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- Globaloria: Empowering youth worldwide to create and collaborate online
Globaloria: Empowering youth worldwide to create and collaborate online
Voting Summary (Elevator Pitch):
The Globaloria Program uses virtual and scalable edu-social networks-comprised of programmable websites and related Wikis and Blogs–to teach young people from underserved communities how to take control of their new-media world.
Supporting organization:
World Wide Workshop Foundation
URL:
http://www.myglife.org
City:
New York City
State/Region:
New York
Country:
USA
Project Vision Statement & Potential Social Impact:
The Globaloria program from the World Wide Workshop Foundation (www.worldwideworkshop.org) uses virtual and scalable edu-social networks –comprised of programmable websites and related Wikis and Blogs – to teach young people from underserved communities how to take control of their new-media world and lead by using technology.
Specifically, Globaloria trains participants to become makers of online games and simulations while teaching them to self-learn and work creatively and collaboratively, in a virtual environment, on long-term projects. By focusing their games and simulations on a theme or issue of their choice, participants also achieve a deeper understanding of curricular areas such as science, mathematics, health and social studies.
Using an architecture of participation, open-source technology, and easy-to-master administration tools, the Globaloria networks can be quickly and easily customized to meet the needs and objectives of diverse partners.
Globaloria is an "advanced beginner" to "advanced intermediate" level technology program. Through participation in the program, students who have already mastered introductory technology and leadership skills can move to a more advanced level of knowledge and capacity as well as develop professional capabilities and life skills to work and lead in today’s global and increasingly-connected digital world.
The Globaloria program has been designed from the outset to be comprised of multiple platforms, each of which has its own network, themes, and active communities. In 2006, the Foundation launched the first of these platforms, My Global Life (www.myglife.org), a game developers ‘starter-kit’. Four other thematic networks are in development during 2007-2008; next to launch will be My Science Life.
Sustainability (financial) model:
Globaloria is a program of the World Wide Workshop Foundation, the not-for-profit arm of the MaMaMedia Consulting Group (MCG). The Foundation complements the financial support received from MCG with additional funding from traditional and non-traditional grant makers and partners, including corporations, individuals, NGOs, international organizations, governments and research institutions. Globaloria’s program and technology model is designed to be scalable and sustainable by supporting the complete transfer of ownership of the platform to partner communities. The Globaloria program achieves this transfer of ownership by:
- Training partners in the skills required to take control, customize, grow and manage their virtual learning platform;
- Designing the platform as an open architecture of websites and Wikis that includes an easy-to-master website administrator’s interface;
- Empowering every Globaloria partner to mentor and support new communities.
Potential obstacles:
Globaloria programs replicate the high-density technological work environments of today’s global organizations. Partners must meet demanding technology requirements, like providing each student with liberal access (6 -10 hours a week) to a computer with high-speed connectivity and programming software (e.g., Flash). This is a high bar for many underserved communities. - We require forward-thinking partners and instructors who can commit to this complex program, and to teaching virtually using a technical, collaborative and transparent learning environment.
Resource Needs:
In 2006, we raised $200,000 in cash funding from corporate grants and corporate and individual gifts. We are seeking $550,000 in funding to support the programs and activities for 2007 and $1,000,000 in funding for 2008.
We will remain providers of the curriculum, and will leverage our development dollars through user-donated activities, research and 3rd-party funding brought to us by our outreach partners.
Key Milestones:
2004: The World Wide Workshop is established in New York City by Dr. Idit Harel Caperton, an internationally recognized visionary and authority on how children learn, create and gain thinking power through self-directed, play-oriented use of computers and Internet media technology (www.IditCaperton.com).
A development-stage 501(c)3 educational organization, and the non-profit spin off of MaMaMedia Inc. (www.MaMaMedia.com), the Foundation is dedicated to conceptualizing and developing applications of Internet media technology to enhance learning, creativity and understanding among children and youth in developing communities around the world (www.worldwideworkshop.org).
2005-Q1: Initial donations of assets and office space is received from MaMaMedia.com and MaMaMedia Consulting Group, as well as financial support from the Foundation’s President and Founder Idit Harel Caperton.
2005-Q2-3-4: The Globaloria Program is incubated in China where the Foundation’s President is invited for a series of consulting assignments, lectures and to teach at the Software Engineering Institute at ECNU in Shanghai. In parallel, Negroponte’s OLPC project (www.Laptop.org), for which Harel Caperton has been an advisor, is catching momentum, and the urgent need for a Globaloria program for children and youth around the world becomes clear.
2006-Q1-2: Cisco CSR and HBO grants allow the Foundation to recruit a management and production team, and to develop and launch the Globaloria Program and its first edu-social network, My Global Life (www.myglife.org), a game-developers community ‘starter-kit’. 
2006-Q3-4: The MyGLife.org pilot launch takes place in Netanya, Israel with 38 Arab, Jewish and Russian immigrant youth from five cities across Israel. They learn to self-learn in a virtual network and to work together like never before (www.myglife.org/israelwiki).
2006-Q4: Following the pilot launch, the Globaloria team undertakes comprehensive dynamic and collaborative pilot research to assess its vision and mission, and better understand the epistemology and impact of the program from the perspective of educators, participants and their communities. An innovative research methodology and platform is created (http://www.myglife.org/wiki/index.php/Research_Report:_Israel).
2007-Q1: Two new MyGLife communities are initiated that target university-level students (undergraduate and graduate) in the United States (www.MyGLife.org/usa):
- The American University in Washington, DC incorporates Globaloria into a formal introduction to game design course;
- Two game clubs at the University of Colorado, Boulder adopt the platform to communicate, create and collaborate around serious games.
These new communities will act as models for future higher-education programs in developing countries.
2007-Q2-Q3-Q4: In the coming 9 months, The Globaloria Program will expand to 10 active communities on four different continents. These 10 communities will be in collaboration with a diverse set of partners including corporations, not-for-profits, government agencies, youth-led organizations and international agencies. Here is a brief overview of our upcoming partners and their communities:
Schlumberger-SEED, Trinidad: Adolescents enrolled in the Schlumberger-SEED school in Trinidad will use Globaloria to learn science and gain professional and life skills; Schlumberger volunteers will also engage with the platform to hone their own technological skills and to expand their community service opportunities. - West Virginia Governor’s Office, Wheeling, WV: At-risk adolescents in after-school programs in two schools in Wheeling, WV will use Globaloria to complement formal and non-formal educational curricula.
- IBM E.X.I.T.E Camps, India: Girls, 12-14 years old, participating in IBM’s E.X.I.T.E camp in India will be introduced to Globaloria as a new way to communicate, collaborate and create around engineering and innovation virtually.
- Save the Children, Technology & Education Program, Bolivia: Youth who have already mastered introductory technology and leadership skills in Save the Children’s Bolivia-based initiative will use Globaloria to progress to the next level of technological skill and knowledge.
- Bronx River Art Center, New York: Adolescents in the South Bronx, NY, will use Globaloria to continue exploring “ecoMedia”, ecology through media, and become skilled game designers in the process.
- TakingITGlobal, Global: The rich and vibrant online youth community that makes up TakingITGlobal will use Globaloria to design games and simulations around key themes to their network.In 2007, the World Wide Workshop will also expand its programming to younger children, 5-12 years old, with the launch of MaMaMedia.org. Designed and implemented in collaboration with OLPC, and based on MaMaMedia.com, MaMaMedia.org’s mission will be to enhance learning, creativity and technological fluency among children globally. Two versions will be created for the OLPC platform: one web-based and one non-web application.
Project Summary:
The Globaloria program from the World Wide Workshop Foundation (www.worldwideworkshop.org) uses virtual and scalable edu-social networks –comprised of programmable websites and related Wikis and Blogs – to teach young people from underserved communities how to take control of their new-media world and lead by using technology.
Specifically, Globaloria trains participants to become makers of online games and simulations while teaching them to self-learn and work creatively and collaboratively, in a virtual environment, on long-term projects. By focusing their games and simulations on a theme or issue of their choice, participants also achieve a deeper understanding of curricular areas such as science, mathematics, health and social studies.
Using an architecture of participation, open-source technology, and easy-to-master administration tools, the Globaloria networks can be quickly and easily customized to meet the needs and objectives of diverse partners.
Globaloria is an "advanced beginner" to "advanced intermediate" level technology program. Through participation in the program, students who have already mastered introductory technology and leadership skills can move to a more advanced level of knowledge and capacity as well as develop professional capabilities and life skills to work and lead in today’s global and increasingly-connected digital world.
GLOBALORIA PARTICIPANTS HONE PROFESSIONAL AND LIFE SKILLS FOR TODAY’S DIGITAL WORLD IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
- Using Internet media (wikis and blogs) for self-expression, communication, collaboration, research and to create original content within a virtual community of learners and mentors;
- Programming Wiki media, Wiki creation and social publishing (making a Wiki page with text, images, hyperlinks, embedded video, sound and Flash files, etc.);
- Creating and using Blogs effectively (using a free Blog tool such as Blogger);
- Making original digital artifacts (buttons, banners, illustrations, animations, photos) with a drawing program (Photoshop, Gimp);
- Building and publishing a webpage (FTP, HTML and CSS);
- Mastering Flash, alone and in teams to build an original Flash interactive simulation or game, including graphics, animations, media and basic ActionScript, that supports a pro-social or educational topic, and publishing it to the web;
- Using XML efficiently and effectively to organize and update content in web applications and to add digital artifacts to an existing Flash game;
- Gaining knowledge of real-world practices for creating interactive projects from conception to completion, including the software project development process, creating a detailed, written plan and using it to build a project;
- Honing professional livelihood skills including team work, written and visual communication and presentation, motivational practices, time management, priority and goal setting;
- Understanding the impact of computer games, simulations, and animations on education, art, entertainment and social change.
Globaloria is rooted in Constructionist research and theory – in which children control their learning environments. The program integrates case studies and analysis of process-based and outcomes-based research into all initiatives, along three strands: a) iterative development of the technology platform; b) the curriculum; and c) developmental research on student learning and advancement. Harel Caperton was instrumental in developing the Constructionist theory almost three decades ago at MIT Media Lab where she earned her Ph.D.
The Globaloria program has been designed from the outset to be comprised of multiple platforms, each of which has its own network, themes, and active communities. In 2006, the Foundation launched the first of these platforms, My Global Life (www.myglife.org), a game developers ‘starter-kit’. Four other thematic networks are under development during 2007-2008; next to launch will be My Science Life.
