Augmented Learning

by Klopfer, Eric

• ISBN13: 9780262113151
• ISBN10: 0262113155
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-06-30
• Publisher: Mit Pr

Summary

New technology has brought with it new tools for learning, and research has shown that the educational potential of video games resonates with scholars, teachers, and students alike. In Augmented Learning,Eric Klopfer describes the largely untapped potential of mobile learning games--games played on such handheld devices as cell phones, Game Boys, and Sony PSPs--to make a substantial impact on learning. Examining mobile games from both educational and gaming perspectives, Klopfer argues that the strengths of the mobile platform--its portability, context sensitivity, connectivity, and ubiquity--make it ideal for learning games in elementary, secondary, university, and lifelong education. Klopfer begins by exploring the past and present of education, educational technology, "edutainment," and mobile games, and then offers a series of case studies of mobile educational games that have been developed and implemented in recent years. These games--either participatory (which require interaction with other players) or augmented reality (which augment the real world with virtual information)--can be produced at lower cost than PC or full-size console games. They use social dynamics and real-world context to enhance game play, they can be integrated into the natural flow of instruction more easily than their big-screen counterparts, and they can create compelling educational and engaging environments for learners. They are especially well-suited for helping learners at every level develop twenty-first century skills--including the ability to tackle complex problems and acquire information in "just-in-time" fashion. All of this, Klopfer argues, puts mobile learning games in a unique and powerful position within educational technology.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Educational Innovation through Time	p. 1
Educational? Games?	p. 13
The Aftermath of Math Blaster	p. 23
Great Moments in Mobile and Handheld Games	p. 33
What Does an Award-Winning Video Game Look Like?	p. 53
Participatory Simulations	p. 61
Technology Adapting to the Classroom
The Importance of Reality	p. 87
Location Matters	p. 109
The Role of Place
Authentic Outcomes	p. 129
Designing for Collaboration	p. 147
Roles and Game Mechanics
Learning to Write without a Stylus	p. 173
Anytime, Anywhere: Palmagotchi©	p. 197
Conclusion	p. 221
References	p. 229
Index	p. 239
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.