Present and Future Directions 

Monday, June 16, 2008, Hotel Golf Venera, 14:00 - 15:30 

Co-chairs:
Christian Kittl, Head, Business Models Unit
evolaris eBusiness Competence Center, Austria
& Teaching Assistant, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria
Gregor Lenart, Teaching Assistant & Head
eCollaboration Laboratory, eCenter, Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Maribor, Slovenia

Presenters:
Stefano Mininel, Assistant Professor
University of Trieste, Italy
Other presenters to be indicated

Workshop outline

Research findings showed the potential of using mobile games to promote learning in young adults. They also indicate that mobile learning games can be useful in encouraging the learning of young adults in areas such as decision-making where traditional approaches may prove inadequate. Traditional teaching methods often build on the principle of the instructionist approach with the teacher in control and assuming to know what knowledge needs to be acquired and how learning objectives are best achieved. But when using new communication channels and information technologies new learning models and teaching approaches can be developed. Today’s mobile technologies offer high-level, emotional information and communication channels that in the last ten years have become the technologies of choice of primarily young people. MGBL (Mobile Game-Based Learning) therefore seeks to combine the potential of the mobile phone communication channel with the possibilities of digital learning games to create new and improved learning environments.

The workshop discussion will be based on demonstration of a prototype platform and tools for the cost- and time-efficient development and deployment of mobile learning games. The platform consists of user management, game management, and communication management modules. It also includes game template decision tool and game authoring tool. To test the platform and developed new learning models various types of game templates and example games were developed. These target strategy games that can support the development of decision-making skills for crisis situations, role playing games and collaborative mobile learning games.

Invited workshop participants will:

• Present current teaching methods and learning models of collaborative mobile game based learning,
• Address issues related to collaborative mobile game based learning,
• Discuss opportunities and future directions of new mobile technologies for collaborative game based learning,
• Discuss various game types that can be used for collaborative mobile learning.