PARENT PERMISSION FORM

So your child is interested in joining MOOSE crossing? Terrific! The goal of
MOOSE Crossing is to give kids a meaningful context to learn reading, writing,
and computer programming. Access is free, and is open to kids 13 and under.
Adults 18 and over must apply to be mentors or "Rangers." Teenagers 14-17
must apply to be Junior Rangers. (See the MOOSE Crossing general instructions
for information on how to get a Ranger application.)

For your child to participate, you must complete both the parent and child
application forms, and connect to the MOOSE Crossing information page to
request a character (if you have not already done so). This parental
permission form has two parts: an informed consent form, and a code of
conduct.



PARENTAL INFORMED CONSENT
MOOSE Crossing is a research project of Amy Bruckman and the MIT Media Lab.
Your child's participation is voluntary, and may be discontinued at
any time by either you or your child.

If you have any questions about the project, we'll be happy to help you.
General requests should be emailed to moose-request@media.mit.edu. Any
concerns you have may also go directly to Amy Bruckman via email at
asb@cc.gatech.edu, or telephone 404-894-9222.

If you feel you or your child have been treated unfairly as part of this
research project, we'll be happy to talk with you about it. Or you can also
contact the Chairman of MIT's Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental
Subjects at 617-253-6787.

For research purposes, almost everything that is typed on MOOSE Crossing is
recorded. This data will be kept confidential, and will be used only for
research purposes. Descriptions of your child and records of his or her
experiences may appear in written and oral presentations of the results of
this research, with his or her name changed to insure confidentiality.

I UNDERSTAND AND GIVE PERMISSION:
I give permission for my child to participate in MOOSE Crossing.

I understand that participation is voluntary, and may be discontinued at any
time by either me or my child.

I understand that MOOSE Crossing is a research project, and most of what is
typed there is recorded for research purposes, and may appear in published
reports (with the children's names changed.)

I give permission for my child to be recorded.



_____________________________________________
Parent or Legal Guardian--Print Your Name Here

_____________________________________________	____________________
Parent or Legal Guardian--Sign Your Name Here	Date

CODE OF CONDUCT
A code of conduct is included on the child application form. This includes
guidelines for behavior expected of participants, and for your child's safety.
One authority on the subject of child safety online writes: "Most people who
use online services have mainly positive experiences. But, like any
endeavor--travelling, cooking, or attending school--there are some risks. The
online world, like the rest of society, is made up of a wide array of people.
Most are decent and respectful, but some may be rude, obnoxious, insulting, or
even mean and exploitative."

We recommend that you ask your child:
* Not to give out your home address or phone number to anyone he/she meets
online, and
* Not to agree to meet anyone face to face.

If your child wants to meet another child face to face, we recommend that you
set up a meeting in a public place, and make sure each child is accompanied by
a parent.



CODE OF CONDUCT--PARENTAL AGREEMENT
I have spoken with my child about the code of conduct, and he/she understands
it and has promised to abide by it.

I have spoken with my child about the importance of not giving out our home
address or phone number, or meeting with people face to face. My child
understands why this is important and will abide by it.



_____________________________________________
Parent or Legal Guardian--Print Your Name Here

_____________________________________________	____________________
Parent or Legal Guardian--Sign Your Name Here	Date

To activate your child's account, we need to make sure we can match up parent
forms, child forms, and online applications. Has your child already requested
a MOOSE Crossing character online? If so, what character name did he/she
request?


_____________________________________________
Print Character Name Requested


_____________________________________________
Email Address (parent's, child's, or both)


_____________________________________________
Print CHILD's name here




*************************************************************************
Please print out this and all other applicable forms, complete them, sign
them, and return them via regular mail to:

MOOSE Crossing Applications
c/o Amy Bruckman
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA 30332
USA

Sorry, but we can not accept applications via email.

More information is available at:
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~asb/moose-crossing/

If you have any questions or problems, send email to:
moose-request@media.mit.edu

Thank you for your patience with these formalities!

-- Amy Bruckman
*************************************************************************

---

KID PART

So you're interested in joining MOOSE Crossing? Welcome!

MOOSE Crossing is a place on the Internet where you can decide to be a tiny
purple bird and build yourself a nest, a giant green blob and build yourself a
space ship, or maybe a munchkin and build yourself a piece of the yellow brick
road. And you can meet other kids from around the world.

MOOSE Crossing is for kids aged 13 and under. Rangers volunteer to help run
MOOSE Crossing. If you are old enough to be a Ranger, see the MOOSE Crossing
General Instructions for information on how to get a Ranger application.

There are two parts to this form: the informed assent form, and the code of
conduct. Please think carefully about what they say, and don't sign them
unless you agree.



INFORMED ASSENT
MOOSE Crossing is a research project of Amy Bruckman and the MIT Media Lab.
You can quit any time if you don't like MOOSE Crossing. Your parents
can also cancel your account at any time.

Almost everything that is typed on MOOSE Crossing is recorded, so that Amy can
study things like how kids learn, and how to make MOOSE Crossing a better
place. Amy won't share these recordings with other people, but will write
about some of them, with the names changed. If you don't want to be recorded,
there are other MUDs for kids that don't record anything.

If you have any questions, email moose-request@media.mit.edu and we'll be
happy to help you. If you feel you've been treated unfairly as part of this
research project, we'll be happy to talk with you about it. Or you can also
contact the Chairman of MIT's Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental
Subjects at 617-253-6787.

I UNDERSTAND:
I understand that MOOSE Crossing is a research project.
I understand that I may quit at any time.
I understand that things are being recorded, and I don't mind.



_____________________________________________
Kid--PRINT Your Name Here

_____________________________________________	____________________
Kid--SIGN Your Name Here	Date

CODE OF CONDUCT
To be a member of MOOSE Crossing, you are expected to be a good citizen. Most
of the rules are just like rules for how to behave in the real world:

* Don't do anything you wouldn't do at recess at school.
* Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
* Help others whenever you can.

If you think maybe you shouldn't do something, you probably shouldn't. Be
nice to other kids. And help them out. There's lots of stuff to learn on
MOOSE Crossing. People will help you get started, and then you can help the
next new person.

These rules you might not have heard before. They're important:

* Don't tell anyone your home address or phone number.
* Don't meet anyone face to face.

Most people are nice, but there are some people out there who want to hurt
kids. No matter how nice someone seems or how old they are, don't tell them
your home address or phone number or agree to meet with them in person. If
you really really want to meet someone, ask your parents to help you set up a
safe meeting in a public place, and have your parents come with you.

I PLEDGE:
I won't do anything I wouldn't do at recess at school.
I'll treat others the way I want them to treat me.
I will help others whenever I can.
I won't tell anyone my home address or phone number.
I won't meet anyone face to face.



_____________________________________________
Kid--PRINT Your Name Here

_____________________________________________	____________________
Kid--SIGN Your Name Here	Date

To finish your application, we need to figure out which character
is you! Have you already requested a MOOSE Crossing character online?
If so, what character name did you request?



_____________________________________________
Print Character Name Requested



_____________________________________________
Email Address (yours, your parents, or both)



*************************************************************************
Please print out this and all other applicable forms, complete them, sign
them, and return them via regular mail to:

MOOSE Crossing Applications
c/o Amy Bruckman
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
30332
USA

Sorry, but we can not accept applications via email.

More information is available at:
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~asb/moose-crossing/

If you have any questions or problems, send email to:
moose-request@media.mit.edu

Thank you for your patience with these formalities!

-- Amy Bruckman
*************************************************************************