ECGBL 2014 - The 8th European Conference on Games Based Learning

The 8th European Conference on Games Based Learning
Hosted by Research and Training Center for Culture and Computer Science (FKI)
University of Applied Sciences HTW Berlin
Berlin, Germany
9-10 October 2014
FKI at HTW Berlin
Thomas Connolly
Michael Heine
Carsten Busch
Conference Sponsors
prize-75.gif
Porto's Ribeira
ECGBL Conference Director:
Professor Thomas Connolly, University of the West of Scotland, UK
Conference Chair:
Professor Dr. Michael Heine, University of Applied Sciences HTW Berlin, Germany
Programme Chair:
Professor Dr.-Ing. Carsten Busch, University of Applied Sciences HTW Berlin, Germany
Welcome to Berlin and to the University of Applied Sciences HTW Berlin, host of the 8th European Conference on Game-Based Learning (ECGBL 2014).
Good games provide great experiences. They motivate players to play them for mastery, exploration, social bonding, narrative pleasure, imagination, competition or walking the edge of losing control. Games are played in short bursts or long sessions. In the spare time, while commuting, in breaks and at work. Good games may even alter your views and perceptions.
So what keeps us from using (more) games for education and training. Its not a new thought ? Take research on the indian chess ancestor or on game-based learning in the enlightenment. ? but today still an enticing one. Theoretical and practical work in the area of Edutainment, Serious Games & Play as well as Game-Based Learning have advanced the field with both best as well as worst practices. Applied learning theories differ ? behaviorism and skill&drill, cognitivism, constructivism, constructionism ? all having their merits and pitfalls. New technologies, concepts and usage patterns arise (e.g. cheap motion-tracking, Gamification, mobile gaming) while other hypes subside (see social/Facebook games). All of this and more makes Game-Based Learning such an intriguing field, but also one that needs input from all areas of art, science, business and education/training.
We want YOU for ECGBL14. Attend. Share. Gain.
ECGBL 2014 will be your opportunity for the presentation of research, theory, application, practice and validation in the field of Game-Based Learning. In addition, you will be able to enjoy the city of Berlin.