I have been hugely busy (again…) There’s a lot going on, isn’t there, in this line of work.
A conference then, titled Children In Virtual Worlds, for both those interested in virtual worlds for children and those interested in virtual worlds in toto. The aim is to encourage the development and understanding of virtual worlds for children, in the UK. A second aim is to draw together producers and researchers to share knowledge and experience on this subject. It’s important to have lots of age-suitable social media where children can learn digital social literacy (to coin a phrase) before they venture out from those specialist environments to the social networks for Teens.
Here’s the invitation:
Children in Virtual Worlds, Conference, May 2008
BBC Children’s and the University of Westminster invite you to the first conference in the UK to draw together producers and researchers working on virtual worlds and immersive gaming environments for children aged 7-11 online.
Keynote speakers include Richard Deverell, Controller, BBC Children’s and Dr Adrian Woolard, Head of Innovation, BBC Future Media and Technology. Other speakers include representatives from Club Penguin, Moshi Monsters, and Lego Universe; Prof David Gauntlett (University of Westminster), Lizzie Jackson (University of Westminster), Dr Diane Carr (Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media), Marc Goodchild (Head of Interactive and On Demand, BBC Children’s), Aleks Krotoski (Guardian Unlimited), Tamara Littleton (eModeration.com) and Paul Massey (K&L Gates). In addition to the panels and presentations there will be demonstrations of technology to do with virtual worlds and 3D media.
The conference will be of interest to academics, producers, online community managers, game creators, teachers, and technologists. It aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas between producers and academics on virtual and immersive media for children and to stimulate the production of high quality, creative, social media content for children in the UK.
When: Thursday 22nd May, 10.00am - 5.30pm
Where: The University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LS
To register go to www.ChildrenInVirtualWorlds.org.uk
I hope you can come along.
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be there, and I’m currently trying to swing it - fingers crossed.
Happy Days to you, Lizzie!
Izzy
Hi Lizzie,
We met years ago when I presented at the Virtual Communities Conference in London, and we knew one another virtually before then, when I was working as head of online community for FreeZone.
I saw that you were going to be at the “Children in Virtual Worlds” conference and I wanted to say hello.
Coincidentally, I am currently working on a project with BBC Worldwide. I created a transmedia fantasy property called Kaimira, and I have a development deal with BBC Worldwide. I’m also writing the Kaimira book series, and the first book comes out in July (in the UK as well, published there by Walker Books).
I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it to London in May, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Chris Rettstatt
http://rettstatt.wordpress.com/