Julie Atteberry (15), USA

How Kidlink Presented Itself in 1991

This document was circulated by electronic mail. Users could also request it from the Listserv archives.

WHAT IS KIDS-92?

KIDS-92 is a grassroot project aiming at getting as many children in the age group 10 -15 as possible involved in a GLOBAL dialog. The project will continue until May 18th 1992.
The preceding project, KIDS-91, had 2600 participating children from 31 countries.
In its simplest form, the dialog will be an exchange of personal presentations and views on the desired future of this world. The means of communication may be ordinary mail, fax, video conferencing, hamradio, or whatever.
We hope that your children be allowed to participate more fully, so that they can join the other kids in the ongoing global discussion using electronic mail. More information about how this is done can be found below.

THE FIRST STEP: The Personal Presentation

Meetings between people usually start by the participants introducing themselves. The same is required by children participating in KIDCAFE and KIDS-ACT, the places where children 'meet' to talk using electronic mail or other forms of electronic communication.
We want each kid to introduce himself/herself by answering the following four questions:
1) Who am I? 2) What do I want to be when I grow up? 3) How do I want the world to be better when I grow up? 4) What can I do now to make this happen?

THE SECOND STEP: The Discussion

The electronic dialog takes place day and night on different conferencing systems, BBS systems, computer networks, and through individual mailboxes. KIDS-92 is not a file area on a hard disk. It's an ongoing process.
To enable communication between people across borders in our 'global village', we administer several 'discussion lists' on a computer in North Dakota, USA. A discussion list is simply an address list for electronic mail. A message sent to the list called KIDCAFE, will automatically be forwarded to all the addresses on the mailing list.
In this way, a vivid discussion can take place through the use of ordinary electronic mail. Each message sent to the lists is redistributed to a large number of participants world-wide.
We have the following global discussion lists:

RESPONSE		is where the children send their responses to the four questions. This is the *only* purpose of this list. When this is done, we invite the children to send messages to KIDCAFE and KIDS-ACT. Subscription is free for everybody. The children can search the archives of old messages sent to RESPONSE to find potential friends with matching personal interests, etc.
KIDCAFE		is for kids aged 10 - 15. Here, they can talk about whatever they like, find new friends in other countries, discuss the future, school, hobbies, environment, or whatever. Subscription is free for everybody, _but_ READ ONLY for those not in this age group. And, READ ONLY for kids who have not yet sent their personal introduction to RESPONSE.
KIDS-ACT		is for kids aged 10 - 15. Here, they can talk about what THEY can do NOW to achieve their future visions. Regard it as an extension of the fourth KIDS-92 question. Open for everybody, _but_ READ ONLY for those not in this age group, and those who have not yet introduced themselves publicly by responding to the four questions.
KIDS-92		is for teachers, coordinators, parents, social workers, and others interested in KIDS-92. This is where we post information about important developments, exchange experiences, report media coverage, news, etc. Subscription: Open to everybody. The archives of KIDS-92 contains interesting information for teachers and others.
KIDS-91		is for teachers, coordinators, parents, social workers, and others interested in what happened during KIDS-91. This is where KIDS-91 is being reviewed. Later this year, KIDS-91 will be closed and turned into a read-only history database. Subscription: Open to everybody. The archives of KIDS-91 contains a lot of interesting information for teachers and others.
KIDPLAN		is for those who want to participate in the detail planning of the project. We have among other things been discussing how to pull off the suggested sattelite portion of the May 12th 1991 Celebration, whether to split up KIDCAFE into pieces or not, a generic name for our projects, and much more. Subscription: open for everybody.

All of the messages from all of the discussion groups are stored in publicly accessible archives on the North Dakota State University computer system. No specific permission is necessary to use them for research or publicity purposes. We expect those who use to archives to give credit to the source and to use them only in ways which respect the integrity of the kids and adults involved in the KIDLINK projects.
The local adult coordinators should make sure the kids understand that their messages are public and should help them deal with the issues of what is appropriate in a public forum. There will be differences among the sites in both the procedures and the judgements of appropriateness. For instance, some sites may ask kids not to post home addresses, while home addresses may be perfectly acceptable in other areas.
Around May 18-19, 1992, the children will be invited to "chat" with each other in a global electronic dialog.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN KIDS-92

Here are the different ways you can choose to participate in KIDS-92 with your students, children, friends etc.:

Level 1:		Ordinary Mail!
Level 2:		One-Way Electronic Mail
Level 3:		Online - Participative
Level 4:		Online - Full Interactive Communications
Level 5:		Online - Interactive and Planning.

These different levels of involvement have the following meaning:

Level 1: Send By Ordinary Mail!

Let the kids respond to the four questions.
Each response should contain the child's FULL name, age and city/place (as the last phrase of the response).
Save the responses on computer diskettes (MS-DOS 5.25" or 3.5" or Macintosh) as ordinary DOS or ASCII text files (text written with WordPerfect is also acceptable). Write the text with left margin 0 and right margin 60 to make it easy for the organizers to send it to the global data base.
You may want to let the kids type the responses themselves as part of the exercise. - If you do not have access to computer equipment, maybe you could borrow one from a parent or a local business for this exciting project.
On the top of the file, write the teacher(s) names, the class name, the school name and mailing address. Add your electronic return address, if you have one.

Note: We strongly urge you to send us the responses in electronic form! This is the only way that we can be sure that we enter the student's names correctly. This is also the only way that we can guarantee that their responses will end up in the global data base. We may be able to input hand-written responses, but can give no guarantees. Machine typed is better than hand written. If hand written, please write Name and Address in block Latin letters.

Mail the diskette(s) to KIDS-92, 4815 Saltrod, Norway (Europe) Or, send by telefax to phone number: +47 41 27111

Level 2: Online - One-Way Electronic Mail

To get the most out of KIDS-92, you need access to a computer, a modem, a communication program, and an electronic mailbox for international electronic mail.
If this is mysterious or unknown to you, start by reading a book about communication to learn how this is done. How you get access to electronic mail varies by country. Generally, the easiest way of achieving this - if you don't already have a solution - is to contact a local University or Research Organization to find out if they have such access, and if they could be willing to let you have a mailbox for your participation in KIDS-92.
If you don't succeed in this, then there's another option which is globally available. Try to locate a BBS (Bulletin Board System) connected to the global network FidoNet. These systems generally give everybody cheap access to global electronic mail.
Prepare responses to the four questions, and send them as electronic mail to one of the following electronic addresses:

Internet/ARPA/EAN, etc.:		RESPONSE@VM1.NODAK.EDU
BITNET/EARN/CEARN, etc.:		RESPONSE@NDSUVM1
UUCP/EUnet:		vm1.nodak.edu!response
JANET:		response%vm1.nodak.edu@eanrelay.ac.uk
CompuServe:		>INTERNET:response@vm1.nodak.edu
MCI Mail:		At TO, type RESPONSE and the word EMS in parantheses. At EMS: type INTERNET. At MBX, write: RESPONSE@VM1.NODAK.EDU
AppleLink:		RESPONSE@VM1.NODAK.EDU@INTERNET#
SprintMail:		("RFC-822": <response(a)vm1.nodak.edu>, SITE:INTERNET)
FidoNet:		Send to user UUCP at 1:105/42. The first line of text in the body of the message would be To: response@vm1.nodak.edu. The next line should be blank.
AT&T Mail:		internet!ndsuvm1.bitnet!response
X.400: (C:US,A:Telemail,P:Internet,"RFC-822":<response(a)vm1.nodak.edu>)

If this fails If you have access to one of the addresses above but fail to send to RESPONSE (say you get an error message claiming illegal host name or something), try one of the following addresses: opresno@ulrik.uio.no or ulrik.uio.no!opresno

If you are not connected to any of these networks

Not connected to any international email network:		Upload the file to the following Bulletin Board in Norway c/o Sysop. 8 bits, N parity. Phone: +47 41 31378. 300-9600 bps (CCITT)
If your network has a link to DASnet, send to		[DEZNDP]opresno (DASnet can send email to ABA/net, BIX, CIGnet, Connect, Dialcom, EasyLink, Envoy 100, GeoNet, INET, MacNET, MercanMail, Telecommunications Ltd, NewsNet, NWI, OnTyme, PINET, The Portal System, Glasnet, PsychNet, etc.)

Level 3: Online - Participative

You can participate by "subscribing" directly to the mailing list through Internet and associated networks. The alternative is to participate through participating mailbox/conferencing systems. The latter method may in some cases be both cheaper and easier.

Direct subscription:

Join the desired discussion list by sending mail to LISTSERV@vm1.NoDak.EDU with the following command in the TEXT of your message: SUB KIDS-92 Your-first-name Your-last-name
Replace 'KIDS-92' above with the list in question (for example, with KIDPLAN, RESPONSE, KIDCAFE, KIDS-ACT).

Through participating systems:

Locate a suitable, participating networking system, and access the 'local' KIDS-92 area. Here are some alternatives:

• Bergen By Byte BBS in Norway (under the "kids" conferencing umbrella)
• Colnet, Argentina
• KIDS-91 at Western Michigan University Computer Center, USA.
• Pandora, San Fransisco, USA.
• SciNet (Canada and USA)
• SkoleKomm, Denmark
• The KIDS-91 FidoNet gate in Australia
• TWICS (Tokyo), send through Internet mail

Download other childrens' responses and use them in your classes. Motivate your kids to upload their responses individually.
(The systems above are participating in full scale. Other systems are participating in a more limited way. Write us to find out if some of your home systems are involved.)

Level 4: Online - Full Interactive and Communications

Read and respond to all KIDS-92 topics online. Read and enter responses to the four questions directly. Send private electronic mail to other participants - form 'keypals' relationships with new friends.
Let the students participate in regular online 'chats' with other children. For example, through KIDCAFE or KIDS-ACT. Encourage them to explore the world with the new tools, and to use KIDS-ACT for more serious talk.
Regularly print out messages from RESPONSE, KIDCAFE, and KIDS-ACT. Post the printout on the wall, publish it in daily newspapers, or make it available for all participating children in other ways. Use the information in geography, environmental studies, history, etc.

Level 5: Online - Interactive and Planning

Join our KIDPLAN discussion group and become a member of the KIDS-92 staff of volunteers. Your help is needed to get more children involved.
Join by sending a message to listserv@vm1.nodak.edu with the following command in the TEXT of your message: SUB KIDPLAN Your-first-name Your-last-name

All levels: The Creative Challenge

We want the children to 'draw themselves as adults in their desired future world'. Challenge them to use more creative ways of doing this. During KIDS- 91 we received musical compositions, video films, computer animation, paintings, water colors, printouts from graphical computer programs, calligraphical art, and more.
Remember to have the students write their name, age, place/school CLEARLY on their contribution (front or back). Please write name in CAPITAL latin characters. If the contribution is chosen to be exhibited, then the audience should be able to see the correct name of the artist!
Tell them that there is a competition going on for chosing the most innovative creators.
Mail the Creative Contributions to KIDS-92, 4815 Saltrod, Norway. We will add your address to our mailing list for the final exhibition, which we plan to send back to the world after May 18 1992.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

about KIDS-92 or if you want to help out or participate, contact

Odd de Presno

opresno@ulrik.uio.no Mail: KIDS-92, 4815 Saltrod, Norway Phone: +47 41 31204

or one of the following persons:

Argentina
Mike Binstok Email: mike@colnetr.edu.ar
P.O. Box 9, 1640 Suc. 1 Martinez, Buenos Aires.
Phone: 54 1 798-1446

Alicia Ban~uelo Email: secyt!alicia@ATINA.MREC.AR

Australia
Delwynne Peterson Email: delwynnex@vax12.viccol.edu.au
Avila College, Melbourne.

Kim Perkins Email: REE_PERKINS@ECC.TASED.OZ.AU
Reece High School, Devonport TASMANIA.

Canada
Jonn Ord: Email: Jonno@scinet.UUCP
SciNet/SciLink, 339 Wellesley Street, East, Toronto, Ontario
Phone: 416-922-7001

Czechoslovakia
Milan Jira Email: ULIMJ@CSEARN.bitnet
Charles University, Praha. Phone: +42-2-746124

Denmark
Claus Berg Email: Claus_Berg@skole-kom.uni-c.dk
Vaerebrovej 52,7.1, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark
Phone: +45 42 98 14 28

Finland
Heikki Korpinen Email: heikki.korpinen@vipunen.hut.fi
Helsinki University of Technology, Espoo
Phone: 358-9-4514007

Japan
Jeffrey Shapard Email: jefu@twics.co.jp
TWICS, Nihon Jissho Bldg., Kudan-Kita 1-13-5, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-262-8711

Nobuo Hasumi Email: hasumi@twics.co.jp
Asahi-cyo Elementary School, 2-29-1,Asahi-cyo, Nerima,Tokyo Japan 179
Phone:(81)3-3939-0362

New Zealand
Geof Richardson Email:LEVIN_EAST@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Levin East School, Levin, New Zealand

Richard Naylor naylor@med.wcc.govt.nz
Wellington City Council, Wellington. (Ph.: +64 4 801-3300)

Norway
Tore Larsen Email: ik208@viggo.blh.no
Bruvn. 82, 5100 Isdalstoe. Phone: 05-352124

United Kingdom
Mike Burleigh Email: ubjvm6q@cu.bbk.ac.uk
Oldfield House School, Oldfield Road, Hampton, Middlesex
Phone: 081-979-5102

U.S.A
Nancy Stefanik Email: stefanik@tmn.UUCP
412 Third Street NE #44, Washington, DC 20002. Phone: 202-547-6424

Dan Wheeler: Email: dan.wheeler@uc.edu or wheeler@ucbeh.bitnet
College of Education, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0002
Phone: 513-556-3607 or 513-861-3941

Kevin McKeown: Email: 76702.1434@CompuServe.com
848-E 16th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403. Phone: 213-393-3639

Harold Miller: Email: harold@cup.portal.com
Seabury Hall HS, 480 Olinda Road, Makawai, HI 96768
Phone: 808-572-2744

Michael Strait Email: STRAIT@UMUC.bitnet
Annenberg/PCB Project, 901 E St. NW, Washington D.C. 20004-2006
Phone: 202-879-9649

U.S.S.R.
Mike Gorlovoy. Email: gorlovoy%M9.IHEP.SU@fuug.fi
142284 Moskowskaya Str. 14-43. Protvino. Moscow region. USSR.

OdeP-30/6/91
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