DigiPlay 4: Teaching with, Learning from Computer Games

Friday 28th January 2005
London Knowledge Lab
23-29 Emerald Street
London

Social Education? Political Games

Paul Hollins, Suzanne Cohen, Siobhan Thomas

The focus of this panel is on computer games designed with deliberate political intentions (rather than the politics of representation and simulation, or ideology in games more generally). Political games and educational games raise similar questions. How ‘effective’ are games with a message, and how do you know if they work? What are the unique communicative potentials of computer games? How dependent are such games on their context (such as critical framing, delivery etc)? Paul Hollins presents an overview of the topic, and then two practitioners present case studies. Suzanne Cohen is developing a computer game in collaboration with an anti-racist charity. Siobhan Thomas recently designed, built, and assessed the effectiveness of a game designed to teach social studies and economics.

After several years in the interactive games industry Paul Hollins has pursued a research interest in exploring the potential of digital games and technologies in an educational context. He is currently Manager of the Centre for Educational Technical Interoperability Standards at the Bolton Institute of Higher Education.

Suzanne has been teaching for the last 10 years in the fields of Media, Multimedia at a number of institutions including FE, HE and in the community; and on a variety of levels. She currently runs a BTEC ND Multimedia course at Westminster Kingsway College for 16 - 19 year olds. She has also been involved in developing an educational website: www.MakeMovies.co.uk.

Siobhan Thomas is interested in the educational potential of pervasive and ubiquitous gaming environments. She develops fun, practical applications that have real social and economic value and believes that mystery and intrigue are part and parcel of any educational experience. She is founder of www.pervasivelearning.org and www.gamesparentsteachers.com and is one of the directors of Yammy, astart-up that explores opportunities provided by developments in pervasive computing technologies.

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