Gaming Discussion at Parsons School of Design

Eric Zimmerman and Katie Salen wrote a really interesting book called Rules of Play a couple of years ago. They are now coming out with a new book called The Game Design Reader.

On December 9, 2005 at Parsons School of Design, they will be debuting their book and offering an interesting forum on gaming and design. The event is called Deathmatch in the Sacks.

Anyone interested in the New York area should check it out. This is a free event!

Steve

The Media Moment - Now Online

Yesterday, I did my interview via Skype technology for The Media Moment Podcast.

This was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed chatting to Josh Cowing and Richard Brown. Just to clarify - I mentioned the 'kid' on MTV named Andy Milonakis who started out independently posting videos of himself on the web which eventually evolved into a full fledge television show on MTV... However, I was wrong on two accounts:

1. He is not a 'kid' - He's actually a baby-faced 29 year old!!! If you don't believe me, read the link...

2. He got his first big media exposure on Jimmy Kimmel - not Jay Leno.

So much for being a 'self-proclaimed media anthropologist!'

Steve

40 Developmental Assets of Adolescents

When at the Urban Youth Worker Institute, I got to hear Noel Castellanos present on Developmental Urban Youth Ministry. In this presentation, I was introduced to The Search Institute and their study on developmental assets.

This material is incredible. Based on years of research, they identified key assets which need to be wholistically developed in adolescents.

Check out the assessment tool provided by the Institute.

There are also specific studies on the attitudes and needs of youth workers.

There's even an entire (elaborate!) section on faith communities making use of asset development.

I'm encouraging ANYONE working with youth to explore this material. It's well worth it!

Best,

Steve

Why Kettles are Cool

I'm sure most of you have seen Salvation Army Christmas kettles around your local shopping malls, grocery stores, and community meeting places over the past few weeks.

I'm writing to ask you to consider dropping in a dollar or two.

The S.A. Christmas kettle comes out of a great traditon, and goes toward supporting programs like after-school and community center programs.

So dig deep and don't pass the pot this Christmas season.

Steve

The Best of Times - The Worst of Times: Budget and Tax Reconciliation update and the Prophetic voice of Jim Wallis

While I was at the CCDA Conference a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to hear Jim Wallis, the founder of Sojourners and the writer of the now famous book, God's politics: Why the right gets it wrong and the left doesn't get it.

Last year, I watched him as he shattered John Stewart's perception of evangelical Christians on The Daily Show. When he spoke at CCDA, he blew the crowd away with a powerful call to awaken the giant force we can be as an evangelical movement.

One of the images which remains poignant in my memory is of Wallis with his finger in the air - "These days everyone in Washington are walking with their fingers up in the air - trying to get a feel for the direction of the political wind... As evangelicals, we have been spending our time trying to elect the right person into leadership... Rather, we need to become the wind!" (my paraphrase)

Wallis reminded me that faith without action is dead... as he stated, "Christianity is always personal, but never private."

He talked about the House Budget Bill (please read this!) that was passed on November 18th in Washington. This bill reduces the money which is given to food stamps, medicaid, childcare and welfare.

As a result, Jim Wallis, leaders of CCDA, and several other religious leaders are gathering on December 14 for a call to renewal. This is a situation where we need to become the wind - a voice for the poor - and this is a non-violent, respectful way to do so.

Consider becoming the wind!

Steve

Marc Prensky - Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives

Marc Prensky is an educator/speaker/author who has been a key voice in the development of digital game-based learning. His work has been incredibly influential in articulating the significant distinction between digital natives and immigrants those who have grown-up in the culture of new media (digital natives) vs. those of us who have had to enter into the world of new media (digital immigrants).

It's worth reading his papers at his website, and even checking out his books, Digital game-based learning, and the forthcoming, Don't bother me Mom, I'm learning!

He also presented at the National Education Computing Conference. For those of you that would prefer to hear him, listen to his presentation called, Engage me or enrage me: Educating today's digital native learners.

The Natives are Getting Restless

In July of this past year, the National Education Computing Conference had an incredibly unorthodox presentation by educator/actress Deneen Frasier called, The natives are restless.

Anyone working with kids and technology must listen to this presentation. It provides fantastic insight into the digital native/immigrant divide.

Don't be surprised to be surprised!

Moodle - A New Information Mangement System

This past year I have been studying under Jan Plass (He coordinates NYU's Administration, Leadership and Technology Department). I am in the final week in completing a two-semester course in Cognitive Science and Educational Technology. As part of this class, we discussed the design-effectiveness of information management systems like Blackboard.

I just received an article entitled, Places to go: Moodle by Stephen Downes from the journal Innovate on a new open source IMS called 'Moodle.' This looks like a healthy (and free!) alternative which could really help to accelerate distance learning.

Check it out!

Steve

Sharon Bussey is Blogging!

Just to let you all know, my wife Sharon has decided to have a go at blogging. Check out her first postings. It's lookin' mighty fine!

Steve

The Media Moment - Podcast December 6, 2005

I got another call from Josh Cowing yesterday.

Next Tuesday, December 6, 2005, I'm going to be on "The Media Moment." It should be fun. We're going to be speaking about media literacy and why using media in after-school programs is important.

Tune in one and all!

Steve

Urban Youth Worker Institute - RELOAD

During 2005 CCDA conference, I had the opportunity to join the Urban Youth Workers Institute one-day seminar called "RELOAD." I was really impressed with what this organization put together for a one day seminar!

Sharon and I met Carla LaFayette this summer in Northern California when we spoke at The Salvation Army, Western Territory's Western Youth Institute. She used to work with The Salvation Army and now is the VP of strategic Programs for UYW. It was great to see what she does with the UYWI.

During the institute, I sat in on Noel Castellanos's Developmental Urban Youth Ministry, and Steve Cerali's Counseling Urban Youth. I loved this conference so much I bought their series of CDs - which they were selling for only $20.00!

Anyone interested in youth work in marginalized urban communities has to make it to one of these one-day workshops. It really is worth it.

If you want meat - go to RELOAD and enjoy a steak!

Steve

PS: Click here if you want to join one of their local learning communities - which are a great way to collaborate with other youth workers in your area.

The Media Moment

I just received an e-mail from my friend, Josh Cowing. I met him this past summer when Sharon and I spoke at the Western Youth Institute.

He and Richard Brown coordinate The Salvation Army Western Territory's multimedia team. They have created a podcast called, The Media Moment which is a great resource for people integrating media into after-school programming.

Check out this site. They've got some great interviews.

Steve

Christine Hine's "Virtual Ethnography"

One of my friends, Jo (child sociologist from the UK), posted a comment on the ethnographic study in online communities under my Sasha Barab post.

She suggested a really neat book (which is going on my Amazon wishlist!) called Virtual ethnography by Christine Hine. Here's a paper which summarizes some of her basic ideas.

I find her work particularly interesting in relation to the work of Sasha Barab - who is making use of what he calls critical design ethnography.

I am interested in studying how people transfer lessons learned by their avatars (virtual selves) in the virtual domain into their everyday lives. For example, if a teen plays out particular life scenarios in an online world, does this play a consequential role regarding the choices they make in everyday life.

Thanksgiving and a Sober Reality Check

Hi all,

I hope all of my American friends have had enough Tums post-Thanksgiving; and that Thursday was a fantastic day to remember, give thanks, and think of others. We had a wonderful time of celebration with 23 friends and neighbors!

Stephen's post on hunger in Niger provided a sober reality check which reminded me that while we were all enjoying a turkey among a circle of friends, that poverty and suffering did not take a day off!

As I read through the Reuters article, I became brutally aware of the disturbing paradox. While we need to live a life that is filled with joy and thanksgiving, I am reminded that this cannot be an exercise in ego-centrism.

I'm not normally a Bible-pusher, but there are a few passages that ring so true today. I am once again challenged by the prophetic words of Amos 5:21-24:

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts;

I cannot stand your assemblies.
Even though you bring me burnt

offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them.

Though you bring choice fellowship

offerings,

I will have no regard for them.

Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your

harps.

But let justice roll on me like a river,

righteousness like a never-failing stream."

We need to let the scales drop from my eyes - and become advocates for those that suffer. With all the hecticness of our modern lives, it's easy to allow the 'noise' of everyday existence to drown out the cries of suffering humanity. I want Thanksgiving rather than being a day for celebrating all that we have, to rather be a day where we become conscious of how we can help others.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (selections from Matthew 25:34-40)

Check out this UN site for an up-to-date account of relief efforts in this part of the world.

Let's not be silent on this issue. Let's see the scales fall off our eyes and see the inhumanity of this crisis - and let's do something about it.

Steve

Quest Atlantis and Sasha Barab

Hi all,

This is a fantastic example of the potential of MMORPGs. Quest Atlantis is an online, rich, learning environment has been designed by Dr. Sasha Barab. I have been reading through all of the research which has been put into this project and am completely blown away by it. Sasha Barab will be a name frequently referenced in my research.

I think this merits some serious exploration as it could present both a fantastic resource for our after-school programs; and a great model for future designs. The Boys and Girls Club of America are already using Quest Atlantis in their programs.

I'll elaborate on this further later, but wanted to get this posted A.S.A.P.

Psalters Manifesto: Tehillah - A Cry for Deliverance

Yesterday, a friend of mine, Eli Sparks, put in my mailbox a copy of the Psalters' Manifesto (please check this out - it's a mind-blowing read!).

I am really excited to see that there is a movement of young Christians who are not relegating the reponsibility of being the hands and feet (and voice!) of Jesus to someone else. They are wanting to cry out "prayers of lamentation over the various enslavements of this world; and prayers of praise to the God who liberates and will continue to liberate us from enslavement." The call this idea of prayer and song, "tehillah" (trans. "psalm")

Here's a couple of inspiring quotes:

"Wherever worshippers of Yeshua are creating tehillim amidst exodus; wherever the faithful are crying out to God for deliverance; wherever there is an honest struggle for righteousness, the music of God can be heard."

"There is a great deal we as American Christians can learn from psalters and their approach to Glorifying God through music. Indeed, their approach seems a good elixer for the diseases of humanity in general; but nowhere in history of geography does their music seem a more appropriate vaccine than for the plague that affects myself and my culture/generation. There is a plague of leprosy in my country and it seems that not only are the devices of our culture impotent to stop it; the culture itself appears unable to so much as acknowledge the presence of this debilitating disease that is ravaging the land."

"We too are lepers. We live in the 'cushiest,' 'comfiest,' richest country in history. We have our wealth, our philosophies, our drugs, and the media to protect us not only from truly feeling the pain of the oppressed, but also from feeling our own oppression and need to be healed."

"Only when 15 middle-class, suburban, predominantly white youth are killed in 'our own backyard' do we as a culture and generation even care to reflect on the disease that is enslaving us."

Check out the Psalers website. Go and check out a concert if they're in your local area. These folk are hitting the nail on the head!

Thanks for the paper Eli!

TechMission: Association of Christian Community Computer Centers

I just signed up as a member of TechMission.

During the 2005 CCDA conference, I had the opportunity to meet Andrew Sears and Francois Augustin. Francois and I sat down over supper and had some initial conversations about the idea of a non-profit MMORPG for faith-based after-school computer clubs.

I'd encourage anyone interested in the use of computers in after-school programs to seriously consider joining in this association. It is a fantastic group of people who are seeking to engage in wholistic developmental urban youth work through the use of new media.

They have conferences throughout the year where they offer training; they have developed some really great curriculum; and obviously have a wealth of resources on their website for members. It's only $20 to join - and well worth the investment!

Steve

Henry Jenkins: After-school Programs and Churches Leading the Way When it Comes to Educational Video Games

“Like good gamers, what we have to do is learn to route around obstacles. We have to find the warp zones that allow us to get through the difficult patches and keep moving forward. And for many of us now, that means after-school programs. It means charter schools. It means private schools. It means organizations like churches and scouting groups. Institutions like museums and parks. The spaces where we learn outside of the classroom seem to be the place where educational gaming is moving forward the most.”

Henry Jenkins; The Education Arcade May 2005.

(Regarding the challenges of integrating educational gaming into traditional schools)

This comment was made during Henry Jenkins welcome to the 2oo5 Education Arcade held during the E3Expo - the quintessential gaming event of the year. For some people, it might have been perceived of as a side comment. For me, it served as a clarion call which helped to awaken me to a great opportunity which is available to Christians and youthworkers around the world.

Listen to this presentation (Welcome and Opening Remarks).

Let me know what you think.

Steve

Dialogue and Civility: A Public Discourse

Friends,

I have begun to invite a host of friends, and friends-of-friends to this blog. I would love it if this blog became a diverse community of friends, academics, practitioners, youthworkers, gamers, techies etc.

There will be times where I am sure you will read opinions which might differ from my own (or for that matter - your own). I want to encourage civility in the midst of intense dialogue on this blog. It is controversy that refines, and I recognize (and appreciate) that ideas and practices germinate/flourish when they are tested. I would like this blog to be something of a collaborative 'think tank' where multiple perspectives are invited.

So please share your opinion and thoughts, but also don't be bothered if someone (or myself) challenges you on the issues being raised.

Enjoy!

Steve

A Sense of Urgency: Video Games and Community Capacity Development

Hi friends,

I just returned from the 2005 Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) conference in Idianapolis, Indiana. I had a great time meeting new friends, and was blown away by how deeply this conference resonated with my strongest inner convictions. I am excited to see how many people have been wrestling with similar issues that have been driving convictions for me. I hope that this will be just the beginning of an ongoing collaborative partnership.

I came away from the conference with a renewed sense of urgency - particularly in terms of work with youth who are at-risk. I will elaborate on this in more detail in days to come, but in the meantime I will highlight one area that has become a top priority in my life - video games.

Some of you might be saying, "WHAT?" at this point. You left a conference about poverty, reconciliation, wholistic mission, Christian political social action... and you're thinking about video games? Well... yes, I am.

Along with being a part of Project 1:17 which is a youthworker mentoring program for The Salvation Army, USA Eastern Territory, I am a part-time graduate student at New York University's Department of Culture and Communication. Recently, I have been taking classes in cognitive science and instructional technology. For one of these classes, I have been reading James Paul Gee's What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. This book has helped to change my perception of the role which games can play in transforming people's lives. I am currently pulling together information for my thesis which will explore the relationship between new media, afterschool programs and wholistic change in the live of at-risk adolescents. There is so much more to elaborate on here, but I will do so as time progresses.

Whenever I am learning something new, I gain motivation to learn through asking the question, "How will this help or hinder what I am called to do in this life?" The practical applicability of what I am learning to what I am called to do in life determines the importance which I place on anything I read/do in life.

What am I called to do in life? I believe that God has called me to be a missionary to youth who are margnalized in this world (currently, this calling is situated in North America). He has called me to a wholitic ministry that embraces the entire person living in a complex community. He has also called me to raise up and equip young leaders who will join me (and many others) in embracing this calling. He has called me to explore new imaginative strategies that will aid in this calling. He has called me to serve through the vehicle of The Salvation Army, but to also work in partnership with anyone who is pursuing this aim.

This calling has led me to explore the potential which video games have to accomplish such a goal. I recognize that this sounds completely crazy, but I will explore these links further in due course.

In the meantime, please feel free to explore my blog, comment, agree, disagree, suggest additional resources etc. I have thick skin and am not easily offended. I am always interested in something new and recognize that the journey is just as important as the destination. I need collaborators who will join with me - in fleshing out these ideas - and turning dreams into reality.

I pray that this forum will help to fuel others who take their calling seriously and see that "...with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) In context, this had to do with the calling of the rich young man, who had a great desire to follow Christ, but was not willing to give up his wealth (the means by which he lived/found his identity etc.) to follow Christ.

I want to surrender both my life and the means through which I want see the possibility of my calling fulfilled. I'm not a video game person, but if this will be used to help see the calling God has on my life - so be it!

I pray you too will seriously consider embracing your calling and the paths which this will take you on.

Steve