Learning Games and Simulations: Implications for Libraries

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Learning Games and SimulationsImplications for
Libraries

• Wisconsin Library Association
• 2007 Annual Conference
• October 16-19
• Green Bay, WI

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What this session covers

• Learning games and simulations
• Many with health themes and content
• for all ages
• characteristics
• Gamer demographics
• Peek inside some healthy games and sims
• Where to learn more

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Lots of Questions

• What constitutes play?
• What constitutes learning?
• When does play become work?
• Where do they blend and blur?
• Can we learn better through play?
• What does the research show?
• Are gaming spaces the ultimate mashups?
• Weve wired classrooms, libraries, our homes and
  ourselves!
• NOW WHAT?

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• Games are widely used as education tools, not
  just for pilots, soldiers and surgeons, but also
  in schools and businesses
• Games require players to
• construct hypotheses
• solve problems
• develop strategies
• learn the rules of the in-game world through
  trial and error
• juggle several different tasks
• evaluate risks
• make quick decisions
• Playing games is, thus, an ideal form of
  preparation for the workplace of the 21st
  century
• -The Economist. London Aug 6, 2005.
  Vol. 376, Iss. 8438  pg. 9

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Whos Playing?

• 69 heads/households play computer or video games
• 32 heads/households play on wireless devices
• Avg age of buyers is 40 (video and computer)
• Seniors fastest growing user group
• Why?
• 79 of all players report physical exercise avg
  20/wk
• 93 report reading books or daily newspapers
• 62 consistently attend cultural events

Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Website
(accessed 9/26,2007)
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Whos Playing?
Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Website
(accessed 9/26,2007)
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Whos Playing?
Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Website
(accessed 9/26,2007)
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Whos Playing?
Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Website
(accessed 9/26,2007)
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What are We Playing?
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Is it a Game or a Simulation?

• Does it matter?
• Simulations are acceptable
• Games viewed with skepticism
• Can we blend them effectively?
• Technologies expanding horizons
• Research on gameplay and learning
• Economics of fun (Castronova)
• When is play work? (Yee)

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Simulations are

• Non-linear
• Interactive abstraction
• Dynamic sets of relationships
• Responsibilities result in consequences
• Models of systems or environments
• Sometimes like games

Gibson,David.Aldrich, Clark Prensky,Marc. Games
and simulations in online learning research and
development frameworks. (2007)
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Simulations for Skills Training

• Flight simulators classic example
• As training tools and games
• Clinical skills training
• SimMan
• Military/Security training
• Americas Army
• Language skills
• Cultural sensitivities
• Virtual disaster simulations
• Play2Train in Second Life

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MultiUser Virtual Environs (MUVES)

• Building virtual realities
• Social context
• Participatory learning environments
• Learning shells to be filled
• Second Life
• Croquet
• River City

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Games are

• Linear
• Organized play
• Competitive fun
• Rule-based
• Defined by privileges, penalties, constraints
• Sometimes blended with simulations

Gibson,David.Aldrich, Clark Prensky,Marc. Games
and simulations in online learning research and
development frameworks. (2007)
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Games for Health
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Big Games/Sims
Tiny Games/Sims
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Malaria Mosquito Game/Sim
http//nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/m
alaria/
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http//nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/
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Pulse
APRIL 10, 2006
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More Pulse
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Sims for Learning/Training

• Imitation of real world characteristics
• Modeling real-life or imaginary situation on
  computer
• Study and skills training
• Health sims
• Multiuser Virtual Environments (MUVES)
• River City
• Second Life
• Sims with gaming characteristics
• Trauma Center Under the Knife
• Second Opinion

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Libraries in Second Life
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Second Health Hospital (UK)
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Nutrition Made Interesting
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Teaching Immunology
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Serious Games for Health

• Nutrition
• Monster Nutrition
• Food Pyramid Blast Off
• Body is the Game - Fighting Cancer
• Re-Mission
• Nanoswarm
• Exercise
• Brain Age
• The WII
• DDR

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Blurring the Boundaries

• Between
• Games and Sims
• Work and play
• Learning and gameplay
• Serious and trivial pursuits
• Virtual and real worlds
• Validity and fantasy

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Trends Speculations

• Cross-generational use of games and sims
• Future learners more visually demanding
• Social networking in digital spaces
• Learners want to be engaged
• Hybrid learning increasing
• Blending/Blurring of learning tools and
  environments
• Increased mobility yours and the technologies
  (Starbucks McDonalds)
• Working and playing online
• Technologies without borders
• Research continues

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Implications for Libraries and Librarians

• Instruction
• Collections
• Reference
• Development
• Librarians as content experts
• Special events
• Research

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Instruction/Orientation

• Jeopardy
• Big game at Ohio State
• Information literacy
• Nutrition and fitness
• Self-guided phone tours
• Language games
• Second Life course

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Collections

• Libraries Circulating Games Wiki
• Online Books Page (Uni Penn)
• Stanford Universitys Video Game Collection

• Kentucky public library to carry video games

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Special Events

• Game nights
• Tournaments
• Guitar Hero
• Dance Dance Revolution
• Wii
• Big games
• Board games
• Games for change

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Where to Learn More

• Serious Games Initiative
• The Shifted Librarian Blog
• Game On Games in Libraries Blog
• Library Games Blog
• Conferences
• People

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Its all about learning
So Let the Games Begin!
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Thats All Folks!

• Questions

Ulrike Dieterle, MA, MLSDistance Services and
Outreach CoordinatorEbling Library School of
Medicine and Public Health University of
Wisconsin-MadisonPH 608.262.8025 udieterle_at_wisc.
edu