thinking of integrating these virtual tools into their organizations’ respective missions. Afterwards, there will be an open discussion about the applications of virtual worlds for various public good purposes.

The event is open to the public, with a special welcome to nonprofits, activists, educators, and developers.

Representatives of the following organizations will be presenting:

  • Child Welfare League of America
  • Health Consumers Alliance of South Australia
  • Hip-Hop Education Center
  • Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health
  • United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, Inc
  • V.O.I.C.E. Community Development Corp

Each of these organizations has just completed the Global Kids’ Virtual World Capacity Building Program, a four-week intensive exposure to virtual worlds for public good institutions. The event will be moderated by Global Kids and take place at the MacArthur Island Amphitheater (click here to teleport.) For more information about the Virtual World Capacity Building Program join the program’s group on the EdgeProject.org or Contact Amira Fouad at amira@globalkids.org. The VWCBP is supported by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

About Global Kids
Founded in 1989, Global Kids’ mission is to transform urban youth into successful students and global and community leaders by engaging them in socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences. Through its leadership development and academic enrichment programs, Global Kids educates youth about critical international and domestic issues and promotes their engagement in civic life and the democratic process. Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program (OLP), now in its ninth year, integrates the use of social media — from blogging to games to virtual worlds — into GK’s innovative pedagogical approach. See http://www.globalkids.org for more info.

Written by: rikomatic

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What’s Your A-ha Moment?

I received this information from RezEd today. I’m a huge fan of the “a-ha” moment and love reading when the light bulb has lit up for other folks. Enjoy!

$50 Honorarium to Share your Aha Moment:

What aha moment did you have in using virtual worlds for learning?

Please send a message (2-5 sentences) describing one key element of your program’s success to Global Kids on RezEd.

A $50 USD honorarium will be given to those that fill out the short online form describing the key lessons learned in your work in virtual worlds.

Written by: Beth J. Bates

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Evaluation of the Global Kids Science through Second Life project

Great information from Rafi Santo….

I thought I’d share with you all the recent independent evaluation that was completed about the Science through Second Life project that we ran during the last school year. The project integrated Second Life and wide range of web tools into a standards based high school science class in New York City. Among the findings:

– Students’ attitudes towards science-related careers changed positively with the StSL curriculum.
– Students’ self-efficacy and self-confidence in their abilities to do science-related work increased.
– Compared to the traditional science curriculum, the number of students reporting being overwhelmed by science class fell by 50%.
– Low achieving students’ grades improved significantly compared to the previous semester.
– Students’ collective intelligence skills improved throughout the semester. More students reported that they felt more comfortable working with others to get something done using digital media in the post survey.

Click here to download the report which also includes a detailed program description, and if you have any questions about the project feel free to be in touch.

Cheers,
Rafi

—
Rafi Santo
Senior Program Associate
Online Leadership Program
Global Kids
http://www.globalkids.org/?id=5
http://olp.globalkids.org

Written by: Beth J. Bates

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“Dropping Knowledge: How Virtual World Educators are Changing Real Lives” This Monday, November 17

On Monday, November 17, from 3-5PM PST, come to the first virtual conference sponsored by RezEd.org, the social network for virtual world educators, taking place in the Justice Center (click here to teleport). The event will feature a panel discussion of leading educators and researchers working in virtual world education, a “birds of a feather” breakout session, and social mixer for letting our virtual hair down!

Head to RezEd.org for updates and more info!

Written by: rikomatic

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New York teens wanted for Second Life machinima project!

Vvpflyer08_450

I’m excited to announce that Global Kids is starting up again its youth machinima initiative called the "Virtual Video Project."  If you know of a teenager in the New York area who is interested in global issues,  politics, digital media and having fun, then send them our way! Applications are due by October 17.

Students get training in how to use Second Life as a filmmaking platform, decide among themselves a particular social issue they would like to make a machinima about, and then do all of the work to create the film. Our past machinima have won a number of awards and been featured at various film festivals and conferences around the world.

The program runs from October 30 until late June, so it’s a big commitment. The sessions are facilitated by my fabulous colleagues Tabitha and Shawna.

For more information or to receive the application contact shawna@globalkids.org or call 212-226-0130 ext. 143.

Written by: rikomatic

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Talk on stopping the genocide in Darfur with UN Rep today at Intl Justice Center

On Monday, July 21, at 12PM SLT, the GK International Justice Center will be streaming a conversation on the situation in Darfur with Dr. Francis Deng, the UN Secretary Generals’ Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide. Dr. Deng is a Sudanese national and has served as a human rights officer at the United Nations since the 1960s as well as his own country as Minister of Foreign Affairs and ambassador to several countries.

After Dr. Deng’s short speech, Global Kids will facilitate a Q&A with a group of Global Kids teens present with the advisor, teens on the teen grid, and adults in the Justice Center.

Please go here to RSVP.<!–break–>

Written by: rikomatic

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SAVE THE DATE: ICC Prosecutor, Kofi Annan to Address Global Kids’ International Justice Center on March 20

virtual ICC
Global Kids is excited and honored to announce that on Thursday, March 20, at 3pm EST, International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will give a short welcome address to officially inaugurate the Global Kids’ International Justice Center on our new sim The Justice Commons. We hope you all can make it!

The International Justice Center is an independent public information and action center supporting the International Criminal Court and related human rights concerns. After his address, the ICC prosecutor will answer questions from the virtual audience, facilitated by Global Kids’ staff. Following this, the Center will be video streaming a MacArthur Foundation-sponsored panel discussion and keynote address on “The Emerging International Justice System” taking place in New York City. The event begins with a live panel discussion at 4:30pm with several major human rights officials. To conclude the event, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will deliver a keynote address at 9pm.

The ICC prosecutor’s address and the video streamed events will be accessible online both at the International Justice Center in Second Life and on the web at http://www.justicecenter.net.

More details on this day-long series of events will be announced shortly…

Written by: rikomatic

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“Get Activated!” Leading Non-profits Discuss “Best Practices” for Activism, Collaboration, Education, and Fundraising in Virtual

Bestpractices_cover_2

Get Activated!
Leading Non-profits Discuss "Best Practices" for Using Virtual Worlds for Activism, Collaboration, Education, and Fundraising

Friday, February 8, 8:30AM PST, Plush Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater in Second Life

The year 2007 was a remarkable year for charitable and civil society activity in Second Life — from the launch of the 32-office Plush Nonprofit Commons to the record US$100,000 raised by the SL Relay for Life.  On Friday, February 8, from 8:30-9:30AM PST, there will be presentation and discussion on "Best Practices for Non-profits in Second Life." Based on a report prepared by Global Kids organizer Rik Panganiban, the program will explore what are some of the lessons that non-profits have learned from their first forays into the virtual world. 

Event Details:
TITLE:               Presentation and Discussion on "Best Practices for Non-profits in Second Life"
DATE / TIME:       Friday, February 8, 2008, 8:30-9:30AM PST
LOCATION:         Main Amphitheater, Plush Nonprofit Commons sim (teleport SLURL )

From Education to Fundraising, Community Outreach, Collaboration and Activism, citizen’s groups are beginning to figure out how to spread their messages and support their causes using 3D multi-user environments like Second Life.  Organizers from groups including the SL Relay for Life, the Alliance Library System, Global Kids, and YearlyKos will talk about their own experiences in each of these areas, followed by an open discussion.

This forum is particularly relevant for non-profit managers, activists, funders, and community organizers trying to decide if Second Life can help their organizations. And we encourage groups to share your own experiences (good and bad) with working in SL during the open discussion period.  We’ll close the event with ideas for next steps in building up civil society spaces in Second Life, and beyond.

The full text of the report can be downloaded from this link.  At the event a virtual "thinkbook" will be available, providing the main recommendations from the report. 

Prepared on behalf of the Online Leadership Program of Global Kids, the report was made possible by support from the Digital Media and Learning Initiative of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

A report and photos from the event will be available shortly afterwards for those not able to attend. 

For more information, contact Rik Panganiban at rik@globalkids.org or in-world IM to Rik Riel.

Written by: rikomatic

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Robin Linden and Jack Balkin to talk on “avatar civil rights” on January 28

Balkin_robin_composite

On Monday, January 28, there will be a public forum on the topic "Virtual Liberties: Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights?" featuring Jack Balkin , First Amendment legal expert at Yale Law School, and Robin Linden, head of marketing and business development at Linden Lab. Part of the "MacArthur Series on Philanthropy and Virtual Worlds," the event is co-presented by the USC Institute for Network Culture and Global Kids . This will be a multi-verse event, taking place both in Second Life and Teen Second Life, as well as audio streamed to the web for the VW-impaired.

The complete announcement after the jump….

Virtual Liberties: Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights?

MacArthur Series on Philanthropy and Virtual Worlds

The USC Institute for Network Culture and Global Kids present a discussion on Virtual Liberties: Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights?

11:30a.m. PST on Monday, January 28, 2008

Please join the USC Institute for Network Culture and Global Kids for the first event in an upcoming series on philanthropy and virtual worlds.

The event, “Virtual Liberties: Do Avatars Dream of Civil Rights?” will be held on the USC Annenberg Island or on the Global Kids estate on Second Life at 12: 00 p.m. PST on Monday, January 28, 2008.

Jonathan F. Fanton, President of the MacArthur Foundation, will chair a discussion about avatar civil liberties. Joining him will be Robin Harper, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development from Linden Lab, and Jack Balkin, professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment at Yale Law School.

Prior to their remarks, Douglas Thomas, Professor at USC and Director of the Institute for Network Culture, and Barry Joseph, Director of Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program, will give updates on and announce a dramatic series of programs as part of MacArthur’s year exploring philanthropy in virtual worlds. Thomas and Joseph are MacArthur grantees.

The live audio from the event will be available at this Web location during the event, to be followed the next day with an archived version.

Written by: rikomatic

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Global Kids Open House and Non-profit Career Fair tomorrow in SL

barry joseph of Global Kids

My friends at Global Kids, a New York City based youth empowerment non-profit organization, will be holding an open house and non-profit career fair tomorrow (November 9) within Second Life. This is part of their job search to fill a number of positions within their Online Leadership Program (OLP). Come by from 1-2PM PST to the Global Kids offices on the main grid at the NMC campus sim Teaching (teleport SLURL.) OLP Director Barry Joseph (pictured here) will be speaking on Global Kids programs and Teen Second Life.

These are really cool jobs with a great organization that is on the cutting-edge of virtual technology and education. Additional information about available positions can be found at http://globalkids.org/?id=73. The application deadline is November 15, so get that resume polished!

Written by: rikomatic