Mosea Harris: Realm of New Thought
1.8.09 | When I look around and see the bias in the media, and the ignorance it is saddening, and unsatisfactory. Especially when I see kids like me buying into deceptions, it is harrowing.
But in this new age I can do something about it. That’s why I started a social network called Realm of New Thought (RNT). I made RNT specifically for kids. I wanted to create a platform for kids to talk about politics, world news, or anything else we might not normally talk about. It has already been quite successful. We have had visitors from over 50 countries around the world.
As of this month, we have launched our completely independent site at http://www.realmofnewthought.com. Since I first created RNT, I’ve had many opportunities to teach other people about it. For example I taught 15 CPS teachers for an hour at the University of Illinois at Chicago this summer on how to incorporate social networks in the classroom, as well as how to make one. RNT’s main goal is to basically have a positive and unbiased network for kids online.
Editor’s Note: For more of Mosea’s work watch him give the dedication speech for his Chicago middle school and interview game designer Eric ZImmerman for the iRemix Radio Podcast.
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Ken Woodman
1/9/09
12:56pm
I’m proud of your ability to step up and design a community based on a social need.
It’s important with the recent trends in social media to identify the problems each of these sites are experiencing and identify those solutions now. I will be sure to check out RNT
Shayna Robinson (Ken's Kids)
1/10/09
5:35pm
Hi,
I think what Mosea is doing is really important and innovative work. His reasons for starting RNT are real in the lives of young folks. At least that’s what I hear from the young people I work with.
I work for an organization that assists young people with cognitive disabilities in job placement and vocational training. We are at the beginning stages of a unique collaboration with the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Center for Design Practice to re-build an appropriate brand identity and develop a communications package for our organization.
In addition, we are planning development of digital media and technology that will impact job readiness and pre-vocational skills for the young people we work with as they set out to lead independent lives through gainful employment.
I hoped I could find more information and generate some ideas here to inform our upcoming work.
Do any of the MacArthur Series Topics cover disability and digital media and learning?
What are some good resources regarding digital media and learning and the disabled?
Does anyone know of any particular research? We are looking to perhaps build a research component as well and want to document the process of developing these technologies.
Thanks for reading!!