Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/341807
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 JULY 2014 10 News OFFICIALLY inaugurated last month, the University of Malta's Institute for Digital Games has been playing host to an exciting educational initiative – the creation of a community-based video game, 'Village Voices', which is aimed to foster a spirit of conflict resolution in younger players. Created under the auspices of an EU project – the 'SIREN' initiative – Village Voices was made possible through the efforts of researchers Rilla Khaled and Giorgios N. Yannakakis, who both form part of the Institute for Digital Games and are currently working to develop ad- ditional games which could also be used in an educational context. 'Village Voices' challenges players to work together to ensure that a com- munity runs smoothly – taking care of amassing necessary natural resources, food and the like. Players are also giv- en the option to behave selfishly – by stealing their fellow players' items, for example – but the game's in-built narra- tive will make it clear to the player that such actions aren't worth it in the long run, and that working hand-in-hand ul- timately results in a more satisfactory outcome. The game's ultimate aim is to teach children productive and healthy ways of dealing with conflict, and the team is keen to start introducing the game into classrooms on the island. Though both Yannakakis and Khaled are well aware that video games still carry the stigma of being "mere enter- tainment" – and, arguably, even of being nothing more than a "waste of time" – it's a challenge that they won't be fac- ing alone, as Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has made it clear that he is reso- lutely on their side. Flagging the possibility of incorporat- ing such games in schools with the help of the 'One Tablet Per Child' electoral pledge – which, as its name suggests, will endeavour to equip all young pu- pils with digital tablets for school use ¬– Bartolo said that Malta should take advantage of the rise of the digital gam- ing industry within its shores, especially for educational purposes. "We are in a situation right now in Mal- ta where we have a nascent digital game industry. This is a splendid opportunity and it would be foolish not to exploit it," Bartolo said, adding that any challenges related to this move would have less to do with technology and is more a matter of "societal and psychological" factors. "There are many adults who look down on games as a waste of time, and they need to be convinced. We also need to equip our teachers with the necessary professional competencies to embed digital games in the teaching and learn- ing experiences," Bartolo added. Yannakakis isn't concerned about the available technology either as, tablet or not, the games that he's working on with his team require little more than "a good internet connection and a moderate- speed computer" to run. Mentioning in-development games like iLearn2 (which focuses on dyslexia), Yannakakis says the games also take into account the overall context of the class- room. "The pedagogical scenarios followed are already interwoven within the games we propose, and the interface allows the educator flexibility and control over the game content experienced – for in- stance, educators can design the game scenarios children will experience." Yannakakis's colleague, Rilla Khaled emphasises the importance of the con- text in which the game is played, argu- ing that more or less any game could be made relevant in an educational scenario if the student is given the right reference points. But this, of course, may bring further challenges. Once again bringing up the knee-jerk suspicion to video games parents and teachers may initially have – "but this happens with every medium: people have been suspicious of books, film, and TV" – Khaled insists that "just having the game in the classroom doesn't mean learning will magically happen". "Teachers need to know how to inte- grate specific games as teaching tools and what might be appropriate teaching strategies to pair with games to leverage learning. Decades of simulation game research has shown that the 'debrief' conversation held after a learning game greatly assists people in making sense of play experiences, being critical about them, and being able to connect them with life experiences." So what kind of 'serious', or 'educa- tional' game would be the best fit for Malta at this point in time? Bartolo suggests a fairly broad sweep – "Maltese culture, personal development, family relations. "Then we can go into a more specific direction, such as our rich historical heritage, meeting the need of our ever- growing non-Maltese speaking popu- lation and literacy in the Maltese lan- guage, which is an important element in our recently launched 'National Literacy Strategy for All'," Bartolo added. Whatever direction these games take, Khaled suggests that they may very eas- ily end up reflecting the culture they're created in, as the way a game works tends to be similar to the way we live our day to day lives. "Just as in human cultures, cultural members learn to rely on cultural rules for survival and progression, within games, players learn to do the same. Cultural values and behaviours can be expressed through game mechanics, rules, scoring systems, and win/lose con- ditions. If we map games to cultures, we can view play as actions within a culture that supports and encourages particular sets of values and modes of behaviour, while discouraging, disallowing, and punishing others," Khaled says. What's in a game? 'Opening of public summer schools shrouded in chaos' SUMMER schools centres are either understaffed or else run by persons not trained or licensed to teach, the Malta Union of Teachers has warned. Summer schools open their doors tomorrow Monday now that the scholastic year has ended and students break off for the summer holidays. The union has now advised its members not to attend Skola Sajf centres if the established ratio of one adult per 15 chil- dren is not respected. Allegedly, one play worker was tasked with taking care of some 300 children while another centre in Gozo will be opened with just one person in charge. According to various MUT members, the centres for Skola Sajf are almost entirely understaffed while no provisions have even been made to replace teachers who will be on in-service courses. Gozitan university students have reportedly been asked to work in Malta even though they are sorely needed in Gozo. The MUT said requests for more staffing by coordinators have been met with "arrogant refusals" by the Foundation for Educational Services (FES) management. "The union's communications with the ministry about the fiasco going on in Skola Sajf and Klabb 3-16, which fiasco is orchestrated by FES, have gone unheeded," the MUT said. It advised its members taking part in Skola Sajf not to attend the centres if the established ratio of 1:15 is not respected. "The risks to which FES is exposing its members exceeds by far any pittance in remuneration the same FES can offer." Man hospitalised following Lija traffic accident A 34-year-old man from Pietà was hospitalised yesterday fol- lowing a traffic accident in Mosta Road, Lija. The police said the man was driving a Citroen HZ towards Mosta when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the barriers near the cemetery. The accident happened yesterday at about 6:45am. The driver is not in danger of dying. Rescue corps assist 50 'tired swimmers' MEMBERS of the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps were in one day called to assist 50 swimmers who tried cross- ing between Comino and Cominotto, carrying their belong- ings. Bathers who want to enjoy Cominotto have to go over by swimming the not very long distance as no sea transport is available this year. But crossing between the two little islands, carrying their belongings over their heads, proved to be tire- some. According to the lifeguards, the sea currents make it dif- ficult for swimmers to remain afloat and they end up being dragged sideways. Fortunately, none of the bathers who required assistance was hospitalised. Car catches fire in Sliema A 26-year-old driver from Attard was under shock after his car caught fire while he was driving along Tower Road, Slie- ma. The incident happened just after 1.15pm. Members of the Civil Protection Department were called on site to put out the flames that engulfed the car. Luckily the driver managed to get out of the car, a VW Polo, before it went up in flames. Traffic police and fire fighters from Civil Protection brought the situation under control within minutes. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Giorgios N. Yannakakis Devised by the team at the University of Malta's Institute for Digital Games, Village Voices challenges players to keep a village community running smoothly A group of researchers from the newly inaugurated Institute for Digital Games at the University of Malta are working hard to integrate video games into the educational scenario… and it seems as though they've got the authorities on their side. TEODOR RELJIC speaks to Rilla Khaled and Giorgios N. Yannakakis about their work with the Institute