How does your organization use Second Life?
Global Kids brings a global youth development model into Teen Second Life (TSL). We use TSL to develop an awareness of global issues and leadership skills amongst teenagers who are currently in TSL and in our after-school programs in New York City. We have a number of projects that use Second Life in different ways, all funded by either the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation or Microsoft. One is a game development program. Another is a machinima, filmmaking in a virtual world. A third one is a version of our in-person leadership program, designed for teens "living" in TSL.
Why did you and your organization decide to create a presence in Second Life?
TSL is the best online environment available for leveraging the Internet to scale up both our work and our reach. And it's quite affordable.
How was the project planned? What expertise was needed?
We work with staff who are experienced in treating youth as people, not obstacles, who care about global issues, and who understand how to use technology as a tool for education.
How did the project unfold? What were some of the challenges? What worked well?
This past summer we ran Camp GK. It was a four-week program in which the campers - teens in TSL - spent three hours a day, five days a week, participating in workshops about such issues as the genocide in Darfur and global inequality. Their mission was to pick their own issue, learn about it, then develop a project to educate and inspire their fellow TSL residents to take action.
They selected child sex trafficking as their issue, developed a teach-in to promote the event, and then launched a maze - and a rather difficult one - filled with photos and text to educate visitors about the issue. At points throughout the maze, visitors were asked questions, and couldn't proceed unless they answered them correctly. But when did answer correctly, you would also get free stuff - like t-shirts and balloons - branded with the issue. At the end of the maze, teens were transported to a monument in the sky, which offered three different ways to take action. In the first four weeks since the launch, 2,000 teens have visited the maze and over 450 have donated a total of $150 USD.
How much time and money did you spend?
The Camp took three full-time staff members and two teen interns over 12 weeks. The budget was in the mid-five figures.
How did you explain the project to organizational leaders or constituents?
We said it was a fun way for teens to spend time in Second Life, meet new friends, learn about what is going on in the world, and have their voice heard.
What are the benefits to your organization?
We are developing best practices for bringing this type of education into Second Life. We are figuring out how to reach larger numbers of young people interested in taking leadership roles in the virtual and the real worlds.
What advice would you give to other nonprofits who might be interested?
Network, network, network. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Get on the SLED (Second Life educational) listservs and regularly visit our blog Global Kids' Digital Media Initiative.
Copyright: CompuMentor
Source: http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page5902.cfm?cg=searchterms&sg=second%20life
