Introduction to KIDLINK - Global dialog for kids 10 - 15 ---------------------------------------- An interesting opportunity to educators KIDLINK is a grassroot organization. By May 19, 1997, the projects have had over 90,000 participating children from 103 countries on all continents. KIDLINK's purpose is the dialog itself. There are no political objectives. All children in all countries between the age of 10 - 15 are invited. Participation is free, but the children have to reply to the following four questions before being allowed to join the dialog with the other children: Question #1: Who Am I? In English: What is your full name? How old are you? Are you a boy or a girl? Where you live (city, country), and what is the name of your school? In English, or your native language: Say a little more about yourself. What are some of your interests, your hobbies, your concerns? What else do you want others to know about yourself? Question #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. Question #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? Question #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? The responses are to be sent by electronic mail to the Internet address: RESPONSE@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU Here is a sample response received from Grahamstown, South Africa: 1. MY name is luthando mqulwana and I am from Alice (S.A) my home language is XHOSA and I was born in SOUTH AFRICA. I go to college at ST ANDREW'S COLLEGE (S.A).I AM 14,3 years old and am in std 8. Since I went to school I have only been to four school but I have never been expelled but am a rebel in my sort of way. You must enjoy life while you can. 2) when I grow up I want to be a doctor and I think I will have to put a lot of effort to be that. 3) I would like every one to live in peace to love each other and care for each other. This is the world God created for us so we must take care of it hope that happens. 4) I want to pray that happens and I hope you do that too. WHAT EDUCATORS SAY ------------------ KIDLINK has been eagerly seized by educators all over the world. Claus Berg, a Danish teacher, is one of them. In his view, KIDLINK has the following offerings: * it breaks down frontiers between people from many different countries and cultures. The kids learn from each other and make frienships across the World - and maybe they'll also improve their knowledge of a foreign language! * the kids learn, that others have the same thoughts about global problems: war, ethnic conflicts AND the Environment. KIDLINK gives them a fantastic opportunity to discuss, how to solve their (and our's!) common problems. Giuliano Ortolani, a teacher at the Guido Reni School in Bologna, Italy, tells the following story: "Then we have seen hundreds and hundreds of mails coming from all the world, we have seen kids pursue the English teachers to trans- late the mails and to write answers. We have seen the boys write pages of peace on their school-newspapers. If this is a game it is a good game!" Barbara Manchee, Pittsford Middle School, New York, USA in a message dated January 24, 1992: "The 4 questions make KIDLINK unique. How great it is to give kids the chance to really think about their place in the world, how they imagine their future, and what they can do to make a difference. The kids who are excited can get reinforcement and the kids who are depressed or have a negative outlook can get a dose of the outlook of other kids their age who have a different perspective and good positive ideas." Bertel Haarder, when he was the minister of Education & Research, Denmark: "You are pioneers in an extremely important field of study. Participants in this experiment are laying the foundation for a very valuable form of internationalization bringing school children from all over the world in contact with one another thereby creating a lasting peacekeeping force in the hearts of future mankind. Thank you for your promising endeavours." APPLICATIONS - EXAMPLES ----------------------- Teacher: Mike Burleigh, of the Oldfield House School, in Hampton, United Kingdom: Age of Students: Primary (6 to 11 years) Plans for Using the KIDS-XX Project: Motivating students to communicate through writing to develop basic language skills. Working with other school/class groups on science/arts/humanities studies within common themes (list with dates available on request) interested in exchange of videos and books made by pupils etc. Subject Area of Expertise or Interest:Qualified art, special needs and science teacher. Interested in Global Networking to develop links with disadvantaged children/communities. ======================================================================== Teacher: Sally Laughon, NorthCross School, Roanoke, VA, USA Age of students: 13-18 Plans: Incorporate cultural exchanges with other students. Excite students with academic challenges and encourage environmental responsibility. Develop projects that span the curriculum. Interest: Interdisciplinary telecommunication projects. I teach computer courses in our Upper School, ages 13-18, but help with telecommunications activites throughout the school. I maintain this file, so I can learn a little about mainframe computers at Virginia Tech and North Dakota! ========================================================================= Teacher: Wolfgang Reinfeldt, Caecilienschule Oldenburg (Pluto Projekt, Uni Oldenburg), Germany. Age of students : 12-19 years Plans for using KIDS-92 Project: a) Pupils with technical ambitions shall establish international contacts. b) Pupils with social ambitions shall find technical equipment useful. c) Both groups shall help each other and use the facilities without help from teacher. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR MORE INFORMATION -------------------- General information about the current KIDLINK project, is available by electronic mail. To get this information, send a request to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU. The TEXT of your request should contain the following commands: GET KIDLINK GENERAL An "electronic book" about KIDLINK is also available by anonymous FTP. For information about how to get the KIDSHOW "book", add the following GET command in the message to the LISTSERV: GET KIDLINK KIDSHOW You may also write Odd de Presno at opresno@kidlink.org for information. op300597