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Kidlink: A Global Classroom

Ricardo A. VIGLIANCO <rviglian@citynet.net.ar>
National University of Rosario
Argentina

Abstract

Kidlink is a nonprofit grassroots organization aimed at getting as many youth (through age 15) as possible involved in a global dialog. The work is supported by 65 public mailing lists for conferencing, a private network for real-time interactions (like chats), an online art exhibition site, and volunteers living throughout the world. Most of our volunteers are teachers and parents. Since its start on 25 May 1990, over 110,000 kids from 123 countries on all continents have participated in our activities. Their primary means of communication is electronic mail (e-mail), but real-time interactions, various types of Web-based dialogs, ordinary mail, fax, video conferencing, and ham radio are also being used. Kidlink has activities in Danish, English, French, German, Hebrew, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Macedonian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Saami, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, and Nordic languages (Scandinavian language gateway).

Our conferencing network is built around the following types of forums and activities for youth: The Kidcafe lists are for open e-mail dialog including both individual exchanges (keypals) and group discussion or inquiry on topics introduced by the kids. The number of Kidcafes and rules for participation differ by language area. The Kidproj lists a group of mailing list conferences supporting a wide variety of short- and long-term projects across language areas. Projects may grow so large that they are given special conference areas. Currently, there are Kidproj conferences in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The Kidforum lists a group of mailing lists for discussion of one topic at a time with about two months per topic. The adult moderator for each topic works closely with the participating students and their teachers. Real-time interactions Kidlink has a private Internet relay chat server and a MUSH, allowing kids all over the world to respond to each other within seconds. In addition to the opportunity for open chatting, special events are organized in connection with activities on the various mailing lists. The MUSH world is a virtual world created by kids that reflects the real world. The kids can "recreate" their country and cities in the Kidlink world and in that way share their own experiences in real time. Various kinds of collaborative activities are set up so that kids can interact. Art-exchange kids can submit their artwork to the Kidlink gallery of computer art. The Kidleader lists are for informal discussion about Kidlink-related topics among teachers and other adult leaders of Kidlink youth. The Kidplan list is for discussing major changes in the operation of Kidlink services with participants at large.

Contents

Introduction

Kidlink.org is a nonprofit organization aimed at getting as many youth as possible through the age of 15 involved in a global dialog and global classroom.

The work is supported by 65 public mailing lists for conferencing, a private network for Real-Time Interactions (like chats), an online art exhibition site, and volunteers living throughout the world. Most of our volunteers are teachers and parents.

Since its start on 25 May 1990, over 110,000 kids from 122 countries have participated in our activities.

Countries

American Samoa, Antarctica, Antigua/Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Egypt, Estonia, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guam, Guernsey, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey (Channel Islands), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macau, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (USA), Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Their primary means of communication is electronic mail (e-mail), but Real-Time Interactions (like chats), various types of Web-based dialogs, ordinary mail, fax, video conferencing, and ham radio are also being used.

Kidlink has activities in Danish, English, French, German, Hebrew, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Macedonian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Saami, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, and Nordic languages (Scandinavian language gateway).

Joining Kidlink

Participation in the Kidlink youth dialog is limited to youth up to and including 15 years of age. Class participation is limited to those grades in which students are within the age limits at the beginning of the school year.

The required first step: All youth participants must submit personal presentations and views on the desired future of this world, by answering the following four questions:

  1. Who Am I?
    What is my full name? How old am I? Am I a boy or a girl? Where do I live (city, country)? What is the name of my school? What are some of my interests, hobbies, concerns? What else do you want others to know about yourself?
  2. What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?
    Share your vision of what you want to be when you grow up in terms of work, education, and in general.
  3. How Do I Want The World To Be Better When I Grow Up?
    How would you like to improve the way we treat each other and the environment we share?
  4. What Can I Do Now To Make This Happen?
    What steps can you take now to realize your personal goals and your vision of the world?

Note that only your name, address, school, and country must be written in English. The rest can be in your preferred language.

After they have submitted their answers, kids are welcome to join and enjoy the rest of what Kidlink has to offer. Participation is free.

Welcome in!

Joining a Kidlink conference usually means that you send a subscription request to a common administrative address containing the name of the desired conference and your own name. That's all it usually takes to join! Participating in our conferences is free.

If it appears complicated at first, don't worry. There is plenty of help around, both in the various forums (visit their Web sites to find people to ask), and available from our always very humane and supportive user support. To "talk" with some real people, just write to our User Support. If your language is not listed, please drop a line to the English language support. They'll surely find someone who can help.

Our conferencing network is built around the following types of forums and activities for youth:

The Kidcafe lists

The Kidcafe lists are for open e-mail dialog including both individual exchanges (keypals) and group discussion or inquiry on topics introduced by the kids. The number of Kidcafes, and rules for participation differ by language area.

The Kidproj lists

The Kidproj lists are a group of mailing list conferences supporting a wide variety of short and long-term projects across language areas. Projects may grow so large that they are given special conference areas for the discussions. Currently, there are Kidproj conferences in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

The Kidforum lists

The Kidforum lists are a group of mailing lists for discussion of one topic at a time with about two months per topic. The adult moderator for each topic works closely with the participating students and their teachers.

Real-time interactions

Kidlink has a private IRC serverand a MUSH. These allow kids all over the world to type back and forth to each other with responses within seconds. In addition to the opportunity for open chatting, special events are organized in connection with activities on the various mailing lists.

The MUSH allows kids and teachers to create online objects and spaces with descriptions so they can better share ideas and information with others whether or not they are online. Various kinds of collaborative activities are set up so that students can interact even though time zones sometimes prevent actual real time conversations.

Art exchange

Kids can submit their artwork to the Kidlink Gallery of Computer Art.

In English

KIDART-COORD mailing list -- The Kidart Exhibition Site.

In Icelandic

The Krakka-gallery Exhibition Site.

In Portuguese

The Brazilian Exhibition Site.

In Spanish

The "Arte creado por kidlinkers" Exhibition Site.

Special programs

In Brazil, Kidlink has a special program to help disadvantaged kids join. We call it the Kidlink Houses.

For teachers and adults

In addition to coordination lists supporting several of the youth dialog areas, Kidlink runs several general discussion lists for adults who are involved in facilitating the Kidlink Global Dialog. Here, teachers are also invited to share experiences about using Kidlink's services to enhance their curricula.

The KIDLEADER lists are for informal discussions about Kidlink-related topics among teachers and other adult leaders of Kidlink youth.

The Kidplan list is for discussing major changes in the operation of Kidlink services with participants at large.

Staying informed about Kidlink's activities

To stay informed about what happens throughout the Kidlink network, consider subscribing to the  Kidlink announcement lists.

In English: KIDLINK announcement list

In Spanish: KIDLINK-SPANISH

In Portuguese: KIDLINK-PORTUGUESE

Author

Prof. Ricardo Viglianco
rviglian@citynet.net.ar
Internet Society Member and Kidlink Assistant Manager

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