Spotlight on Digital Media And Learning

Public Forum featuring Cory Ondrejka and Jonathan Fanton on MacArthur Island

Today’s forum examined the future of virtual worlds and philanthropy.  Pictures and videos will be forthcoming.

Public Forum Invitation: join Fanton and Ondrejka on MacArthur Island, May 18

To mark the launch of MacArthur Island within Second Life, this forum will examine the future of virtual worlds and philanthropy.  There will be a simultaneous broadcast in standard web video.

WebWise Conference Debrief—featuring photos of grant-supported projects

Last week, more than a dozen MacArthur-supported projects gathered at this year’s WebWise conference in Washington to demonstrate their work, and explore intersections with libraries and museums.

Connected Reflections: Learning, Meaning, and Civic Engagement in the Digital Age

Four provocative ideas from a recent AERA panel are highlighted by MacArthur Program Officer Benjamin Stokes, who connects each idea to the profile of a leading thinker on this website.

This Week’s Events in Virtual Worlds: Justice Center, ICC Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo, Kofi Annan

This Wednesday and Thursday the public is invited to a suite of events held in conjunction with the launch of the International Justice Center in Second Life.  The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will appear in avatar form, there will be an art show gala, plus simulcasts of a top-tier panel on international justice and a keynote by Kofi Annan as he receives the first MacArthur Award for International Justice.

Event Recap: Civil Liberties and Virtual Worlds—photos, podcasts and more

On January 28, the MacArthur Foundation co-hosted its second event in a virtual world.  The topic was ‘civil liberties and virtual worlds,’ featuring Jack Balkin of Yale Law School and Robin Harper of Linden Lab in conversation with Jonathan Fanton, President of the Foundation.  USC and Global Kids co-hosted the event.

Current Theme: Games and Learning

Over the past week, we have featured several researchers and designers MacArthur has funded to work on games and learning, with a special focus on the Gamestar Mechanic project. This series will continue this week.

Thoughts from the Game Developers Conference (GDC, San Francisco)

The fourth annual Serious Games Summit at GDC earlier this month raised two significant questions: (1) new platforms, (2) more international collaboration.

[Reblogged] Filmmakers at Sundance look to game industry

“Is a Sundance Video Game Festival the next logical step?”—News.com

[Reblogged] Jenkins interviews David Williamson Shaffer

Shaffer responds to Jenkins’ questions about his new book “How Computer Games Help Children to Learn”...

[Reblogged] podcast on MacSeries use of Learning Times

This podcast reflects across three volumes of the MacSeries’s online discussions.  Topics include moral panics, games, and modeling safe practices.