My Hero

My Hero uses ICTs to stimulate thinking and exchange about how and why certain individuals become heroes, that is, how they overcome difficult obstacles to reach their goals and contribute to the common good. The idea is that, by publicly honouring those who have made a difference - in large or small, everyday ways - participants in this global online community reward heroes and encourage heroism. In short, technology is a tool for connecting geographically diverse individuals who are committed to increasing their computer literacy, learning about those in other cultures, and providing "an alternative to the persistently negative images of human activity projected by mainstream media."

The searchable, interactive My Hero website is free and open for use in homes, schools, communities, and libraries around the world. The website, which is offered in English and Spanish, hosts stories of remarkable individuals that are written and submitted by children and adults. For this reason, organisers describe the website as a "collective story telling experience that features both well-known and ordinary figures." For example, Rosa Parks (the stubborn and courageous Afro-American woman who facilitated the United States' civil rights movement) is featured in the My Hero gallery alongside a host of heroes that include: strangers who give others hope through acts of kindness ("angels"), entrepreneurs who have created businesses which have regard for the social needs of the community, citizens who have contributed to local communities, family members, sports figures, and writers and poets.

Specifically, the website is designed to encourage collaboration, creativity, and curriculum development through such features as:

• "Heroes" - a database of stories
• "News Wire" - stories of heroes in the news - from the Associated Press
• "Short Films" - an annual film festival/competition for short films (5 minutes and under). Guidance is provided here on how to tell hero stories with digital media tools, enabling people to create narrative, experimental/musical, documentary, and animated films and to submit them online.
• "Forum" - a platform for exchange of ideas (for instance, about controversial heroes) with students and educators worldwide.
• "Library" - a place to share books about heroes.
• "Gallery" - a section featuring an online template designed to enable participants to create and upload original artwork to illustrate heroes and the subject of heroism.
• "Teacher's Room" - an area dedicated to educators that features lesson plans, a forum, and resources such as the eCreate tool. The idea is that "the study of heroes applies across the curriculum in all grade levels. For example, it can be an integral part of character education or thematic units, a tool for reading comprehension and the development of writing skills. It can enrich content in math, art and the sciences".

Education, Technology, Children, Youth.

My Hero is motivated by the belief that "Youth advocates, parents, teachers and health professionals are increasingly in agreement regarding the importance of mentors and role models in positive youth development. A recent issue of Healthy Kids, a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics, devoted an entire article to the importance of Heroes in child development. Author Ellen Klavan writes 'role models can give kids the confidence they need to fly high.'"