AUGMENTED LEARNING

New technology has brought with it new tools for learning, and researchhas shown that the educational potential of video games resonates with scholars, teachers, and students alike. In Augmented Learning, Eric Klopfer describes thelargely untapped potential of mobile learning games--games played on such handhelddevices as cell phones, Game Boys, and Sony PSPs--to make a substantial impact onlearning. Examining mobile games from both educational and gaming perspectives, Klopfer argues that the strengths of the mobile platform--its portability, contextsensitivity, connectivity, and ubiquity--make it ideal for learning games inelementary, secondary, university, and lifelong education. Klopfer begins byexploring the past and present of education, educational technology, "edutainment," and mobile games, and then offers a series of case studiesof mobile educational games that have been developed and implemented in recentyears. These games--either participatory (which require interaction with otherplayers) or augmented reality (which augment the real world with virtualinformation)--can be produced at lower cost than PC or full-size console games. Theyuse social dynamics and real-world context to enhance game play, they can beintegrated into the natural flow of instruction more easily than their big-screencounterparts, and they can create compelling educational and engaging environmentsfor learners. They are especially well-suited for helping learners at every leveldevelop twenty-first century skills--including the ability to tackle complexproblems and acquire information in "just-in-time" fashion. All of this, Klopfer argues, puts mobile learning games in a unique and powerful position withineducational technology. Eric Klopfer is Associate Professor of Education at MIT, Director of MIT's Scheller Teacher Education Program (TEP), with a joint appointmentat the MIT Media Lab. title from author 7/25/07]