The Digital Generation Project is produced with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
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RezEd: The Hub for Learning in Virtual Worlds
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Digital Youth Portrait: Nafiza
An active participant in New York City's Global Kids organization, Nafiza explores international issues through gaming and virtual worlds. More to this story.
Release Date: 5/27/2009
Running Time: 04:49
Video Credits
Produced and Directed by
- Ken Ellis
Coordinating Producer
- Lauren Rosenfeld
Editor
- Karen Sutherland
Camera Crew
- Orlando Video Productions
Production Support
- Amy Erin Borovoy
Production Assistant
- Doug Keely
Original Music
- Ed Bogas
Additional Footage and Still Photographs Courtesy of
- Global Kids
- © 2009
- The George Lucas Educational Foundation
- All rights reserved.
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Glossary
Teen Second Life: An internet-based 3D virtual world where people ages 13-17 can meet, create, and socialize using voice and text chat.
Avatar: A term referring to the digital representation of a user of any virtual world, computer game, or other Internet-based online community.
Global Kids: An organization committed to educating and inspiring urban youth to become successful students as well as global and community leaders.
Comic Life: A desktop publishing program for the Mac used to design comic strips.
Digital Literacy: The ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate and create information using digital technology.
Machinima: A term derived from machine and cinema that refers to filmmaking created through the real-time recording of computer games, virtual worlds, or any already existing three-dimensional digital environment or virtual world.
Sources: Twinity.com, Teen.SecondLife.com, GlobalKids.org, Wikipedia.org
Discussion Questions
1. Is Nafiza typical of kids in your community? Why, or why not?
2. Is it surprising that Nafiza spends so much time playing video games? Why, or why not?
3. Nafiza uses technology "from the moment she wakes up." Is she over-connected?
4. What skills is Nafiza learning by participating in Global Kids? How is Global Kids changing her worldview?
5. Why do you think kids like Nafiza enjoy virtual worlds like Second Life? Do virtual worlds have any learning potential?
As a Board member of Global Kids, this is the first time I really got a complete understanding of what these amazaing kids can do in this outstanding and amazine program.
I don't know where Nafiza is going to college, but make sure her favorite choice sees this. she comes across as a first rate student and leader.
Barry gets top hurrahs from me.
And enormous thanks to the George Lucas Foundation
Digital Youth Portrait: Nafiza
Video Name: Digital Youth Portrait: Nafiza
Grade Level: High School though the subject is in 12th grade
The students were making a movie using an online world as a way to communicate. Students created avatars and held meetings. The world was akin to an MMORPG or the Sims. They used editing technology and uploaded images as a pdf file.
The students were able to interact socially and learned how to make a movie. Also, the skills learned in order to produce said movie are practical and will have value outside of the assignment.
I was surprised to see a video game being played that I would recognize, even though she didn't play Mortal Kombat efficiently. I enjoyed watching the video though.
Well… I visit your website first time and found this site very useful and interesting! Well… you guys doing nice work and I just want to say that keep rocking and keep it up!!!!
Marie Curie