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MyGLife.org: Empowering Youth to Create and Collaborate Online

Project Description

Currently the most active network of Globaloria, My Global Life (www.MyGLife.org), is designed to help youth 13 and older:

 

  1. Learn internet media technology and game-development skills;
  2. Hone professional and life skills;
  3. Experience positive virtual communication with other communities; and
  4. Foster social change

Through an open architecture of websites and related wikis and blogs, MyGLife participants learn to analyze, design and build web-based games and simulations that address globally relevant and social issues of their choice and passion. Topics include climate change, ecology, water, community services, technology skills, peace and more.

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What you will find at MyGLife.org

MyGLife.org is comprised of an open architecture of educational, programmable websites and related wikis that offer more than 100 educational activities, simulations and tutorials to play, learn, explore and contribute new ideas online.

 

  • PLAY to Learn invites participants to play with an arcade of games, puzzles, creative tools and scientific simulations and to think about them critically as game developers. Donated and open source customized tutorials allow participants to tinker with the underlying game code and learn programming skills.
  • LEARN to Build features an extensive library of hand-picked, custom written and open source tutorials for learning Flash, HTML, Graphic Design, Wiki, Blogging and Project Development skills.
  • EXPLORE Web 2.0 Resources features links to recommended online resources and lists of suggested readings that will help participants.
  • CONTRIBUTE Knowledge and Support encourages participants to follow-up their learning by contributing works back to the site. Professional developers and organizations worldwide can also donate work and learn how to start MyGLife programs locally.

Persons/Organizations interested in making donations of tutorials, games or simulations or becoming Globaloria partner communities can contact the team at info (at) worldwideworkshop.org

MyGLife Wiki

The wiki dimension of MyGLife.org complements the “Contribute” Section by introducing new Internet users to the evolving responsibilities of true global citizenry. By using a wiki platform, present and future MyGLife communities are able to work together in real-time, with the entire cycle open, well-documented and annotated, and logged for global users and administrators to reference. The wiki also facilitates further community learning and development and enables online mentoring and support.

Administrative Interface and Tools

The MyGLife platform and community is intended to function as replicable and scalable networks that are run, owned, customized and grown by the local community. To support this complete transfer of ownership, an extensive website administrator’s interface and tools enable participating communities to tailor the MyGLife website and wiki to their specific learning needs and objectives and to take control of their eLearning space.

Participating Countries

The MyGLife.org project exists both online and in underprivileged communities worldwide. My Global Life currently exists in, or will be expanding to, the following countries: Bolivia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Israel, India, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority, Rwanda, Tanzania, Spain and South Africa.

Languages and Translation

The Foundation’s development team works closely with translators and user communities to localize the site for each country. As a rule, the activities use as little text as possible and all Flash Applet text and labels use XML-files for ease of localization.

Our Foundation is not about us publishing material that we think is good for underserved kids in developing communities; rather, we commit ourselves to giving away our technical knowledge and sharing our expertise. We all listen to each other, participate and learn together in an open network -- because all of us are smarter than just one of us!

Research

The Workshop integrates online and offline dynamic and collaborative research techniques to explore the epistemology and impact of the My Global Life collaborative virtual learning environment from the perspective of children, their families, communities and educators.

Content Donors

MaMaMedia Inc. and Schlumberger-SEED have donated Flash applets with well-documented, open source code to the MyGLife.org site.

Persons/Organizations interested in making content donations can contact the team at info (at) myglife.org

Funding Support

The World Wide Workshop receives both private and public funding support. Cisco Systems and HBO provided the initial seed funding to the Globaloria Program to build the MyGLife.org websites and wikis and to prepare donated Flash applets for localization to a variety of languages and cultures. Cisco Systems also provided input on the development of culturally sensitive designs and tutorials and provided skilled local mentors at its Community Learning Center in Israel to introduce, encourage and support new MyGLife users. The Workshop continues to explore other funding partners and welcomes those interested in supporting our work to contact us directly at info@worldwideworkshop.org

Learn more about becoming a Globaloria partner >>

Visit the Globaloria / MyGLife Project >>