Games in Educational Environments Workshop: Challenges for intercultural virtual campus systems 27.08.2008 Niels Drobek

Agenda Introduction about Gaming Andragogy & Educational Gaming <e-Adventure> Editor Educational Games & Non-linear Digital Stories “ The Bamiyan Valley <e-Adventure>” (Video) Conclusion

Introduction about Gaming

Andragogy & Educational Gaming

<e-Adventure> Editor

Educational Games & Non-linear Digital Stories

“ The Bamiyan Valley <e-Adventure>” (Video)

Conclusion

New Media Socialization Marc Prensky argued that digital games contain precisely the elements required to improve the learning experiences in order to match the requirements of the Information Society. Dealing with large amount of data quickly Using new communication paths to get information David Gibson: Games have effects on: Problem solving skills visual and motor skills, and cognitive development Inductive discovery skills like: Observation Try and error and Hypothesis testing Introduction Andragogy e-Adventure Trailer Conclusion

Marc Prensky argued that digital games contain precisely the elements required to improve the learning experiences in order to match the requirements of the Information Society.

Dealing with large amount of data quickly

Using new communication paths to get information

David Gibson: Games have effects on:

Problem solving skills

visual and motor skills,

and cognitive development

Inductive discovery skills like:

Observation

Try and error and

Hypothesis testing

Advantages of Digital Games Like virtual reality/ simulations, digital games enables training of situations that are either danger or costly Archeological excavations in a foreign country Medical surgery in a hospital Controlling a nuclear power plant. Sequences can be repeated as often as necessary Learners can observe the consequences of their actions and evaluate the results Scene from hospital game Introduction Andragogy e-Adventure Trailer Conclusion

Like virtual reality/ simulations, digital games enables training of situations that are either danger or costly

Archeological excavations in a foreign country

Medical surgery in a hospital

Controlling a nuclear power plant.

Sequences can be repeated as often as necessary

Learners can observe the consequences of their actions and evaluate the results

Andragogy and Vocational Training Malcom Knowles Introduction Andragogy e-Adventure Trailer Conclusion Theory of Andragogy (”adult-leading”) by Malcom Knowles [1973]: Motivation: Adults need to know why they need to learn something Experience: Adults need to learn experientially Orientation: Adults approach learning as problem-solving Readiness: Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value

Theory of Andragogy (”adult-leading”) by Malcom Knowles [1973]:

Motivation: Adults need to know why they need to learn something

Experience: Adults need to learn experientially

Orientation: Adults approach learning as problem-solving

Readiness: Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value

Andragogy & Educational Gaming Introduction Andragogy e-Adventure Trailer Conclusion Andragogy Educational Gaming Motivation to learn Preparation for real life tasks Experience (including mistakes) Non-linear navigation through a virtual world, providing guidance and help when mistakes are made Orientation to learning Consist of Interleaved sub-problems (problem-centered) Readiness to learn Understanding of real life problems by reproduction

<e-Adventure> Editor Authoring environment for point and click adventure games Specification of scenes, items and character references Determination of exits and conditions Definition of dialogs Description of the game via <e-Adventure> XML language Complutense University of Madrid, Spain Introduction Andragogy e-Adventure Trailer Conclusion

Authoring environment for point and click adventure games

Specification of scenes, items and character references

Determination of exits and conditions

Definition of dialogs

Description of the game via <e-Adventure> XML language

Creating Educational Games from Non-linear Digital Stories Stories contain valuable knowledge to be trained by local employees Conversion of non-linear story paths into a gaming skeleton  Artifact set as scene background Successor(s) in the story path define scene exits Introduction Andragogy e-Adventure Trailer Conclusion MIST <e-Adventure> <mediaNode type=&quot;*&quot; id=&quot;{id}&quot;> {URI/ filename } </mediaNode> <scene start=&quot;no&quot; id=&quot;scene{id}&quot;> <resources> <asset type=&quot;background&quot;> uri=&quot;assets/background/{ filename }&quot; </asset> <name>scene{id}</name> <exits> ... </exits> </resources> </scene> <successorRel> <relation> id=&quot;1&quot; source=&quot;2&quot; target=&quot;1&quot; </relation> <relation> id=&quot;2&quot; source=&quot;3&quot; target=&quot;1&quot; </relation> </successorRel> <exits> <exit x=&quot;0&quot; y=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;10&quot; width=&quot;100&quot;> <next-scene idTarget=&quot;scene2&quot; /> </exit> <exit x=&quot;100&quot; y=&quot;0&quot; height=“70&quot; width=&quot;10&quot;> <next-scene idTarget=&quot; scene3 &quot; /> </exit> </exits>

Stories contain valuable knowledge to be trained by local employees

Conversion of non-linear story paths into a gaming skeleton 

Artifact set as scene background

Successor(s) in the story path define scene exits

The Bamiyan Valley <e-Adventure> Introduction Andragogy e-Adventure Trailer Conclusion

Conclusions Digital Games can be used in career training for adults to support learning process in an adequate way Authoring tools like <e-Adventure> editor can reduce costs during game creation Story Telling can be used to create games faster and to revert to already existing media and information Introduction Andragogy e-Adventure Trailer Conclusion

Digital Games can be used in career training for adults to support learning process in an adequate way

Authoring tools like <e-Adventure> editor can reduce costs during game creation

Story Telling can be used to create games faster and to revert to already existing media and information