Street Level Youth Media

I spent last Saturday participating in a video shoot and have new appreciation for the patience and planning that video work takes. The projects that kids are doing at Street Level Youth Media, however, also show the potential of the medium to give voice to kids in a way that is fun, and teaches them important skills on a lot of levels. These videos were fun to watch (though some of them no longer work).

Tree Treasure!

I just got this message from Domain of Heros, one of the gaming sites I became a member of before last week's presentation on MOOs and MUDs:

"Your character, Cyberped, just found a World Tree Treasure Key!"

Who's Bad?

You know it, you know.

Coming Soon.

Art 21 - Cao Fei

I have used Art 21 videos in my high school installation art class to help frame students' thinking in a broader, more out-side-of the box way. The videos make great discussion tools, and are a good resource if you have 8:00am Monday morning art class.

The Cao Fei video we discussed in class (thanks Kent!) is from the current season (5) and is thus not yet available on line. Here's a little teaser though from the Art 21 site:

"Dear ladies and gentleman, I’m China Tracy—the avatar of Cao Fei—and I’m her interpreter.” Cao Fei’s digital Second Life alter ego acts as the English translator for the Chinese-speaking artist throughout the segment, guiding the viewer through seven multimedia projects.

Role Playing Games

Video Games in general hold little appeal for me, so it is extra difficult to imagine myself spending hours-days-years developing a character through which to engage in on line fantasy role-play.

I do acknowledge, however, that this activity does hold great appeal for large numbers of people.

http://geniushackers.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/gaming-huge-lan-party.jpg

I wonder if there is an effective way to access and utilize this type of role-playing, game-based communication in classrooms, or if part of the fun, or all of the fun is in the escapism.

I am the jock in this, and only this scenario

I was talking briefly with the woman who runs this in Chaffee County Colorado


http://www.coloradomountainpleinairfestival.com/

I don't see dates fro 2010 yet, but sign me up!