This document discusses the evolution of mobile learning games and augmented reality technologies for education. It describes how participatory simulations on Palm devices engaged learners in simulations involving genetics, economics, and resource management. It then introduces ubiquitous games that are browser-based casual games for high school students to play during interstitial times on any device. The first ubiquitous game discussed is Weatherlings, a Pokemon-style game combining weather prediction and creature maintenance. The document goes on to describe UbiqBio, a genetics learning game, and an evolution learning game. It concludes by discussing how augmented reality combines physical and virtual contexts to engage learners in authentic science simulations through mobile location-triggered simulations.

2. Gaming Together to Learn Together:
Evolution of Mobile Learning Games
www.educationarcade.org
Jennifer Groff

3. Participatory
Simulations

4. Engage learners in computer mediated
pSims
simulations
Provide rich learning experiences where
technology and social interaction are key
Use relatively simple and cheap technologies
(Palms<$100) and IR peer to peer
communication

5. pSims
Live Long and Prosper (a.k.a. Genetics)
decoding a genome
Sugar and Spice
economics-trading
negotiation, optimizing trade strategies
Big Fish - Little Fish
resource management
Virus, Tit-for-Tat, Networks...

6. Palmagotchi
Anytime, Anywhere
Virtual pets with Biology
Birds and flowers
Needs a more
ubiquitous platform

7. Ubiquitous
Games

8. UbiqGames

9. UbiqGames
Who? High school students
What? Browser-based casual games
When? Interstitial times
Where? Anywhere, any browser
Why?

10. UbiqGames
Why
• Engaging, motivating
• More frequent contact with material
• Place to experiment
• Doesn’t take up class time
• Experience informs class discussion

11. UbiqGames
Features
Multiplayer
Single Player
Web-based
Collaborative
First Game: Weatherlings
Pokemon + Weather Prediction
Maintain creatures and battle creatures

12. UbiqGames

13. UbiqGames
UbiqBio
Learning Focus: Mendelian Genetics

14. UbiqGames
UbiqBio
Learning Focus: mRNA Translation

15. UbiqGames
UbiqBio
Learning Focus: Evolution

16. Augmented
Reality

17. AR
Augmented Reality
Computer simulation on
handheld triggered by real
world location
Goal: understand “authentic” science through
simulated realistic practices
Combines physical & virtual world contexts
Embeds learners in authentic situations
Engages users in a socially facilitated context

18. AR
Environmental
Detectives
Outbreak
@ MIT

19. MITAR

20. AR
MITAR

21. MITAR
CSI: Community Science Investigators

22. www.educationarcade.org
Jennifer Groff
jen@learninggamesnetwork.org
@jsgroff