Featured Story Archives: May 2012
Browse Stories By
10/05/09
Navigating Identity—Reimagining Oneself Online
When a librarian asked whether youth in juvenile justice might find a spot in Teen Second Life, a virtual world dedicated to young people, Rik Panganiban of Global Kids said yes. What he didn’t realize was that existing in the virtual world would empower those kids to act as mentors, keeping other kids out of trouble in their offline lives.10/05/09
By Barbara Ray
Learning by Doing, Participating, and Producing
Children today are learning in ways that are more social than in a traditional classroom. They are creating cities in virtual worlds, exploring coral reefs in Whyville, writing fan fiction, mashing up poetry and song, making videos. And they are doing it all as part of a larger, collaborative, and global community.9/29/09
By Ben Wolff
Parenting Our Tech Savvy Students
Joe Battle, a parent of a high school student, talks about the importance of advocating for technology in our children’s schools.9/29/09
By Ben Wolff
Digital Media and the Classroom from a Teacher’s Perspective
Yumi Matsui, a teacher from Oakland, Calif., discusses integrating digital tools into her classroom.9/29/09
By Ben Wolff
A Student on the Importance of Access to the Digital Generation
Spotlight talks with Terrence Thompson, a Chicago high school student and filmmaker.9/29/09
By Ben Wolff
Challenges of Working with New Media in Schools
“How we bring new ideas about learning together with a pretty tightly focused assessment and standards condition for a lot of schools. I would say that’s one of the biggest challenges ahead of us.” Spotlight talks with the National Writing Project’s Elyse Eidman-Aadahl.9/29/09
By Ben Wolff
Digital Media and Learning Goes to Washington
What role should digital media play in educating youth today? On Sept. 21, the Consortium on School Networking (CoSN), Common Sense Media, and the National Writing Project, with support from the MacArthur Foundation, briefed members of Congress and their staff on that very question.9/18/09
Classroom Quest: Virtual Space Brings Academic Content to Life
“I can tell them this stuff and it means nothing,” a teacher says, but let them become a scientist in a virtual world and the content sticks.9/18/09
By Ben Wolff
Grasping Math and Science, Literally
A Wii-like space helps kids grasp math and science in a hands-on way. Designers talk about their goals in designing this “lab,” in this video produced by Ben Wolff.9/18/09
9/18/09
How Games Foster Learning
Renowned media scholar James Gee talks with Heather Chaplin, author of Smartbomb, about how games influence learning.9/18/09
By Ben Wolff
Why a Former Teacher Now Designs Games
“What makes games so powerful,” says “Quest Atlantis” designer Sasha Barab, “is this form of transformational play where I’m taking up a role and doing things that are transforming the environment…I’m playing out a self I wouldn’t see myself doing.”9/18/09
Video Game Designers on “What Is a Game?”
When people talk of video games today, they often think first of “World of Warcraft” or similar games. Yet games take on many forms and purposes. Game designers themselves often debate what is and isn’t a game. So we asked two leaders in the field how they define a game.9/08/09
By Barbara Ray
Anywhere, Anytime Learning
“What happens in here is creativity,” says Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey. Read about the exciting results of YOUmedia’s first month, and the thinking behind its design.9/08/09
