Michael Burmester, Daniela Gerhard, FrankThissen (eds.) Game Digital Based Learning Proceedings ofthe 4*^ International Symposium for Information Design 2"^ ofJune 2005 at Stuttgart Media University ® universitatsverlagkarlsruhe Copydghtedmaterial Copyrightedmaterial Michael Burmester, Daniela Gerhard, FrankThissen (eds.) Digital Game Based Learning Proceedingsofthe4*^ International SymposiumforInformationDesign 2""^ofJune2005atStuttgartMediaUniversity Copyrightedmaterial Copyrightedmaterial Game Digital Based Learning Proceedings ofthe 4^^ International Synnposium for Information Design 2"^ofJune 2005 at Stuttgart Media University Michael Burmester Daniela Gerhard FrankThissen (eds.) universitatsverlag karlsruhe Impressum Universitatsverlag Karlsruhe c/oUniversitatsbibliothek Strafieam Forum2 D-76131 Karlsruhe \/vww.uvka.de c DiesesWerkistunterfolgenderCreativeCommons-Lizenz lizenziert:http://creativecommons.0rg/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.O/de/ Universitatsverlag Karlsruhe2006 PrintonDemand ISBN3-86644-010-3 Editorial Learningandgaming:doesthisfittogether?Canweusetheideaofcomputergames tomakeuseforlearningpurposes?Whowillbenefitfromthis?Doeslearnerlearn betterormoremotivated,whentheyplaygamesinordertoacquirecontent?Isit morefuntolearnbygames?AccordingtoMarcPrensky'snewbo—okchildrensitting attheirdigitallearninggamewouldsay"Don'tBotherMeMom I'mLearning!" Willthatbecometrue? TheEuropeanprojectSIG-GLUE,the"SpecialInterestGroupforGame-based LearninginUniversitiesandlifElongLearning"(www.sig-glue.net)triestobring togetherexpertsandpractitionersinthefieldofdigitalgamebasedlearninginorder todiscussandexchangeinformationconcerningthequestionsmentionedabove.The maingoalistopromotemoreandbetteruseofbetterlearninggames.Furthermore, theprojectwouldliketoconvincenonusersofdigitalgamesoftheireducational value,toencourageandsupportgamedevelopersinthecreationofbettereducational games,andtomakeeducatorsawareofhowtousegamesmoreeffectivelyineducation. Onthe2ndofJune2005,the4thInternationalSymposiumforInformationDesign attheStuttgartMediaUniversityinStuttgart,Germany,wasorganisedincooperation withtheSIG-GLUEprojectinordertogiveexpertsfromresearchandgamedesign thechancetopresenttheirideason"DigitalGameBasedLearning".Thisbookcontains thepresentationsofthatSymposium. Theauthorsofthisbookpresentanoverviewofongoingresearchanddevelopment projectsinthefieldofdigitalgamebasedlearning.Atthebeginningofthebookwe willgetanintroductionintoSIG-GLUEandtheSIG-GLUEcommunity.MajaPivec (coordinatorofSIG-GLUE)andAnastasiaSfirifromFHJoanneumGraz,Austria, introducetheSIG-GLUEproject,showingtheobjectivesandthepossibilitiesto participateintheSIG-GLUEcommunity.Thecentralplatformforinformationex- changeanddiscussionistheSIG-GLUEwebsitewww.sig-glue.net.loannisAntonellis, ChristosBouras,ApostolosGkamasandVassilisPoulopoulosfromtheResearch AcademicComputerTechnologyInstitute(CTI)fromPatras,Greece,describethe intentionsandthetechnicalimplementationofthatcommunicationplatform. 5 Copydghtedmaterial Averygoodititfoductiotiinbasicconsiderationsofdigitalgamebasedlearningis donebythefollowingthreecontributions.Thepaper"Categorisingandinvestigating Gender-basedNeurocognitivePropensitiesinfluencingGameplay:AnInteractions- orientedapproach"ofPhilipBonannofromtheUniversityofMaltadescribesinvery precisewaysimportantfoundationsofgender-basedneuro-cognitivepropensities influencinggame-play.Boysandgirlsaswellasmenandwomenshowsignificant differencesinselectingandusinggames.FionaLittleton,JeffHaywoodandHamish MacleodfromtheSchoolofEducationattheUniversityofEdinburghintheUK showintheirchapter,whethervideogameplayinfluencethestudent'sapproachto learning.Resultsofacomprehensivestudyarepresentedanddiscussedonthebasis oftherelevantresearchliterature.Inthehealthcareeducationvirtualpatientsarein- creasinglyused.MichaelBegg,RachelEllaway,DavidDewhurst,HamishMacleod fromtheUniversityofEdinburghshowthatnarrativeandgameplayareanimportant considerationinmakingvirtualpatientsusefulforstudents. Intelligentandcreativeuseofmodeminformationandcommunicationtechnology inordertofacilitatelearningexperienceisacentralandveryimportantbasisfor designofdigitalgamebasedlearning.UlrikeSpierlingfromUniversityofApplied SciencesErfurtinGermanydescribesthepotentialofdigitalagentsforeducational applications.Theagentsareimbeddedinsimulations,games,andstorytelling.The typesofagentsusedinlearningapplicationsaredescribedbyshowingseveralproject examples.AnjaHoffmannfromtheDesignServiceTeamofSAPAGinGermany andIdolurgelandFelicitasBeckerfromComputerGraphicsCenter(ZGDV)in Darmstadt,Germany,describeapplicationsofstory-tellingforlearningpurposes. Theydoitonthebasisofseveralveryinterestingresearchprojects.Theinteresting EuropeanresearchprojectYoungNetispresentedbyFabianKempffromthecompany VITEROGmbHandKarinHamannfromtheFraunhoferInstituteforIndustrial EngineeringlAO.BothorganisationsarelocatedinStuttgart,Germany.TheYoung Netisavirtuallearningcommunityplatformforpupilsinschools.Thepupilscan playandlearnwithotherpupilsatotherschoolsviatheYoungNetplatform.But,is digitalgamesbasedlearningpossibleonlyonthebasisofadvancedtechnology?No,is theanswerofLotteKrisper-UUyettfromthefactline.comcompanyinAustria,Johann Ortner,professoratdifferentuniversitiesinAustriaandBarbaraBucheggerfromthe UniversityofNaturalResourcesandAppliedLifeSciencesinVienna.Theyshowthat onthebasisofsimpleinternetplatforms1000"LowTechGames"canbeplayedfor learningpurposes. 6 Copydghtedmaterial Whatistheeffectonpupilsandstudentswhenlearningwithdigitalgames? ChrisBranniganandAngelaOwenfromthesoftwarecompanyCaspianLearningin Sunderland,UK,presentacasestudyandshowhowpupilsandeducatorsreactto gamebasedlearningapplications.Anextensiveevaluationstudywithstudentsat universitylevelispresentedbyMichaelBurmester,DanielaGerhardandFrank ThissenfromtheStuttgartMediaUniversity.Theusedadramaturgicapproachto e-learninginane-learningcoursewithover130participants,andfoundwhatis goodandwhatcouldbebetterwhenusingdramainstorybasede-learning. Afterhavingpresentedtheories,foundations,applicationsandstudiesconcerning digitalgamesbasedlearningitistimetotalkaboutqualitystandards.ClaudioDondi andMichelaMorettifromtheresearchcentreandserviceproviderorganisation SCIENTERinBologna,Italy,focusintheircontributiononqualityinc-learning andqualityofdigitallearninggames. Wehopethatyougaininsightofdigitalgamesbasedlearningandthatyouenjoythe interestingcontributionsofalltheauthors.Lastbutnotleastwehopetoseeyouin theSIG-GLUEcommunityonwww.sig-glue.net.Itwouldbenicetodiscussandto exchangeinterestinginformationondigitalgamebasedlearningwithyou. MichaelBurmester,DanielaGerhard,FrankThissen Stuttgart,May2006 Acknowledgements Firstofall,wethankalltheauthorsforprovidingsobrilliantandinteresting contributions.Inouropiniontheyenableabroadviewintodiverseaspectsof digitalgamesbasedlearning.Thankyouforallyourhardwork. WewouldliketothanktheUniversitatsverlagKarlsruhetosupportusinpublishing thisbook.Theirpragmaticandsupportiveapproachtoallourquestionsandrequire- mentswasveryhelpfulforusinplanningandproducingthisbook. AspecialthankisforCarstenHeylerforhissplendidlayoutworkandhispatience withallourchangesandrefinementsuntiltheprintversionwasfinished. ThankstoRichardSladeforreadingandcorrectingtheEnglishofallthecontributions. 7 Copyrightedmaterial Copyfighiedmalenal