Call for papers: Special Issue of International Journal of Interactive Technology and Smart Education on “Computer Game-based Learning” Guest Editors Panayiotis Zaphiris & CS Ang, Centre for HCI Design City University London This special issue aims at discussing and examining the educational potential of computer games whose commercial success has recently attracted the scholarly study from various fields. Theoretical issues and practical challenges in game-based learning such as pedagogical principles for computer games, design and evaluation methodologies as well as implementation will be the focus of this issue. RATIONALE There is now almost no doubt that games and play are something worth studying academically due to its commercial importance, its increasing recognition from the society regarding its cultural importance, and its application on non-play/serious domains particularly education. The need of understanding game design in particular and the nature of games in general are evident in computer games as the basics of game design are still unexplored that we need to take a largely formalist approach to discover and explore the fundamental, intrinsic learning aspects of games. Despite the lack of formalist methodologies, some computer games are highly successful commercially. It is believed that this is due to the fact that games that people cannot learn to play and from which they do not get the enjoyment of learning would not sell. In other words, the commercially successful games are designed with good learning theories even though it is not intentional. Good game designers are already doing a very good job at making learning happen. Also, a good game is often accompanied by the pleasure of socialising and interaction with other players. Thus it is argued that learning and sociability are two important criteria game designers may want to apply to game design. THEMES Contributions from both the academic community and industry are most welcomed. Potential topics include (but are not limited to) the following: * Design approaches and techniques suitable for Computer Game Based Learning * Usability studies regarding Computer Game Based Learning * Theoretical and/or pedagogical foundations for analysing learning in/through the use of Computer Games * Within-game and/or out-game learning activities and their analysis * Computer Games and Online Learning Communities * Social and Cultural Issues and Computer Game Based Learning * Accessibility of Computer Game Based Learning SUBMISSION PROCESS Prospective authors should as soon as possible (but before 1st of April 2006) submit a tentative title and a short abstract (maximum 150 words) to Panayiotis Zaphiris (zaphiri@soi.city.ac.uk). Authors of abstracts that are judged to fit the themes of the special issue will be promptly invited to submit a full paper. Full paper should follow the journal’s suggested writing format (http://www.troubador.co.uk/image/journals/1-1-7-Janvier3411.pdf) and should be submitted to the editors (zaphiri@soi.city.ac.uk) Important dates: Title & Abstract submission: By 1st of April 2006 Full paper submission: 15th June 2006 Response to authors: 15th August 2006 Final version of papers: 10th October 2007 Date of Publication: Autumn of 2007 Dr. Panayiotis Zaphiris (zaphiri@soi.city.ac.uk) and CS Ang Centre for HCI Design, City University London Guest Editors Special issue of International Journal of Interactive Technology and Smart Education on “Computer Game-based Learning” -- Dr. Panayiotis Zaphiris Senior Lecturer Center for Human-Computer Interaction Design City University London, EC1V 0HB Tel: +44-(0)-20-7040-8168 Fax: +44-(0)-20-7040-8859 zaphiri@soi.city.ac.uk http://www.zaphiris.org/