IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | [email protected].

IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | [email protected]

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6. October 2006, Athens

Simon Egenfeldt-NielsenAssistant Professor ITU Copenhagen

The Learning Effects from Global Conflicts: Palestine

Tasha BuchResearch assistant ITU Copenhagen


What is a serious game?

What is Global Conflicts: Palestine?

What do other people think?

Agenda


Definition serious games

In principal, any game

Games with an agenda

Educating, enlightening..

Not only entertainingEdutainmentAdvertainmentBusiness gamesMilitary gamesPolitical gamesSatirical games

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Problems with edutainmentLittle intrinsic motivation: Extrinsic motivation through rewards, rather than intrinsic motivation.

No integrated learning experience: Lacks integration of the learning experience with playing experience - learning subordinated play experience.

Drill-and-practice learning principles: Rely on drill-and-practice rather than understanding – training above learning.

No teacher presence: No demands on teachers or parents.

Simple gameplay: Built on a simple gameplay from classic titles.

Small budgets: Produced on limited budgets with limited technology.



Edutainment lacks balance

Most of what goes under the name "edutainment" reminds me of George Bernard Shaw's response to a famous beauty who speculated on the marvelous child they could have together: "With your brains and my looks ..." He retorted, "But what if the child had my looks and your brains?"

(Papert, 1998: 88)



Vision

Create the world’s best computer games with

an agenda beyond entertainment

What is Global Conflicts: Palestine


Global Conflict : Feel and understand the tense atmosphere

and problems in Palestine

You as freelance journalist will draft a way

out of the conflict

The gameWhat is Global Conflicts: Palestine


Private market: People that are intellectual curious & not afraid to try new things.

Educational market: 13-19 years social studies in Western world

Target groupsWhat is Global Conflicts: Palestine


“I learned more history in one day

than the last 6 months”

Student, 16 years

Play trailerWhat is Global Conflicts: Palestine


Freelance journalist

Get the best article

Find informants

Gain their trust

Get their story

Dig out best quotes

Put together article

Highest journalist level

GameplayWhat is Global Conflicts: Palestine

You

Goal

Means

Winning


What problems did we try to solve

Perspective: Provide different perspectives on a topic Involvement: Provide involvement in a topic Engagement: Make the player feel they make a difference Realism & atmosphere: Develop realistic atmosphere Curriculum ties: Fit it in with some curriculum

What is Global Conflicts: Palestine


SetupEmpirical study?

Sample: 51 Danish High school low-middle class students (16-20 years) after a one-week course

Traditional lecturing 4 weeks on theme

Play missions 2 students (note taking)

Group discussion 4 students (Poster w. timeline)

Plenum discussion all students

Survey

Video observation

Interviews

Test & evaluation


Qualitative feedbackEmpirical study?

“Global Conflicts: Palestine is a fun and different way to receive learning” (Female student, 18 years)

“You had a greater desire to learn about the topic from Global Conflicts: Palestine” (Male student, 16 years)

”You learn a lot about how Israelis and Palestinians respectively look at the conflict, because you talk to

different persons... I think it is good that the stories derive from reality, providing the stories with a realistic tone.”

(Female student, 18 years)


90% students find it the be an interesting course

88% Students find it to be an interesting educational material

59 % of students find they learned more

90% of students wants to try a similar course again

Students want more...Empirical study?


Different rooms for learning stylesEmpirical study?

Group work

Reflectiveobservation

Activeexperimentation

GC: Palestine

Lecture Abstractconcepts

Concreteexperiences

•Kolb’s cycle covered with different teaching forms in the course.

• The teacher is crucial to facilitate a full learning experience.


Closing

Engaging & intellectual stimulating game are possible A lot of people are looking for new games Like any other media computer games have a critical potential A strong market for serious games is still years away Distribution and financing remains a challenge

IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | [email protected].

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Transcript of IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | [email protected].