[Air-l] CFP: “Computer Game-based Learning” - ITSE Journal special issue

[Panayiotis Zaphiris]

Call for papers:

Special Issue of International Journal of Interactive Technology and
Smart Education on
“Computer Game-based Learning”

Guest Editors
Panayiotis Zaphiris & CS Ang, Centre for HCI Design
City University London


This special issue aims at discussing and examining the educational
potential of computer games whose commercial success has recently
attracted the scholarly study from various fields. Theoretical issues
and practical challenges in game-based learning such as pedagogical
principles for computer games, design and evaluation methodologies as
well as implementation will be the focus of this issue.


RATIONALE
There is now almost no doubt that games and play are something worth
studying academically due to its commercial importance, its increasing
recognition from the society regarding its cultural importance, and its
application on non-play/serious domains particularly education.

The need of understanding game design in particular and the nature of
games in general are evident in computer games as the basics of game
design are still unexplored that we need to take a largely formalist
approach to discover and explore the fundamental, intrinsic learning
aspects of games.

Despite the lack of formalist methodologies, some computer games are
highly successful commercially. It is believed that this is due to the
fact that games that people cannot learn to play and from which they do
not get the enjoyment of learning would not sell. In other words, the
commercially successful games are designed with good learning theories
even though it is not intentional. Good game designers are already doing
a very good job at making learning happen.
Also, a good game is often accompanied by the pleasure of socialising
and interaction with other players. Thus it is argued that learning and
sociability are two important criteria game designers may want to apply
to game design.

THEMES
Contributions from both the academic community and industry are most
welcomed. Potential topics include (but are not limited to) the following:

* Design approaches and techniques suitable for Computer Game Based Learning
* Usability studies regarding Computer Game Based Learning
* Theoretical and/or pedagogical foundations for analysing learning
in/through the use of Computer Games
* Within-game and/or out-game learning activities and their analysis
* Computer Games and Online Learning Communities
* Social and Cultural Issues and Computer Game Based Learning
* Accessibility of Computer Game Based Learning

SUBMISSION PROCESS
Prospective authors should as soon as possible (but before 1st of April
2006) submit a tentative title and a short abstract (maximum 150 words)
to Panayiotis Zaphiris (zaphiri at soi.city.ac.uk). Authors of abstracts
that are judged to fit the themes of the special issue will be promptly
invited to submit a full paper.  Full paper should follow the journal’s
suggested writing format
(http://www.troubador.co.uk/image/journals/1-1-7-Janvier3411.pdf) and
should be submitted to the editors (zaphiri at soi.city.ac.uk)


Important dates:
Title & Abstract submission: By 1st of April 2006
Full paper submission: 15th June 2006
Response to authors:   15th August 2006
Final version of papers:   10th October 2007
Date of Publication:  Autumn of 2007


Dr. Panayiotis Zaphiris (zaphiri at soi.city.ac.uk) and CS Ang
Centre for HCI Design, City University London
Guest Editors
Special issue of International Journal of Interactive Technology and
Smart Education on “Computer Game-based Learning”


-- 
Dr. Panayiotis Zaphiris
Senior Lecturer
Center for Human-Computer Interaction Design
City University
London, EC1V 0HB
Tel: +44-(0)-20-7040-8168
Fax: +44-(0)-20-7040-8859
zaphiri at soi.city.ac.uk
http://www.zaphiris.org/