ECGBL 2015 offers an opportunity for scholars and practitioners interested in the issues related to GBL to share their thinking and research findings.
Over the last ten years, the way in which education and training is delivered has changed considerably with the advent of new technologies. One such new technology that holds considerable promise for helping to engage learners is Games-Based Learning (GBL). Papers can cover various issues and aspects of GBL in education and training: technology and implementation issues associated with the development of GBL; use of mobile and MMOGs for learning; pedagogical issues associated with GBL; social and ethical issues in GBL; GBL best cases and practices, and other related aspects. We are particularly interested in empirical research that addresses whether GBL enhances learning. This Conference provides a forum for discussion, collaboration and intellectual exchange for all those interested in any of these fields of research or practice.
At ECGBL 2015 we want to learn more about games and the effectiveness of learning activities.
- What games are best suited to different subjects and what works within the context of different learning environments?
- How can games and game based technology help us give a better and more profound learning experience?
- Who are the gamers of today?
- What games do they play?
- What can we learn from the games that they play?
- How can we bring this knowledge into the learning context?
- The technology is available, but is the knowledge within the educational sector good enough to exploit the possibilities of games for better learning experiences?
We hope that ECGBL 2015 will help us to find answers to some of these questions.
Topics of particular interest this year include:
- The use of entertainment technology to enhance the experience of learning activities. i.e.: Technology to enhance both the experience and the learning outcomes of being at a Museum, etc…
- Gender representation and equality in games for learning. In light of the recent discourse on the presentations of female characters in games, the #gamergate debate and other equality related issues, a focus on gender equality issues in games that are applied in a learning context seems highly relevant.
- Recommendations on how to succeed in implementing digital games into a learning context. This could be projects focusing on either best practices or pitfalls.
- Important factors within the game design process that effects the quality and the game play of a digital game made for the purpose of learning
Following the successful Educational Games Competition at both ECGBL 2013 and 2014, we are also pleased to be hosting the 3rd International Educational Games Competition at the conference in Steinkjer.
The 9th European Conference on Games Based Learning (ECGBL 2015) will be held at the Nord-Trondelag University College, Steinkjer, Norway on October 8 - 9, 2015.
