Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum Envisioning a Virtual Presence Presented by Randi Kopp (SL: Dusty Artaud) Consultant for Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum KidsbridgeMuseum.org kidsbridgemuseum.wordpress.com [email_address] [email_address] SLCC August 14, 2009

O L E R A N C E Tolerance T Confidence and Courage Anti-Bullying Role Models and Heroes Empathy For Others One Person Can Make a Difference Learning Media Literacy Skills Negotiation Skills Engagement with Community About Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum 2,000 Youth Primarily inner-city youth, ages 7 -18 40 Regional Schools Primarily urban, located in NJ and PA 400 TCNJ Students and 6 College Departments Education Interactive Media History Psychology Sociology Special Needs Kidsbridge services the following groups annually: Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to character education, tolerance and the celebration of human diversity. The Museum is located on the campus of The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing, NJ.

2,000 Youth

Primarily inner-city youth, ages 7 -18

40 Regional Schools

Primarily urban, located in NJ and PA

400 TCNJ Students and 6 College Departments

Education

Interactive Media

History

Psychology

Sociology

Special Needs

Disability Awareness Exclusion because of disabilities is a form of prejudice & discrimination Heroes and Community Service Elementary, middle and high school students making a difference and creating a domino effect in their community Discrimination - Signs of the Times Signage displays history of discrimination in the United States Programs Covered by Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum Upstander Behavior Learn how NOT to be a bystander in bullying & exclusion situations Convert to “Upstanders”, who “stand up and speak out” Bullies 5% Victims 5% Bystanders 90%

School Bus Showdown Kids are challenged to stand up and speak out (be an “upstander”) in situations where another kid is being bullied or excluded Puppet Theater After creating puppets, kids role play conflict resolution skits Name That Stereotype Game show that challenges kids to identify stereotypes Peace Diner and Name Shredder Kids confront name calling and explore positive solutions Interactive Stations in the Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum

Kidsbridge Teaching Process Today 3-Stage Process with Travel Time on Both Ends (4 Hours of teaching on the premises of Museum) ONE-TIME 5 HOUR EXPERIENCE Bus Trip from School to Museum 25 Minutes Bus Trip from Museum to School 25 Minutes Museum Pre-Survey Attitudinal Questions on conflict resolution, discrimination, stereotypes and empathy 15 Minutes 15 Minutes 3.5 Hours Museum Post-Survey Attitudinal Questions on conflict resolution, discrimination, stereotypes and empathy Museum Interaction Exhibitions - 80 min Disability Sensitivity - 20 min Practicing Skits - 20 min Lunch - 30 min Puppet Show -30 min College Tour - 30 min

Museum

Pre-Survey

Attitudinal Questions on conflict resolution, discrimination, stereotypes and empathy

Museum

Post-Survey

Attitudinal Questions on conflict resolution, discrimination, stereotypes and empathy

Museum Interaction

Exhibitions - 80 min

Disability Sensitivity - 20 min

Practicing Skits - 20 min

Lunch - 30 min

Puppet Show -30 min

College Tour - 30 min

Kidsbridge Goal: Extend Teaching Process EXTENDED MULTI-PHASE TEACHING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE Bus Trip 25 Min Bus Trip 25 Min Museum Interaction Pre-Survey 15 Min Post-Survey 15 Min 3.5 Hr CLASSROOM Bus Trip 25 Min Museum Interaction Pre-Survey 15 Min Post-Survey 15 Min 3.75 Hr Bus Trip 25 Min Second Life Lesson & Activity 1 Hr Second Life Lesson & Activity 1+ Hr Final Post-Survey 15 Min CLASSROOM MUSEUM

Advantages of Using Second Life as a Teaching and Learning Platform Interactive “hands-on” learning and role playing as in the physical museum Expands our teaching and learning capabilities Allows the experience to continue beyond the walls of the museum Use to train teachers, docents and mentors Broaden outreach efforts in schools that service urban, at-risk communities “ Field Trips” to relevant educational Second Life sims. Can garner more community and parental support Rich community of educational/non-profit groups with which to build a constituency Options for low cost startup and rapid prototyping Opportunity to create permanent Kidsbridge “Empathy Portal” for kids. Empathy Portal Enhance Reorient Empower Enable Upstander Bully Victim Self-Esteem

Interactive “hands-on” learning and role playing as in the physical museum

Expands our teaching and learning capabilities

Allows the experience to continue beyond the walls of the museum

Use to train teachers, docents and mentors

Broaden outreach efforts in schools that service urban, at-risk communities

“ Field Trips” to relevant educational Second Life sims.

Can garner more community and parental support

Rich community of educational/non-profit groups with which to build a constituency

Options for low cost startup and rapid prototyping

Opportunity to create permanent Kidsbridge “Empathy Portal” for kids.

So Why Haven’t We Done it Yet? Concerns SL limited to age 13 and up - seeking work-around like “field trips” for younger kids Technology - believe our schools have it but would have to do an assessment Security - protection of the children Security - how to manage the expectations of teachers and parents Train the trainer - making teachers, docents and mentors comfortable with SL Funding - finding supporters who are willing to support a Kidsbridge/SL venue Sustainability - resources needed to support a continuous SL presence Resource Constraints - time and money, usual issues for small non-profit

Concerns

SL limited to age 13 and up - seeking work-around like “field trips” for younger kids

Technology - believe our schools have it but would have to do an assessment

Security - protection of the children

Security - how to manage the expectations of teachers and parents

Train the trainer - making teachers, docents and mentors comfortable with SL

Funding - finding supporters who are willing to support a Kidsbridge/SL venue

Sustainability - resources needed to support a continuous SL presence

Resource Constraints - time and money, usual issues for small non-profit