Local keynote: Serious Games & Gamification – New Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Local keynote: Serious Games & Gamification – New Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Wednesday 25/05 10:30-11:30

Main Hall

Abstract

A serious game is a game created with the intention to entertain and to achieve at least one additional goal (e.g., learning or health). Gamification is the use of game elements and game-design techniques in non-game contexts to engage people and solve problems.

This presentation will focus on the design and deployment of serious games and gamification in education where we often find students demotivated and lecturers failing to engage them in learning activities. Special focus will be given on e-learning contexts where the engagement of the students is lower due to mediated communication, and lack of eye contact. Examples of serious games will also be presented to the participants.

About the speaker

Thrasyvoulos Tsiatsos is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and a member of the Software and Interactive Technologies (SWITCH) Lab. He obtained his Diploma, his master’s degree and his PhD from the Computer Engineering and Informatics Department of Patras University (Greece). His research interests include Virtual Learning Environments, Serious Games and Gamification and Open and Distance Education. He has published more than 220 papers in Journals and in well-known refereed conferences and he is co-author in 4 books. He has been a chair, PC member and referee in various international journals and conferences. He was coordinator or member of the research team in various R&D national and international projects in the area of Technology Enhanced Learning, Gamification and Serious Games, such as GOAL, SUGAPAS, HALT, and MOOConETC. He is WP4 leader in EPICUR alliance, leading the implementation of the EPICUR Inter University Campus (EIUC). Also, he is IEEE member.