Games and Learning; experimenting with computer games and mobile technology in Swedish school settings

The technological development that has taken place during the last decennium has resulted in a new media and communication landscape that fundamentally changes the conditions for learning and teaching. Computer games have gradually become a part of everyday life for the majority of young people in the Western society. This includes both boys and girls even though they are still considered to be more popular among males than females. According to a recent Swedish study (Medierådet, 2005), 43% of the boys and 32% of the girls in the age of 12-15 years have computers in their bedrooms. 56% of the boys and 25% of the girls use the computer for gaming (PC, On-line games) every day or three to four times a week. 47% of the boys and 7% of the girls spend the same amount of time playing games on game consoles (e.g. Xbox, Playstation, GameCube). 48% use Internet every day for chatting, gaming, school work etc.

Elisabet Nilsson’s project is focusing on young people’s engagement in computers, digital culture and communication tools, such as computer games, online communities and mobile technology, and what happens when this information and communication technology enters the classroom? How do students and teachers perceive computer games in educational settings? What are their attitudes and expectations? What kind of learning environments do games seem to support? The second aim of the study is to explore if computer games in school can enhance girls’ interest in technology. 

The questions will be explored through a number of case studies conducted in Swedish schools. During the spring semester 2006 we will test play a mobile game in two secondary schools (15-16 years old students) in Malmö. The game is called Agent O and based upon an augmented reality game platform developed by Eric Klopfer and his team at MIT Teacher Education Program (education.mit.edu). The game is played on portable handheld computers connected to the GPS (global positioning system) and designed in collaboration with students in interaction design at Arts and Communication, Malmö University.