Is your nonprofit considering doing an educational program in Virtual Worlds? Then you won't want to miss this event.
MacArthur Foundation and Common Sense Media Forum in association with USC Center on Public Diplomacy & Global Kids, What are kids learning in Virtual Worlds? The Wonders and the Worries today, Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 6:00pm PST. This event will be streamed into Second Life at the USC Annenberg Islands and on the teen grid. There will be a separate discussion for the second life audience concluding the discussion.

This event is specifically being held to create a balanced conversation between parents, educators, researchers and media. People with an interest in child development, virtual worlds, and the effect media is having on children, will benefit from the information provided in the panel discussion.

You may have heard of Club Penguin, Whyville, The Sims, and Second Life. But, what do they mean for kids? Hear from a panel of experts as they discuss:

* What are kids really doing in virtual worlds?
* How are they learning?
* What does this mean for parents and educators?

Speakers at the event include Anastasia Goodstein, author of Totally Wired, Doug Thomas, the founding editor of an interactive media journal, Yasmin B. Kafai, an associate professor of education at UCLA and Barry Joseph, director of an online leadership program. The panel will be moderated by Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media.