This was a seminar presentation at the World of Learning (WOLCE) Conference and Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham

1. The Challenge of the Digital
Native Generation
David Wortley FRSA
Serious Games Institute

2. Key Take Away Questions
 What are Immersive Technologies?
 What is their impact on next generation learners ?
 How and where are they being used ?
 What are their benefits for education and business ?
 What are the future implications for business and
society?

3. Presentation Topics
 Introduction to the Serious Games Institute
 Games and Learning
 The Challenge of Next Generation Learners
 New Interface Devices
 Emerging Challenges to Learning & Development
 Some Examples of Games for Learning
 Benefits to Business and Education

4. Introduction to the SGI

5. Serious Games Institute (SGI)
“An international centre of excellence for the application of
immersive technologies to serious social and economic issues”

6. Immersive Technologies
Games Virtual Worlds Social Networks
Immersive Technologies engage our hearts, minds and wallets

7. SGI Areas of Interest
Education Health Environment Smart Buildings
Relationships Interface Technology Innovation & Enterprise

8. Games and Learning

9. Games provide an immersive
environment in which we become totally
absorbed whether as a participant or a
spectator. They shape our opinions,
attitudes, knowledge and behaviours.

10. Games and Learning
We have always learnt from games

11. What can we learn from Games ?
 Learn about ourselves
 Learn about others
 Learn about the world
 New skills
 Facts and information
 How to explore
 New perspectives,
attitudes and behaviours

12. How do we learn from Games ?
 Fun and enjoyment
 Total immersion
 Competition
 Freedom to take risks
 Desire to succeed
 Trial and error
 Repetition

13. Physical Simulation in a Game
Trains Paramedics to deal with casualties of explosions
using realistic simulations

14. Social Network Games

15. The Challenge of Next
Generation Learners

16. Digital Natives
Digital Media is changing our capabilities and attitudes

17. The Multi-Tasking Generation
There is medical evidence to indicate that the
brains of young people are becoming increasingly
“hard-wired” for multi-tasking - making them able
to handle (and expect) multiple simultaneous
information sources and to make judgements on
which sources to give attention to.
How can/should society respond to this ?

18. Wii Generation

19. What’s different about Today ?

20. Who do we learn from ?
Knowledge
Professionals
Our peers

21. Impact of Technology on Teaching Methods
Collaborative LearningTeacher & Learner
Hierarchical Learning Networked Learning
Assimilation of existing knowledge Discovery of new knowledge

22. Facts or Information Handling ?

23. Student vs Teacher
 Student
 Generation Y
 Portfolio Career
 Digital Native
 Technophile (“Tech Savvy”)
 “Multi-tasker”/task switcher
 “Connected”
 Mobile
 Short attention span
 Learner as “Producer”
 Collaborative Learning
 Distributed/Distance/ Mobile
Learning
Hanlan & Swift, 2007
Teacher
Baby Boomer
Company Man/Woman
Digital Immigrant
Technophobe?
Serial-tasker?
Stand alone technology
Static (“Cinemascope”)
Long attention span?
Learner as “Consumer”
Individual Learning
Centralized Learning

24. What’s different about Today ?
Apart from teachers, students, how we
teach and what we teach

25. New Interface Devices

26. New Devices
3D controllers

27. New Devices
Brain wave controllers

28. New Ways of Learning
Games which shape behaviour

29. New Devices
Motion / Voice Controllers

30. New Ways of Learning

31. Watch, Copy, Feedback, Learn
Immersive Technologies changing the face of Learning

32. Emerging Challenges to
Learning and Development

34. Rapid Training
Reducing time to effectiveness

35. Staff Recruitment & Profiling
Games and simulation used in selection
and staff development

36. Developing a Culture
Shaping attitudes, building community

37. Motivating Staff
Embedded Games making stressful jobs more
fulfilling and improving productivity

38. Building Community

39. The Challenges for HRD
 A fast changing world
 Generation Y learners
 Need to train quickly and cost effectively
 Recruitment, development and retention
 Developing an organisational culture
 Staff motivation
 Relationship management (internal & external)

40. Example Serious Games

43. Patient Rescue

44. Ship Simulation

45. Benefits to Business and
Education

46. Benefits
 More engaged and motivated staff
 Increased workforce productivity
 Self-directed lifelong learning
 Reduced training costs and time to
effectiveness
 Stimulated enterprise and innovation
 Community cohesion