Covering the intersection of the public sector and the metaverse.
About Betterverse.org
Welcome to Betterverse.org, a chronicle of the evolving and innovative efforts to use virtual worlds to promote various real world causes and improve the lives of people all around the globe.
If you want to take your virtual building and scripting skills to the next level, go to SL Pro, the premier in-world content creation conference in Second Life. February 23-25, 2010. Here's what you can expect:
Learn tips and tricks from some of the most talented content creators and scripters in Second Life
Learn how the pros created successful businesses in Second Life
Spend formal and informal time with many of the experts in key
topics related to content creation and business - all in one place
Global Kids, on behalf of the National Youth Leadership Council, is producing an innovative service learning project incorporating the virtual world of SmallWorlds as well as the social networking site Ning.com to promote youth actions to support peace in the country of Darfur. We recently got a nice write up in the SmallWorld's Chronicle about the project.
I just launched our first SmallWorlds mission for the project called "Sudan 101" where you can learn the basics about the country, the history and origins of the conflict, and why Sudan is so important. We'll be launching a second mission on Service Learning very shortly. If you are a member of SmallWorlds, just go to this link or under "Places" do a search for "Salam Project."
Here's what you can expect over the next weeks:
A kick-off virtual event this Friday, February 12, where you can participate in a virtual chat with Nisrin Elamin, a Sudanese peace activist, and two Global Kids youth leaders, talking about their work to educate others about the conflict and support peace in Sudan.
An online social network and a youth-friendly virtual world to get inspired about the project, share information with each other, and show the results of your work to others.
A3D virtual service centerwhere you can find out more about Sudan, the peace process, and service learning opportunities
Aservice learning curriculumfor educators that you can use to support service learning actions by your students
And finally alive video simulcaston March 25 of the talk by Benjamin Ajak, Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, three of the "Lost Boys of Sudan."
I unfortunately just found out about "The Big House" art exhibit in Second Life, a multi-artist installation celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that is scheduled to close. A virtual prison seems like an odd place to celebrate human rights, but each of the individual "cells" show how the various artists represent the various rights, from the freedom of expression, association and religion to freedom from slavery and torture.
My friends at TechSoup and the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life have released a new promo video, produced by award-winning machinimatographer Draxtor Despres. It's a nice introduction to nonprofit activity in virtual worlds for those new to the field. And always nice to see Glitteractica and Penguin in both real life and the virtual world.
On behalf of Global Kids, a leading nonprofit in the field of virtual world education, we would like to invite your organization to apply to participate in a series of free professional development trainings in virtual worlds for nonprofits. Supported by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation, theVirtual Worlds Capacity Building for Nonprofits Program aims to facilitate nonprofit organizations in developing an informed strategy on how to integrate these new media tools into their missions.
Over the month of March 2010, Global Kids will be working with a cohort of 5-8 civic and cultural organizations to introduce them to the myriad applications of virtual worlds for the public sector. The "Virtual World Capacity Building Program," now in its 3rd semester, is a three-week crash course in virtual environments, specifically tailored to the interests and needs of nonprofit institutions. Participating organizations will get to explore different virtual worlds, test out different tools and applications, and learn about cutting edge projects run within these 3D, online spaces.
On behalf of Global Kids, I am helping produce this virtual service learning project for the National Youth Leadership Council called "The Salam Project: Youth Supporting Peace in Sudan." Here's the full appeal below:
Many of us know about the deadly conflicts that have devastated the North African country of Sudan. What you may not know about is what you can do in your own community to support peace in this wartorn country. On February 12th, you can take a virtual stand for peace in Sudan at the "Salam Project" kick-off event!
On Friday, February 12, you are cordially invited to a virtual presentation by Nisrin Elamin, a Sudanese peace activist, and two Global Kids youth leaders, talking about their work to educate others about the conflict and support peace in Sudan. The event will take place in the web-based virtual world of SmallWorlds, at both 4pm PST and 4PM EST. This talk will be the kick off of a month of service all around the United States in solidarity with Sudan.
