[game_edu] Call for Papers Methodology Track ISAGA2009

[J. Klabbers]

40th ISAGA 2009 conference

Singapore, 29 June to 3 July 2009

Theme: Learn to Game and Game to Learn


http://www.ISAGA2009.org


C a l l   for   P a p e r s


Track

Gaming & Simulation Methodology


Design is a key activity in gaming & simulation. As Klabbers (2008)  
has pointed out, design - broadly conceived - aims at implementing  
courses of action with the purpose of changing existing  
(dysfunctional) situations or systems into preferred ones. According  
to Klabbers we need to distinguish two levels of design: a) design-in- 
the-small and b) design-in-the-large. Design-in-the-large offers a  
basis for various forms of consulting, training and education in an  
attempt to foster new ways of thinking and acting in the context of  
organizational development. Games & simulations, and related design  
methodologies offer effective approaches to the framing and better  
understanding of social systems and to the generation of ideas and  
the shaping of action repertoires for change. Design-in-the-small  
produces games and simulations (artifacts) as such, and related  
interactive learning environments with the aim of modifying existing  
organizational cultures and structures. Used with that goal in mind,  
they contribute to the design-in the-large process of social systems.

Games can be designed for dual purposes: a) to generate a practical  
tool (artifact) for supporting the design-in-the-large, or b) to  
devise a method or model in the analytical science tradition for  
developing and testing theories. In both cases games are being used  
to simulate (to model) existing social systems. Klabbers stresses the  
fact that members of gaming and simulation associations represent two  
distinct branches of science: a) design sciences (communities of  
practice) and b) analytical sciences (community of observers). The  
basic concept of the design sciences is to build games and assess  
their effects and usability. The scientific methods of the analytical  
sciences aim at using games for developing and testing theories. Both  
communities focus on different notions of causality and use different  
criteria for success.



Figure: Framework of two interconnected gaming and simulation  
communities (Klabbers, 2008).


The methodology track will focus on and welcome papers that explore  
such topics as,

·       game design

·       theory testing

·       assessment studies (evaluation)

·       Gaming & change processes (design-in-the-small & design-in- 
the-large)

·       Game research (e.g., comparison between various sorts of  
games or classification schemes, playfulness of rigid-rule versus  
free-form games, competitive versus cooperative gaming, and so on).


Submissions are welcome on all methodology related issues with  
respect to simulation and gaming, their design, use, and evaluation.  
We plan “traditional” paper presentations with discussion and we also  
plan to organise a panel discussion with interactive Q&A session on  
“Bridging the gap between design science and analytical science  
domains of gaming & simulation”. We further plan a joint publication  
with invited participants of the track.

Excellent background discussions can be found in the following  
symposiums (guest editor Jan Klabbers) in Simulation & Gaming: An  
Interdisciplinary Journal http://sg.sagepub.com:

·       “State of the Art and Science of Simulation & Gaming”, Volume  
32, 4, 2001

·       “Simulation and Gaming: The Art and Science of Design”,  
Volume 34, 4, 2003

·       “Artifact Assessment versus Theory Testing”, Volume 37, 2, 2006

The symposium (guest editor Willy Kriz) in Simulation & Gaming:

·       “Bridging the Gap: Transforming Knowledge into Action through  
Gaming and Simulation”, Volume 40, 1, 2009.

The books:

·       Duke, R. & Geurts, J. (2004). Policy games for Strategic  
Management. Tilburg.

·       Klabbers, J. H. G. (2008). The Magic Circle: Principles of  
Gaming & Simulation. Rotterdam.


Procedures and Deadlines

Paper proposals  - March 1, 2009

Notification about acceptance - April 1, 2009

Optional: draft paper è May 1, 2009 è Feedback, May 15, 2009

Final paper June 1, 2009

Please send you contribution to isaga2009 at ssags.org

*****


J. Klabbers
jklabbers at kmpc.nl



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