Annenberg Workshop on Games for Learning, Development & Change
Annenberg School for Communication
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, USA
May 21-22, 2007
Hosted by Annenberg Studies on Computer Games (http://games.uscannenberg.org/)
Contact: Dr. Ute Ritterfeld or Helen Wang
Workshop Format
This event is purposefully designed as a rather small-scale, but intense workshop that is organized around 30 invited speakers and respondents. Various sections are structured to encourage dialogues and discussions. We will have interactive poster sessions in which interested graduate students and scholars can share their studies on serious games and get feedback from others.
Call for Posters
The workshop will be a state-of-the-art investigation and in-depth discussion of the theories, methods and research findings regarding serious game play, and is organized around three central themes: learning, development, and change.
Content themes: “Learning” is defined as the intentional acquisition of skills or knowledge through deliberate practice and training and therefore has a pedagogical focus. With “development” we emphasize the rather incidental psychological impact of game play on processes of human development such as identity or attitude formation or emotional regulation that may be facilitated or initiated through game play. Finally, “change” addresses the aspect of social intervention, for example political or health behavior. Although not completely distinct, these three dimensions will ensure coverage of a broad range of issues relevant to researchers who study serious games.
Scientific approaches: For applied research, we expect participants to give an up-to-date overview on empirical findings. Regarding theory we expect a contribution about the assumed underlying theoretical mechanisms of impact. These may address cognitive, affective or social processes, explore principles of Entertainment-Education, identify possible mediators and moderators for learning, development and change through serious games. Finally, we intend to address the specific methodological challenges imposed through interactive media in creating individualized content, measurement of exposure, multitasking, deeper learning, and transfer from the virtual into the real.
Submission Guidelines
- Submissions are considered only for interactive poster sessions.
- Interested authors should submit an extended abstract (5-7 double-spaced pages of text excluding tables, figures, and references in APA style).
- On the title page, please indicate the full name of all authors, academic affiliation, contact information (mailing address, phone number, and email), and whether 1) the poster is about learning, development, or change; and 2) whether it is theoretical, methodological, or empirical.
- All abstracts must be submitted electronically on http://games.uscannenberg.org/osubmission.php
Important Deadlines
- Submission for workshop poster session: March 30, 2007
- Notification of acceptance: April 10, 2007
Approximate Costs
- Registration fee: USD $150 for both days / USD $80 for one day only http://games.uscannenberg.org/register.php
- This will cover all the meals during the workshop.
- Participants will be responsible for their own travel arrangements and expenses.
You can download a full Call for Posters in PDF here.