healthGAMERS: Newly Launched Hub For Serious Gaming

June 26, 2009 Just as some kids can sniff out an ‘educational’ experience and shut the learning light switch off (or dim it at best) others do the same with the phrase "Serious Games." Though it's an accurate label for the new healthGAMERS site, I hesitate to use ‘serious games’ because it can send people bolting in the opposite direction faster than you can say ‘disease … [Read more...]

Social Media ABC’s: An International Opportunity

June 23, 2009 Changeblogger and informal learning pro Jasmin Tragas, (also one of my fellow NextNow Collaboratory global gal pals and co-contributors to the Age of Conversation Gavin Heaton and Drew McClellan's collaborative social media project for Variety, the Children’s charity) has put together a stunningly simple alphabet slide show that's Sesame-Street-easy in imparting … [Read more...]

Childrens’ Digital Privacy Advocates Show FTC Watchdogs Aren’t Woofin

June 18, 2009 Here we go again. I'm beginning to feel a bit like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day having deja vu that we've 'been there done that' all over again.  Oh, that's right. We HAVE. Over a decade ago, Jeff Chester, executive director of Center for Digital Democracy played a leading role in the passage of COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998)...Since … [Read more...]

GOOG-411: What’s The Number? Where Is It? Now, Get Oriented FREE

June 1, 2009 “One moment, I’ll connect you” used to rack up price-gouging mobile 411 charges in the double digits before GOOG-411 came along. Kids calling for a pizza can pop an extra $1.50 or two onto the cell phone bill without even realizing mounting mobile charges for directory assistance, so 1-800-GOOG-411 became my new best friend, smack dab on my mobile screen’s top … [Read more...]

What Will Kids Learn About Dr. George Tiller? And From Who?

May 31, 2009 When heinous acts of murder shake our nation to its very core, it brings out “the good, the bad, and the ugly” in media coverage, personal dogma and combative demogoguery. Whether it’s  terrorism, school shootings,  or today’s death of Dr. George Tiller, media has a role to play in curbing violence and handling the outpouring of grief productively. It's … [Read more...]