Spotlight on Digital Media And Learning

10.25.06 | In the summer of 2006, over 15 teens spent four weeks participating in Camp Global Kids, in the virtual world Second Life, engaged in interactive, experiential workshops about pressing global issues. The following summarizes some of what we learned.

1. Think globally, act locally.
Participants will experience their virtual world as their shared community. Turn educating that larger community into a project goal.

2. Use real world content.
In a surreal space, photos or a guest speaker are required to give weight to substantive issues.

3. Go beyond the virtual world.
Leverage existing Internet content and tools as if you are all in the same computer lab.

4. Create multiple places of meaning.
Move beyond a virtual classroom and create a variety of settings. Associate each location with different types of activities, norms and behaviors.

5. Know when teens know best.
The teens are experts about their online community. Leverage that knowledge.

For more: http://www.holymeatballs.org/2006/10/sl_best_practices_for_educatio.html