eMapps'com Game Based Mobile Learning Platform

1
eMapps.comGame Based Mobile Learning Platform

• Serious Games on The Move
• 24 June 2008
• Workshop introduction
• Roger Blamire
• European School net

2
eMapps games concept

• Real environment/any location
• Indoor/outdoor
• Different locations
• Real time
• Played (competitively) in teams
• Played by pupils of elementary or secondary
  schools
• 9-13 in eMapps.com
• Game Masters are usually teachers
• Teacher freedom to experiment/adapt
• Various topics from different curricula fields

3
eMapps/QFK game characteristics

• Quest for Knowledge platform
• (University of Ljubljana)
• Differ from regular computer games (purely
  virtual)
• Take the players outside their classrooms
• Involve real world and real people
• Blurring with alternate reality, defined in game
  story.
• Using modern multimedia devices
• Wide possibilities for communication, social
  networking and creation of multimedia content

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Educational value

• Interesting and appealing game stories
• Applicable to a variety of curriculum (and
  cross-curricula) subjects
• Geography, History, local/cultural studies
• ..any obvious limitation?
• Players learn through performance
• Active participation and discovery, analysis,
  interpretation, problem solving, and physical
  activity
• Creative coupling of educational media with
  effective pedagogy

5
Players equipment

• Web browser
• Mobile phones or PDA
• Digital cameras
• Access to QFK platform
• Location based services and GPS an important
  component

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Technical requirements

• Mobile Clients
• Nokia N70
• Nokia N90
• Sony Ericsson P1
• OS Symbian s60
• Opera Web kit
• Desktop clients
• PC with internet access
• Browser (FF2IE 6.0)

7
Game structure

• Multiple missions (layers)
• Missions consist of multiple tasks
• Performed by teams of players.
• Teams are usually divided into two parts
• Game Base (on the desktop computer)
• Avatars (on the field).
• Games are controlled by Game Master
• provides additional clues
• (mis)guides them
• tracks progress.

8
Game design approach

• Previously prepared game scripts (Game Matrixes).
  
• game stories (narrative)
• plots
• challenges
• multimedia objects
• Relative freedom to create game types within
  platform structure

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Platform game components

• One or more Missions
• Containers for Tasks that need to be performed by
  players
• Tasks consist of multimedia objects that act as
  clues for task accomplishment.
• Game masters/developers create new games using
  Game Templates
• missions, tasks and multimedia objects
• can be played indefinite number of times
• Game is played in Game Sessions
• Game Templates teams of players start time.

10
Communication players and game master

• Integrated chat
• Players submit results in various ways
• text answers
• uploaded files (pictures, video, audio...)
• solved puzzles
• geographical coordinates..

11
Getting going

• QFK web site
• internet browser (Desktop, NoteBooks, TabletPC's)
  
• http//galileo.ltfe.org/emaps/quest/
• Mobile devices (Mobile phones, PDA's)
• http//galileo.ltfe.org/emaps/quest/mobile_client
  /

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What we learned

• Roger Blamire

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Platform development

• Evaluation of first prototype and its
  implementation raised specific issues
• Many small/specific complaints about ease of use
  of prototype, especially teacher administration
• All addressed in a re-engineered platform
• Quest for Knowledge University of Ljubljana

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Issues time and management

• Learning about and using platform in prototype
  unrealistically time consuming
• Time unlikely to be found during school hours to
  play the game
• Flexibility in length of game play
• Saving and transition procedures
• Promote potential for extracurricular activities
• out of school/special activities
• involve other institutions e.g. museums,
  libraries, tourist centres

15
Issues - childrens safety

• Game originally conceived to be played in part by
  children in the territory without supervision
• Teachers (or other helpers) HAVE to supervise the
  children for safety reasons
• especially with equipment
• In some places playing outside school would not
  be possible at all
• Final version of project platform will also be
  suitable for game played entirely on screen/in
  school

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Issues - cost

• Focused on New Member States
• Applicable everywhere?
• Will the platform be free to schools?
• Open Source business model
• localised provision
• Teachers time/substitution.
• Equipment (cameras etc)
• Centralised support at national/regional level
• Project funding
• proposals for use of structural funds

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So what now?

• New version of platform available from end of
  project (April 08)
• capable of use and further development after the
  project
• Knowledge sharing to assist adoption of games in
  learning
• project website and reports
• conferences
• www.emapps.com

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Availability of platform for new users

• Re-engineered prototype (University of Ljubljana)
  available - QFK
• Open source code used
• Open source version available for download and
  further development by anyone GPL license
  community responsibilities if modified
• Also possible to license directly from UL for
  support and development in return for a fee
• Hosting environment for Internet-based
  application
• Project partners may collaborate on business
  development cross-border

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Who will be active?

• Need for national owners to provide effective
  training and support
• eMapps project partners likely to play a key role
  in co-ordinating activity
• Most of the 8 NMS partner countries
• Varying models for making platform available to
  schools
• Existing partner schools are reference sites

20
Exploitation partners

• Ministries and Local/regional education and
  cultural authorities
• Education service agencies
• Education research and innovation institutes
• Commercial suppliers to education and culture
  sectors

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Service based exploitation?

• TELCO or mobile service supplier?
• Exploit childrens familiarity with/access to
  mobile devices
• Service suppliers looking for education oriented
  content and services
• How do they see potential of eMapps style mixed
  reality games GPS, location based?

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For latest information

• University of Ljubljana
• http//galileo.ltfe.org/emaps/quest/
• Availability updates on eMapps website
• www.emapps.com
• Contact national partner (see website)
• Contact eMapps co-ordinator
• romana.krizova_at_ crossczech.cz