Siemens
Company
Documents about Siemens
Whitepaper9 pages
Spontaneous Communities of Learning: Learning Ecosystems in Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming Environments
This doctoral research proposal examines how spontaneous communities of learning emerge within massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs), using City of Heroes as its primary case.
- Massively multiplayer online games such as City of Heroes act as informal learning ecosystems where globally dispersed players self-organise to master complex environments.
- The authors argue that because mastery typically requires collaboration, players form symbiotic learning relationships that extend beyond the game into forums, chat channels, and face-to-face meetings.
- The framework draws on legitimate peripheral participation (Lave and Wenger), connectivism (Siemens), and distributed intelligence (Levy), positing that learning is best studied in naturally occurring contexts rather than formal classrooms.
DiGRAJan 2005
Whitepaper9 pages
Authentic Learning Experiences Through Play: Games, Simulations and the Construction of Knowledge
This paper, by Lisa Galarneau of the University of Waikato, argues that games and simulations are most valuable when they are designed around authentic learning experiences rather than deployed as generic motivational wrappers.
- Games and simulations are most valuable when designed around authentic learning experiences, not used as generic motivational wrappers; many 1990s 'edutainment' titles merely repackaged didactic content.
- The paper's core thesis is that learning is the formation of connections through experience, so the key design question is how to let learners experiment with knowledge in context and encounter a range of outcomes, including failure.
- The author proposes balancing three elements identified by Clark Aldrich (pedagogical structure, simulation mechanics, and game features), with the simulation element treated as central to providing realistic practice.
DiGRAJan 2005