Augmented Learning

Product Description

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 contexts to enhance game play, can be integrated into the natural flow of instruction more easily than their big-screen counterparts, and 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.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #446254 in Books
* Published on: 2008-06-30
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Hardcover
* 251 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Augmented Learning tells a story that is both disarmingly modest and richly ambitious. Few books to date have offered such a comprehensive and clear view of what games and learning actually looks like, and the work is a marvel. I consider it essential reading for anyone struggling to answer the question why games matter to the future of learning."
—Katie Salen, Director of Graduate Studies in Design and Technology, Parsons School of Design, and coauthor of Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals (MIT Press, 2008)

"Mobile devices are rapidly becoming the new medium of educational and social life for young people, and hence mobile learning games are a key topic for learning. This is a breakthrough book which details deeply the background, design, research, and implementation of mobile learning games. It is of great benefit and essential insightful reading for teachers, students, game designers, and researchers."
—Adrian David Cheok, Director, Mixed Reality Lab, National University of Singapore

About the Author
Eric Klopfer is Associate Professor of Education at MIT, Director of MIT's Scheller Teacher Education Program (TEP), with a joint appointment at the MIT Media Lab.
Customer Reviews

Tons of interesting examples5
This book is great if you're interested in how games can enhance learning, both for ideas and for practical tips. The book has tons of examples from all over, as well as a lot of details on a range of projects from the authors lab. Many of the ideas for games he talks about are pretty novel, but after you read them they seem like natural ways of using computers to help people learn. The various examples cover a wide range from elementary through college through museums and other informal learning settings. For practitioners, the discussions of how to foster collaboration among a group of students using a game is particularly interesting. Definitely recommended, especially for people trying to make educational software themselves.

Insights about a Powerful New Technology for Learning5
Eric Klopfer presents an engaging, thorough overview of augmented reality, an emerging, powerful technology for learning. His book sketches a vision for the evolution of this interactive medium and documents research findings about its current strengths and limits. The growing power and ubiquity of cellphones underscores the importance of understanding the potential of augmented reality for both schooling and informal learning.