I’m thrilled to report that you can support Mediatech quickly and instantly thanks to Bob Flisser’s success with PayPal. If you’d like to make your mark on Mediatech, we have five $1000 stairsteps left. For this donation, you get your name (or organization name) on a permanent plaque, mounted on one of the steps going up to Mediatech. Click here to donate!
Help us tell his story.....
Today, I finished this proposal to the Knight Commission that builds on Will Richardson’s FAME idea. I’ve asked for about $100,000 to do this properly. This money would refurbish Mediatech’s hardware, and allow us to host a series of free public workshops, and start some local video documentaries. If you’d like to help, contact me.
Project Name: FLEMINGTON’S GOT STORIES
Organization Name: Mediatech Foundation
Address: 118 Main Street (2nd Floor) City: Flemington State: NJ Zip Code: 08822
Phone: 908-284-2006
Fax: 908-284-0405
Web site: www.mediatech.org
First Name: Warren Last Name: Buckleitner
Email: warren@mediatech.org
1. Project Title: Flemington’s Got Stories
2. Requested amount from Knight News Challenge: $126,000
3. Expected amount of time to complete project: 24
4. Total cost of project including all sources of funding: $134,000
Project Description: This is an American Idol-like event designed to highlight digital reporting on a local level. In order to enter, residents must apply their digital publishing abilities, either on their own or with the help of the volunteers at Mediatech, a library-based technology center. We will try this in one town (Flemington, NJ, pop. 5000) as a test. The project could be applied to any community; just change the name. If successful, the project can sustain itself with local sponsorships. The stars of this project are found in any town. These are the people you see, but take for granted, like Archie, an 83-year old WWII vet who is well known on our grocery store PA system. When he says “fresh bread, straight out of the oven,” people line up. But nobody knows his last name, what he did in the war or where he lives. Tomas is a bright, 12-year-old refugee from Central Africa, who rides a seatless bike to the library. He has an uncanny ability for mastering the nuances of English and middle school culture. Whenever he sees a dog, he gets sad however; remembered a pet he left behind, and (perhaps) a story waiting to be told. Eleven-year-old Maggie has been called an “illegal” on the street because she her parents are first generation immigrants from Mexico. Few people know that Irma’s mother is the inventor of the famous sauce at a successful restaurant. A cooking documentary could share the recipe.
This project has six parts. (1) Upgrade the technology in an existing library-based technology center with video editing stations and coaches; (2) host free, weekly digital publishing workshops for residents; (3) enhance an existing WordPress blog with embedded video samples; (4) host a public “American Idol” style contest in the summer; (5) award a scholarship to an aspiring journalist, and (6) create a dissemination video so that others can replicate this plan.
6. How will your project improve the way news and information are delivered to geographic communities? By significantly increasing a town’s public access to affordable, powerful digital publishing technologies, and then by giving people a reason to use the technology, we’ll make it possible for any person to apply new digital skills. They may be in front of the camera, or working as a video editor. Or they may simply bring in a box of old photos to be digitized by a young volunteer. The recruiting tool will be your ego. Once you’ve edited and uploaded your first video, or seen a collection of a neighbor’s digital family album set to a symphony, you feel a sense of empowerment, or perhaps see somebody familiar, in a new way.
7. How is your idea innovative? Video harvesting initiatives and community technology centers are not new ideas. But combining the two, with a mix of YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and fresh coffee, plus an “American Idol” style contest to feed your ego, is a new mix. Thanks to Moore’s law, we now have cheaper, better technology to use, including cheap and powerful HD cameras, flat screens, and nearly unlimited storage. The cost vs. power ratio has swung toward the direction of this idea. This is an early attempt to use this recent technology.
8. What experience do you or your organization have to successfully develop this project? I’m a library trustee and researcher with a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. I’ve been a classroom teacher, software reviewer, college teacher and advisor to Consumer Reports WebWatch. As editor of Children’s Technology Review, and contributor to New York Times Gadgetwise blog, and I am familiar with the “state of the art” technology needed for this project: specifically video sharing sites, cameras and video editing tools e.g., an article on YouTube, here http://bit.ly/QyTVs, and other samples here http://bit.ly/8gFoHe.
Mediatech is the ideal center to host this effort, and it is in need of an annual fundraising effort. Mediatech is a five-year old experiment in our town library that has been cited by outgoing Governor Jon S. Corzine for “helping to keep New Jersey at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation” (http://bit.ly/4vsfpn). The open-source Mediatech recipe can be created by any school or library. The concept was initially inspired from a center in Northern Italy; the relationship is explained here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4h8W5bhRyc.
We have proven to ourselves and our own town that we can turn a small investment into an irreplaceable digital oasis by harnessing a common vision and dedicated volunteers. Mediatech has been home to rock band tournaments, Facebook classes, Skype tutorials, online college prep tips, digital photography techniques and programming (see http://www.hunterdonhispanos.org/). After five years, Mediatech attracts a diverse population of 614 people per month, and circulates 800 interactive media titles, to supplement the libraries traditional collection of books and videos. Mediatech’s non-denominational, non-political board helps to connect the town’s schools, businesses, library and government. This project — Flemington’s Got Stories is a natural extension the Mediatech’s mission, to create better life with technology.
12/10/2009
Dear Mediatech friends–
We had a wonderful end-of-year meeting last night — thanks to all that came. We managed to eat all the pizza and gave away all the prizes. Suzanne took the leftovers to a toy bank. For those who didn’t make it, here’s a review of the points I covered —
THE BOARD WILL STAY IN CURRENT POSITIONS FOR 2010
Nobody resigned; all officer positions will stay the same for next year. Thanks to everyone for your service.
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. We are still limping. Our old computers need to be replace with state-of-the-art, energy smart equipment and more game consoles. We also need a webcam, a media conversion center, and some decorations (that the library trustees love) yet say “high tech” and “this is an amazing place to learn and visit.” It is time to start some creative fundraising, accept donations for services the community values, to take us to our next goal. That means ….
HELP WANTED. If you know of a special individual who can help with things like organizing a photography contest, getting my 2 year old mailing out, putting together a flyer, setting up a 5K run or a car wash, please get them in touch with me. We need someone who is community minded, understands the role and mission of Mediatech, and is highly regarded in general (great people skills). We propose that this will be a paid position, with income linked to fundraising ability. Note — to board members — hiring such an individual would obviously mean library approval and a vote by the board. We did not have a quorum last night. But if you know of good candidate, please let me know and I’ll get the process started.
STATE OF MEDIATECH — POOR BUT STABLE
In brief, this has been an important fifth year for Mediatech. It has established itself as busy community access point for social media, and has remained true on its mission to provide FREE, PUBLIC, access to POWERFUL technology. Carol Wachter and the staff of the FFPL deserve special recognition for organizing the materials and providing stable supervision; giving our town the service it deserves. To quote Sam “Can you imagine 60 kids running around Flemington, unsupervised.” But we only have about $4,000 in our checking account, have limited hours, and are using donated, unreliable computers.
NOT JUST FOR KIDS
Because of the economic downturn, our library has become increasingly busy, for all ages. Increasingly, traffic up the stairs has increased as parents come, with kids, to pick up or drop off games; stopping to check email, a FaceBook page, send some tweets or complete an online class. Mediatech has helped with this needed access.
TIME TO BRAG: THE LARGEST FREE, PUBLIC CIRCULATING VIDEO GAME COLLECTION IN THE WORLD
How do you build new media literacy without access? Mediatech has over 600 titles, all cataloged and ready for public access. It also provides the hardware to play them; and a social setting where you can share ideas and learn from others. It’s time to tell people about the resource we have in our town.
STOP IN FOR A VISIT
If its been a while since you’ve seen Mediatech, make a point to drop in and say hello to the staff. It means a lot to them, and it is a good place to learn a bit about the life of a kid who is growing up in our town.
FEEDBACK WELCOME! I’ll put together set of dates and times for next year’s meeting. In general I try to synch with the library, so if you have ideas let me know.
Submitted by WB on 12/10/2009
–
Warren Buckleitner, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Mediatech Foundation
118 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Flemington, NJ 08822
http://www.mediatech.org
908-284-2006
Dear Trustees, Visitors, and Friends of Mediatech,
At our board meeting tonight, we’re going to make some important decisions that will affect our next five years of operation, and I want everyone to be aware of what I’m thinking.
BUDGET
We’re down to $3,700 dollars, so it is pretty important that we raise some money this fall. With that I’d like to introduce the Mediatech 2.0 concept; the next 5 years. This includes the following objectives:
HARDWARE
• Upgraded hardware (6 Macs, 6 Windows with flat panel displays, webcams (for Skype), speakers and Fortres management software on Windows 7 computers. $12,000. Donate existing computers to local families.
• Three new gaming stations — another PS3, Wii and a handheld station with three permanently installed Nintendo DSs, with anchor plates. $850
• A projection systems in both rooms, for public use, with a good sound system in the community room for movies, etc. ($2500)
• A Webcam system
FACULTY
• A carpet cleaning
• New seat in the upstairs bathroom
• New paint, repair to some stairstep treads
• A live webcam on www.mediatech.org
• Three anti-theft cameras upstairs, that can be viewed from the main library desk
• Some art. I’d like to explore making Mediatech more of an interesting place, by putting some historical technology products on display. I put my loyalty to the library over my need to decorate, but still, Mediatech could be a lot more “cool” when you first come through the door, and I’m open to suggestions.
PROGRAMMING
• A Friday night lecture public series
• Summer flight simulation (first week of August), Mediatech open house and sleep over, and jail tour.
• Volunteer technology coaches — educators/teachers on staff to help novices use the technology
• New Years Eve Party, and other special events (to be synched carefully with Library).
• Increased hours and staffing in the summer.
• A pay-as-you-go, self cleaning coffee machine (that uses the cartridges) to be used on a trial basis for adults only (obviously)
• FAME. I still think this is a good idea.
OTHER IDEAS?
JOIN THE “FRIENDS OF MEDIATECH” GROUP
I’m going to form a “friends of Mediatech” group to start working to help the organization meet these goals. This will be an informal, non-incorporated group, all members are non-paid volunteers to work towards the 5 year plan.
• Sell remaining five $1000 stairsteps
• Design and print a new promotional flyer
• Help with the lecture series and appear at county events/fairs and so on.
• Help with mailing
• Help with game testers club and other events.
The objective will be to increase the value to the community, without raising taxes. We’ve come so far; let’s finish the job. Trustees are welcome to join the friends group. Tonight, I’m hoping to find a leader for this group to help us achieve our next goals.
See you at 7 PM.
* I know several of you have contacted me and can’t make it — so please apply the guilt toward trying to make our Dec. 9 Wed. night meeting.
Warren Buckleitner, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Mediatech Foundation
118 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Flemington, NJ 08822
http://www.mediatech.org
908-284-2006
2009 Board Meeting Dates and Events
December 9, 7 PM Wednesday Night, Community Room (Annual meeting)
How do we know what children do at Mediatech? We watch the children. By providing them open-ended access to the Internet and the latest video games, we can better understand how the play and learn from new media. That’s the idea anyway. Watch this video and ask “what are they learning?” “What skills are they applying? (besides burning ants).”
We just received versions of the game for every platform, including the DS. So let’s see how they differ (and if the game has any flavor).
Several of the drum sets have been inoperable due to the rigorous workout they get at Mediatech. The guys at RadioShack in Flemington have been so helpful–even soldering some broken wires on the PlayStation 3 drum set. The XBox 360 and PS3 drum sets work great now! Thank you so much!
Note that Warren won’t be there this Friday. He’s asking Sam and Alez to help organize the software.
I’m sad to tell you that we did not get the Robert Wood Johnson grant on Health Games Research several of you helped me prepare this spring. According to Tim Crowley, the Administrative Coordinator for the the Pioneer Portfolio people at Robert Wood Johnson, we were among 180 people competing for 10 spots. Claudia and Anne, thanks so much for helping in preparation of this — I’m sorry it didn’t have a better outcome. W. Buckleitner
Mediatech Attendance for July 2009
