Join us on November 14th for a physical world and in-world discussion about what kids are learning in virtual worlds (update: the physical event is now full, however it will be possible to watch a simulcast or in-world viewing of the event). Four leading thinkers on virtual worlds will talk about what kids are doing in these new digital spaces - including Second Life, Whyville, There.com, The Sims and others - and how they are influencing kids’ values, identity and sense of community.

Panelists include:

Anastasia Goodstein, journalist/editor and author of Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online, will describe the virtual world landscape for kids and teens;

Doug Thomas, associate professor of the Annenberg School of Communication at USC and founding editor of Games & Culture: a Journal of Interactive Media, will demonstrate his latest project, an immersive online world designed to teach students ethical decision making;

Yasmin B. Kafai, associate professor of the UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, will discuss her research in tweens’ learning about science, race, and beauty in Whyville.net, a virtual world for tweens;

Barry Joseph, director of the Global Kids, Inc., Online Leadership Program, will share his experience using virtual worlds such as Teen Second Life to develop youth leadership skills around world issues;

There will be an introduction by Julia Stasch, vice president for domestic grantmaking at MacArthur; Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, will moderate the panel.

The event will take place at 6pm at the Davidson Conference Center at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. It will also be simulcast onto the Teen Grid in Second Life. Check out updated information about the webcast and simulcast in Second Life.

The event is hosted by Common Sense Media and the MacArthur Foundation. It is one of a series of public programs on issues related to digital media and learning supported by the MacArthur Foundation.