Mixed realities, virtual worlds and gaming - Deadline 27 May 2011. eLearning Papers publication is part of European Commission's portal, elearningeuropa.info, which aims to promote the innovative use of ICT in education and training.
In parallel to the phenomenal rise of the digital game development
industry through time, the acceptance of games in other sectors has
also been changing. Computer game skills have been increasingly applied
in almost all areas of human activity within modern societies. Digital
games have now been embraced by the academic research community as a
research topic, as well as discovered by the education sector as a
highly interactive media that can support and foster learning. As a
popular and powerful media, computer games are being considered for use
in various education and training settings to motivate learners, to
focus their attention, and to help them to construct meaningful and
permanent records of their learning.
Games have high presence in informal segments of learning - but in
formal education, games are still often seen as an unserious activity
and the potentials of games for learning remain undiscovered. However,
when evaluating games with their children, 85% of parents believed that
computer games contributed to learning as well as providing
entertainment.
Beside fantasy and fun elements, games have potential to foster
players' ability to communicate and interact with others during
gameplay. Computer games can help players to think critically when they
are required to construct connections between virtual and real life.
Game-like learning environments can provide motivating
interdisciplinary learning settings, creating opportunities that could
improve student collaboration skills as well as help them learn new
concepts and synthesize new information. Games have also been praised
for the potential they offer in learning business leadership and other
skills by practicing in a safe environment.
The potential of Game Based Learning (GBL) is still underestimated. It
can play a major role in renewing learning as it is perceived by
learners in all levels of education and training systems. eLearning
Papers seeks contributions about mixed realities, virtual worlds and
gaming in both sections: In-Depth and From the Field. We specifically
invite contributions which address one or several of the following
issues:
- Innovative game based learning technologies, applications, tools and environments
- 3D virtual worlds supporting learning, e.g. in language learning or leadership training
- Use of mobile games and location-based technology for learning
- Innovative applications of mixed realities for learning
- Use of simulations in education, corporate training and military
- Technology for massive multiplayer online games (MMOGs) for learning
- Interactivity design in game based learning applications
- Player immersion and learning
- Case studies and best practices in GBL
- Social and collaborative aspects of GBL
- Implementation issues associated with GBL
- Learning design, good gameplay and instructional theory for GBL
- Use of role plays for learning and training
- Assessment and evaluation in GBL
- Gender, age, cultural and ethical issues in GBL
- Rating of games for learning
- Accessibility of games for learning
Guest editor
Professor DI Dr. Maja Pivec, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM in Graz, Austria
log in
