The panel, entitled “The Importance of Educating for a Video Game Culture”, will address and shed light upon the complexity and the many meanings connected to video games (VG) and education.
The session will be moderated by Alessandro Soriani, University of Bologna, who will provide a comprehensive introduction to the different approaches of incorporating video games into educational contexts, as well as insights into his research about pedagogical uses of video games.
The panel will offer a multidimensional perspective on the role of this innovative medium in education, encompassing topics such as representation, literacy, skill development, teacher training, and research: better understanding the potential and challenges of video games as educational tools is key if we want to promote a more comprehensive education for digital citizenship.
The panel members are leading protagonists in various aspects of this exciting new field:
Andrew Burn, University College London, will provide perspectives on the links between literature and video games by highlighting how designing and playing games can transform learners’ understanding of literature.
Beatriz Pérez Zapata, TecnoCampus (Universitat Pompeu Fabra) and Valencian International University, will present her research on migrant representations in video games, delving into the significance of accurate and inclusive portrayals of diverse cultural experiences within VG.
Thibault Philippette, Université Catholique de Louvain, will discuss the educational potential (and risks) of (online) games, as well as the prospects for video game education, through the case of a recent book he co-edited (“Introduction aux théories des jeux vidéo”) and educational activities he is conducting around Minecraft Education.
Stefano Caselli, IVIPRO, will present the work of his NGO, active in promoting cultural heritage through video games, and an innovative teacher training program that used video games as a means to enhance pedagogical practices.
Veronica Donoso’s, European Schoolnet, intervention will be focused on two main axes: 1) providing an overview of Games in Schools’ Teacher Training MOOC about video games in educational contexts, and 2) presenting the preliminary results of an international research initiative conducted within the framework of the European teachers’ educational practices dealing with video games.