Speaking of games to educate about the UN Millennium Development Goals, here’s an example of a Jamaican game that relates to Goal 2 "Achieve Universal Primary School Education." UNESCO sends out news about an innovative computer program in Jamaica called "Easy Skanking" that combines computer gaming and reggae music to teach literacy to young people…
Category: Information Society
The Millennium Development Games
I got an interesting email the other day from Amil Husain of the UN Millennium Campaign regarding a new series of educational games they wish to produce to run on Negroponte’s $100 laptop: My agency at the United Nations is entering into a partnership with the NGO, One Laptop Per Child who have produced a…
Second Life Unitarians ask “What does it mean to be a church?” (video)
My friend Otenth tells me that the religious group the Unitarian Universalists have been building an enormously successful presence in Second Life, their regular gatherings now pushing the limits of the Modesta sim they are in (teleport SLURL). The UUs, as they are affectionately called, have a number of similarities to Quakers, both coming out…
What is Web 2.0? Slick and engaging video by Michael Wesch
Michael Wesch, assistant professor at Kansas State University, created this pretty awesome four and a half minute video describing the power and possibility of Web 2.0, emphasizing the community over the corporate aspects of the phenomenon. "The Machine is Us" indeed. Nicely done. After the fold, you can see the complete credits of the video…
Call for youth-oriented groups interested in teaching computer game-building
I received yesterday from Amber Oliver of the World Wide Workshop Foundation a very interesting "grant" call for proposals, offering their new education platform that teaches young people how to create computer games to educators and youth leaders around the world. Sounds like a great opportunity for an educational organization looking to expand their interactive…
“Beyond Broadcast” conference to include SL virtual participants
On February 24 a bevy of media experts, activists, producers and policy-makers will be gathering at at the second "Beyond Broadcast" conference. I attended last year’s excellent "Beyond Broadcast" event, where I met Pathfinder Linden and Rodica MillionsofUs among many other folks. The purpose of this year’s conference is to : explore the means, the…
“Peacemaker” computer game teaches about peace in the Middle East
ImpactGames announces the release of the computer game "Peacemaker," a simulation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in which you play the part of either the Israel Prime Minister of the Palestinian President in quest to create a secure and peaceful environment for your people. The game is innovative in that it intersperses real-world footage and data…
$2,000 to best Flash movie on a global issue
My friends at Citizens for Global Change sent me a note about a new contest they are running to find the best Flash-based movie that deals with a global issue. Animation is not really my gig, but sounds like they are interested in amateurs as well as Flash-gurus giving it a go. Oh, and the…
Turn out the lights, shut down the computer, log out your avatar for five minutes today
In about a couple of hours, my office will be turning off all of the lights in response to the "Five Minutes for the Planet" effort launched by the Alliance for the Planet. Here’s the announcement, briefly translated: The Alliance for the Planet [a group of environmental associations] is calling on all citizens to create…
MTVu giving out $5,000 for best game idea to fight HIV/AIDS
MTVu (MTV has a university?) announces that they are holding a contest to come up with an online video game to teach young people about HIV/AIDS. Called the "Change the Course of HIV Challenge," the competition is for the best idea for an online viral video game. So you don’t have to be a game…