WISE KIDS on Internet Engagement, Empowerment and Education
WISE KIDS believes that digital and Internet literacy is a cornerstone of a knowledge economy. It is essential that young people and adults not only have access to the Internet (it is as essential as a text book in school today!), but also have the knowledge, skills and opportunities to get maximum advantage from the Internet. With the necessary knowledge and skills, they can maximise opportunities for self and community online, as well as be able to create content and services in the Web 2.0 world, and assess and manage their personal safety online. Then for each of us, life online can truly be what You/Me make of it.
In our experience of working with youth organisations, educators from primary and secondary schools and FE colleges, community groups, there is a genuine desire to be more Internet literate, and to better understand which of new Internet techologies can be used for benefit, and what literacy and safety challenges services like 3D Avatar Worlds, Messenger Programmes and Social Networking Sites present. What is hugely encouraging is the genuine desire by educators, youth leaders community groups and other professionals to reassess these technologies and to see how they can be used to engage, empower and educate young and old alike. We must be innovative in our approach to educating the young and old, as Internet literacy today is a necessary life skill. We would be very interested in working with any other group/project in this area.
WISE KIDS is a non profit organiosation, based in Wales (UK), providing training and consultancy in New Media, Internet and mobile technologies, Internet Literacy, Proficiency and Safety. WISE KIDS works with young people, youth organisation, community groups, educators (pre and post 16 sectors), governors, librarians, parents, foster carers as well as the business sector.
WISE KIDS wishes one and all a Happy Safer Internet Day 2008!
http://www.wisekids.org.uk
