BOOK SYNOPSIS "KIDLINK: Global Networking for Youth 10-15" by Odd de Presno and participants of the KIDLINK project Purpose ------- To help publishers assess the marketability of the "KIDLINK" book. Index ----- 1. Objective What does the book try to do? How is the subject being treated? What trends and developments in this field will the book address? What kind of book is it? 2. Subject What topics are covered in the book? What are the unique elements of its organization? How does the organizational plan reflect the current and emerging trends in this field? How is the subject developed in comparison/contrast to traditional approaches? 3. Market The book's intended audience. 4. Competition How does the book's features (organization, level, approach) differ from competing books? 5. Size and physical appearance (including illustrations) 6. Work plan 7. Outline An expanded list of chapter headings and subheadings. 1. Objective ------------ The book tells the saga of KIDLINK, an explosive, intriguing, and ongoing grassroots initiative having a worldwide impact and a cross-cutting perspective. KIDLINK's aim is to involve children 10 - 15 years of age in a global dialog, and its first two years alone 6,200 kids from 45 countries participated. The effort which relies almost exclusively on the motivation and skills of volunteer educators and organizers around the globe became possible as a result of dramatic decreases in the cost of computers and data communications in recent years. Easier access to computer-mediated communications through electronic mail enables participants and coordinators from all over the world to "talk" on a daily basis. The grassroot project became possible due to recent dramatic decreases in the cost of computers and data communications. Easier access to computer mediated communications through electronic mail enables participants and coordinators from all over the world to "talk" on a daily basis. KIDLINK's development path has closely followed the massive changes in our world order: for example the war in the Middle East and the collapse of the U.S.S.R., and the appearance of many new countries in the "Online World" of global electronic mail. The purpose of the book is to explain what KIDLINK is all about in such a way as to enable more children to participate. Readers will be encouraged to ask for help in participating from teachers, volunteering adults and organiza- tions, clubs and associations, and anyone else interested in the future of our global citizens of the 21st Century. In classrooms around the world, computer telecommunications are changing the way students and teachers work and people interact. KIDLINK brings this technology to a personal level, allowing youth to have constructive dialog with peers around the world, providing an interesting basis for their future. The KIDLINK saga proves that any adult can help our children shape their common future, locally and globally, in ways not even imaginable just a few years ago. The book documents how the children's thoughts and ideas are already having an impact in today's society. Focus is on the actual dialogues between the participants, and on how others can join the action. The services of KIDLINK are provided free of charge to people all over the world. The book is full of examples and starts at an elementary level. The reader is not assumed to be a computer expert or experienced telecommunicator. This is not a tutorial on data communication, even though the appendixes contain a lot of helpful information for novices. The book also has explanations and instructions to help current participants more successfully integrate KIDLINK into existing curricula, programs, or activities. The book can be read like a novel, providing the reader with an idea of what the KIDLINK project is all about. Or it can be used as a how-to guide for those interested in participating in some way, or as a reference book. 2. Subject ---------- The book covers the following topics: * The KIDLINK Saga from Day 1 up to the present day * Examples showing what the kids talk about, what they think about the future, and what they plan to do with their lives. * Reports about what the media says about KIDLINK show how participation in the project gives the children a new level of power and a new level of influence on their future lives. * The annual Birthday Parties are gigantic interactive happenings. 3,100 kids at more than 45 sites in 12 countries participated in the 2-day celebration in May 1992. * KIDLINK in the classroom * How volunteers make it work * The book winds down with some thoughts about the future, practical tips about how to participate in KIDLINK projects, who to contact for more information, terms used in this book, and a list of sponsoring compa- nies, agencies, institutions, and individuals. 3. Market --------- The book will be actively promoted through KIDLINK's global electronic infrastructure, as well as on numerous other educational and mainstream computer networks accessed by the targeted audience. Additionally, the KIDLINK book will be reviewed and promoted in major magazines and other publications targeted at educators, particularly those involved with educational technology. The book is oriented towards the adults - but in a style to make them want to share it with kids. It is targeting teachers, students, school libraries, parents, social workers, psychologists, academia, research institutes, governments, networkers, business people, and all other people generally curious and concerned about our future. This is a book for people of any age, race, or gender. Teachers -------- It shows teachers of students in the 10 - 15 year range what a powerful tool KIDLINK can be in their classroom. It tells them how the project can influence the children's motivation to learn about languages, other cultures, geography, current affairs, environment, computers, writing skills, word processing, global awareness, history, science, and how they - as teachers - can build a personal network for curriculum exchange with other schools around the world. Students -------- The book teaches the students how to tap the learning and networking opportunities built into KIDLINK. Such knowledge is believed to be critical for their future - across disciplines and jobs. Parents ------- The book shows parents how participation in KIDLINK can give their children a unique advantage. It can help improve their kids' performance at school, and enable them to reach out to build personal networks with peers in other countries. It will prepare them as global citizens, and for a future that could very well be characterized by disorderly change. Kids who may not be interacting and learning through normal methods might find a new opportunity in the KIDLINK system. Appearance, gender, race, etc. don't matter anymore ... just the messages. Social Change Activists and Other Concerned persons --------------------------------------------------- People concerned with our times and the future of our society will learn about one of the most profound and exciting revolutions taking place right now. A revolution that is already changing the lives of many people, and conceivably the structure of future society. Over the long term, the children's participation in KIDLINK can effect social changes in the political, economic, communications and scientific domains. In many countries it can support democratic tendencies, the transition to a global market economy, formation and support of telecommu- nications, computer and information industries, the spread of computer- mediated interpersonal and mass communication, forging of invisible colleges among scientists, and the break up of traditional and closed information systems developed in some societies. The book might be of particular interest to people concerned with international peace, solving societal problems, environmental issues, animal rights. Businesses ---------- The project's planning and coordination conferences are free for everybody, and are living case studies of decision making by modem. Business people may also take an interest in how KIDLINK help the kids build new global personal networks, which may later be used in a future career. It also shows how the kids are learning about a technology, which will be increasingly important for the future of most businesses. Note: The KIDLINK book will be used by coordinators around the world to help solicit funds from local businesses to support the participation of more children. Networking enthusiasts ---------------------- Those already having communications experience will quickly discover the book's value. It gives them an opportunity to convince more people to get online by referring to a general interest application. Academia/Researchers -------------------- Academics and researchers in the fields of both communication and education will find the KIDLINK book fascinating. Those interested in studying the phenomenon further can enjoy free access to a rich reservoir of informa- tion in the form of the KIDLINK computer-readable archives. These archives provide a cross-section of children's lives in many parts of the world, and represent a running history of the KIDLINK project. The book is both for those who are new to telecommunications and those who have been around for a while. 4. Competition -------------- There are definitely no other books about the KIDLINK project on the market. As of August 1992, neither do we know about any other books on educational telecommunications for youth in the 10 - 15 year range published for the everyday educator, parent, or layperson. Author Odd de Presno is the founder of KIDLINK, and the global coordinator of the project. He is listed in the 1991-1992 edition of Marquis' Who's Who in the World. 5. Size and physical appearance ------------------------------- The current basic manuscript contains around 355,000 characters, the equiva- lent of around 162 typewritten sheets of paper (size A4). It has a preface, 9 chapters, and 6 appendixes (including the Index). There is an abundance of available illustrative material: * children's computer art (and other creative contributions). Some of it is available as graphical bitmap files, others in a hardcopy format, * pictures showing the kids in action (a variety of formats ranging from paper to 35 mm slides), * clips from media writing about KIDLINK (articles/pictures) KIDLINK plans to include 40 illustrations. Many of them are in colors. The final selection is still to be made. 6. Work plan ------------ The manuscript has been completed. Final selection of illustrations is scheduled to be completed by October 15, 1992. 7. Outline ---------- Expanded list of chapter headings and subheadings: PREFACE 1. From idea to global dialog A midnight provocation gives birth to KIDS-91: A Global Online Dialog for children 10 - 15 years of age. Getting the kids online. Reaching out to the rest of the world. War in the Middle East. A children's United Nations? The KIDS-92 project. Growth pains. The teachers reach out. The KIDS-93 project. 2. What the children think about the future All kids are required to answer four questions: Who am I? What do I want to be when I grow up? How do I want the world to be better when I grow up? What can I do now to make this happen? Sample answers from 45 participating countries. 3. KIDCAFE - the children's meeting place When the kids have submitted their responses to the four questions, they are invited to join KIDCAFE, a lively exchange of ideas, opinions, advice, background information, and dreams. "Please write to me!" When they don't get any replies. Girl meets Boy. The "stars." Making closer ties. What do they get out of it? Integrated in school work. The kids' verdict. 4. From social chatting to action Creative contributions through KIDCAFE and the KIDLINK Gallery of Computer Art. KIDPEACE and the War in the Middle East. KIDS-ACT. A global network to promote curriculum exchange in KIDPROJ. "We saw lot of smoke from the Kuwaiti Oil fields" Science and mathematics. The Shopping List project. 5. The media discovers the children Giving the kids a voice. Full page in Washington Post. Kids in the news all over the place. 6. Two gigantic birthday parties The KIDS-91 Celebration. Talking keyboard-to-keyboard. Using fax machines. Global videoconference. Talking through videophones. Behind the scene. The KIDS-92 Celebration. 3,100 kids in two days! 7. KIDLINK in the classroom Teachers get involved in KIDLINK. Getting started. Helping the kids make friends. Giving the kids their mail. Using responses and mail in the classes. "Hello" messages. Teaming up with other teachers. The end result. 8. Behind the scenes The story of the people that makes it all happen with notes about how to operate a large project by electronic mail. 9. Future perspectives --------------------------- Appendices: a. How to participate in the KIDLINK projects KIDART. Tips about global e-mail addressing. b. Persons to contact for more information c. Terms used in this book d. List of sponsors i. List of illustrations j. Index Optional appendixes: - Inquiry cards (advertisements) to make it easier for the readers to get information from electronic mail and conferencing service vendors mentioned in the book. - This could well be an extra source of income reducing the cost of printing the book. (op10/08/92)