1. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk

2. 6. October 2006, Athens Simon Egenfeldt-Nielsen Assistant Professor ITU Copenhagen The Learning Effects from Global Conflicts: Palestine Tasha Buch Research assistant ITU Copenhagen

3. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk What is a serious game? What is Global Conflicts: Palestine? What do other people think? Agenda

4. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk Definition serious games In principal, any game Games with an agenda Educating, enlightening.. Not only entertaining  Edutainment  Advertainment  Business games  Military games  Political games  Satirical games What is a serious game?

5. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk Problems with edutainment Little 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. What is a serious game?

6. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk 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) What is a serious game?

7. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk Vision Create the world’s best computer games with an agenda beyond entertainment What is Global Conflicts: Palestine

8. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk 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 game What is Global Conflicts: Palestine

9. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk  Private market: People that are intellectual curious & not afraid to try new things.  Educational market: 13-19 years social studies in Western world Target groups What is Global Conflicts: Palestine

10. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk “I learned more history in one day than the last 6 months” Student, 16 years Play trailer What is Global Conflicts: Palestine

11. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk Freelance journalist Get the best article Find informants Gain their trust Get their story Dig out best quotes Put together article Highest journalist level Gameplay What is Global Conflicts: Palestine You Goal Means Winning

12. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk 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

13. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk Setup Empirical 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

14. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk Qualitative feedback Empirical 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)

15. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk  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?

16. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk Different rooms for learning styles Empirical study? Group work Reflective observation Active experimentation GC: Palestine Lecture Abstract concepts Concrete experiences Kolb’s cycle covered with different teaching forms in the course. The teacher is crucial to facilitate a full learning experience.

17. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk 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

18. IT-University Copenhagen | Rued Langgaardsvej 7 | DK-2300 Copenhagen | sen@itu.dk