So I'm heading to the Game Developers Conference next week.
My session, the third in the Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses series, is on Thursday, at 3pm PST, in room 309 of the South Hall.
I'll be around all week, so if you're going to be around the conference and want to meet up, give me a yell!
Cheers,
Carla
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Teachers College Educational Technology Conference Call for Papers
I'm involved in the Teachers College Educational Technology conference again this year, to be hosted March 15th and 16th. Below is the call for papers. All papers must be student-authored, which makes is a very friendly environment. It was fun last year. (Proceedings from last year are on the site as well, which may be of interest to some.)
And non-graduate students can attend the conference. So mark your calendars!
Call for Papers:
Published online at http://www.tc.edu/tcetc
The Communication, Computing, and Technology in Education Program at Teachers College invites submissions for its 2010 Educational Technology Conference, "TCETC 2010: Technology, Media, and Designs for Learning."
This conference will serve as a multi-disciplinary forum for graduate students to discuss and exchange information on the research, development and applications of emerging technologies in PK-12 classrooms, distance learning settings, higher education, and corporate learning environments.
TCETC 2010 will take place on Saturday, May 15th, and Sunday, May 16th at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY. Papers exploring topics such as the following are encouraged. The topic list is illustrative rather than comprehensive; we encourage papers presenting completed research and works-in-progress on other related topics.
Submission Guidelines:
Confidentiality of submissions will be maintained during the entire review process; all rejected submissions will be kept confidential. Accepted abstracts will be posted to the conference website. Presenters will have the opportunity to revise their abstracts and post them no later than May 1, 2010. Participation in this conference does not preclude submission of that work to other academic conferences.
Exceptional conference presenters may be asked to submit full papers to appear in a publication of conference proceedings.
Feel free to contact the conference Chairs, Darnel Degand, Carla E. Fisher, and Caron Mineo with questions or for more information. Please also monitor the conference website at http://www.tc.edu/tcetc for information regarding registration, accommodations, travel, and conference updates. Presenters and attendees must pay a small registration fee.
We look forward to your submissions!
Sincerely,
Darnel Degand, Carla E. Fisher, and Caron Mineo
Conference Co-Chairs | tcetc@tc.edu
And non-graduate students can attend the conference. So mark your calendars!
Call for Papers:
Published online at http://www.tc.edu/tcetc
The Communication, Computing, and Technology in Education Program at Teachers College invites submissions for its 2010 Educational Technology Conference, "TCETC 2010: Technology, Media, and Designs for Learning."
This conference will serve as a multi-disciplinary forum for graduate students to discuss and exchange information on the research, development and applications of emerging technologies in PK-12 classrooms, distance learning settings, higher education, and corporate learning environments.
TCETC 2010 will take place on Saturday, May 15th, and Sunday, May 16th at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY. Papers exploring topics such as the following are encouraged. The topic list is illustrative rather than comprehensive; we encourage papers presenting completed research and works-in-progress on other related topics.
- Instructional Design of Online Environments
- Social Software, Web 2.0 Tools
- Human-Computer Interaction, Computer-Mediated Communication, Mobile Media
- Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
- Games for Learning, Possibilities of Virtual Worlds
- New Literacies, Identity Formation, the Future of Libraries and Museums
- Cross-Cultural Communication, Gender and Technology
- Media in the Developing World
- Integrating Technology across the K-12 Curriculum
- Change Issues Related to the Adoption of Technology in Educational Institutions
Submission Guidelines:
- Abstracts (in English) of no more than 500-1000 words must be uploaded to the conference website, http://www.tc.edu/tcetc
- The deadline for submission is 11:59 EST on March 31, 2010. First authors will be notified by April 10, 2010.
- Authors at a distance with video/audio capabilities may opt to present virtually through Second Life. Please contact tcetc@tc.edu to discuss this option.
- Abstracts should summarize the proposed presentation in a way that permits evaluation of the paper's quality and significance. The committee will consider:
1) the paper's appeal to research communities interested in instructional media and emerging communication tools;
2) the paper's suitability for oral presentation; and
3) the quality of the content and significance of results.
- The conference submission site, via http://www.tc.edu/tcetc, will prompt you to include the paper title, presenter's name(s), institutional affiliation(s) and email address(es) of the author(s). In addition, please include a biographical statement for each author of no more than 100 words. If your paper is accepted, this statement may be posted to the conference website and included in the program.
Confidentiality of submissions will be maintained during the entire review process; all rejected submissions will be kept confidential. Accepted abstracts will be posted to the conference website. Presenters will have the opportunity to revise their abstracts and post them no later than May 1, 2010. Participation in this conference does not preclude submission of that work to other academic conferences.
Exceptional conference presenters may be asked to submit full papers to appear in a publication of conference proceedings.
Feel free to contact the conference Chairs, Darnel Degand, Carla E. Fisher, and Caron Mineo with questions or for more information. Please also monitor the conference website at http://www.tc.edu/tcetc for information regarding registration, accommodations, travel, and conference updates. Presenters and attendees must pay a small registration fee.
We look forward to your submissions!
Sincerely,
Darnel Degand, Carla E. Fisher, and Caron Mineo
Conference Co-Chairs | tcetc@tc.edu
Friday, February 26, 2010
Cooney Center Prizes Info
I've been asked by the good people at the Cooney Center to remind everyone about the Cooney Center Prizes. Here's the info...
The Cooney Center is challenging innovators in two categories: Breakthroughs in Mobile Learning and Breakthroughs in Literacy Learning. Up to five finalists in each category will be invited to pitch their ideas to media industry and education leaders at an event held at this year’s E3 Expo. This year's prizes include $50,000 towards prototype development in the Mobile Learning category and $10,000 and the opportunity to work with Sesame Workshop to turn a literacy idea into a product for national dissemination via Sesame Workshop's revival of the iconic literacy show, The Electric Company.
Apply to the Cooney Center Prizes for Innovation in Children’s Learning
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop is accepting applications for the inaugural Cooney Center Prizes for Innovation in Children’s Learning, a national competition intended identify, inspire, nurture, and scale breakthrough ideas in children’s digital media and learning. The program will annually award cash prizes and provide ongoing business planning support to innovators in children’s educational media.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
What I've been reading lately... young adult novels
Originally published on my tumblr blog on 10/7/09
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – It’s the sequel to Hunger Games. Is it the best story ever told? Probably not. It’s kind of like Survivor meets the future dystopian society. But she can really tell a story. In both Hunger Games and Catching Fire, I couldn’t put it down.
Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley – What an amazingly beautifully designed novel! The design is great, the concept is great, the story is fun, but the copy-editing was not so hot. I stumbled a few times when errors occurred. Just makes me sad when it’s such a fun idea. I’d still totally recommend reading it. Wouldn’t it be a total nightmare to die during high school and discover that you still have to go to school AND that not all ghost teenagers are automatically your friend?
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins – A friend recommended Collins’ earlier work. I only read the first in the series. It’s for younger readers, but her storytelling abilities still shine! With all the bugs, bats, and spiders, I’d guess this would appeal to boys. Actually, it’d make a great video game…
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray – Part turn of the century (20th, not 21st), part Gossip Girl, and part supernatural thriller. I’ve just downloaded the remaining two books in the trilogy for the flight to China. Historical sci-fi with cliques! So fun!
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – It’s the sequel to Hunger Games. Is it the best story ever told? Probably not. It’s kind of like Survivor meets the future dystopian society. But she can really tell a story. In both Hunger Games and Catching Fire, I couldn’t put it down.
Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley – What an amazingly beautifully designed novel! The design is great, the concept is great, the story is fun, but the copy-editing was not so hot. I stumbled a few times when errors occurred. Just makes me sad when it’s such a fun idea. I’d still totally recommend reading it. Wouldn’t it be a total nightmare to die during high school and discover that you still have to go to school AND that not all ghost teenagers are automatically your friend?
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins – A friend recommended Collins’ earlier work. I only read the first in the series. It’s for younger readers, but her storytelling abilities still shine! With all the bugs, bats, and spiders, I’d guess this would appeal to boys. Actually, it’d make a great video game…
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray – Part turn of the century (20th, not 21st), part Gossip Girl, and part supernatural thriller. I’ve just downloaded the remaining two books in the trilogy for the flight to China. Historical sci-fi with cliques! So fun!
What kids think, according to two reports
Originally published on my tumblr blog on 10/27/09
I’m always on the look out for more information about kids – what they like to do, how they spend their time, and so on. Two recent reports, while not specifically about kids and games, provide some interesting information. All told, the two serve to remind us of the role of technology in children’s lives as well as the importance of children’s immediate social surroundings.
1. Smartypants Young Love Surveys Children’s Popular Brands
Smartypants released survey results of the brands children ages 6-12 love best. Topping the list of 100 is Nintendo Wii and DS. It’s a fairly technology heavy list. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s an accurate representation of kids’ interests or if they distributed the survey digitally, which could attract a larger proportion of technology-loving respondents. Still, it was nearly 5000 kids, so that’s got to count for something!
Incredibly scary was the amount of the list that’s food brands. (At least it’s scary to me…) But it’s also interesting that technology has a larger presence than television networks and programs.
The main technology players on the list are
1: Wii
2: DS
12: iPod
14: Playstation
22: Nick.com
31: PSP
36: YouTube
42: Xbox
50: Mario
51: iTunes
54: iPhone
65: Google
76: GameCube (surprised me!)
96: Nintendogs
The tv networks and commercial properties on the list are
7: Nickelodeon
13: Disney Channel
17: Cartoon Network
35: Spongebob Squarepants
46: iCarly
75: Animal Planet
84: LEGO
95: Monopoly
Read the full list at http://www.asksmartypants.com/younglove/Young_Love_Top_100.pdf
2. Highlights State of the Kid 2009
The good folks at Highlights for Children (my old stomping ground) recently released the results of a reader survey. 845 kids (ranging from 5-12) returned surveys that were bound into the March 2009 issue or answered the survey online.
The questions are more about childhood than about any specific interest area and the report is written in such a way that still promotes the magazine, but it’s still a nice peek into kids’ lives.
The highlights?
* Kids overwhelmingly said their biggest problem is schoolwork, homework, and tests (23.4%). Then comes social issues, such as dealing with parents (8.1%), siblings (8.7%), and friends (7.3%).
* Outside their family, kids admire their friends (28.4%) and their teachers (17.2%).
* If kids had an extra hour in the day, 36.3% would play, have fun, or play video games.
Various research studies have shown that at age 3, children have around 15-20 people in their social network, and it’s mostly caregivers. By age 9, they have around 40 people in their network. The growth is mostly from the addition of friends. The questions Highlights asked help remind us that children worry about social issues and that their social situations can also be an important influence.
On a side note, it’s also fascinating to read what kids would tell President Obama (20.9% would tell him he’s liked) as well as what they want grown-ups to know about being a kid today (28.9% said being a kid is hard and 21.3% say being a kid is fun). They peppered the report with actual entries from kids, which is just plain fun to read.
I’m always on the look out for more information about kids – what they like to do, how they spend their time, and so on. Two recent reports, while not specifically about kids and games, provide some interesting information. All told, the two serve to remind us of the role of technology in children’s lives as well as the importance of children’s immediate social surroundings.
1. Smartypants Young Love Surveys Children’s Popular Brands
Smartypants released survey results of the brands children ages 6-12 love best. Topping the list of 100 is Nintendo Wii and DS. It’s a fairly technology heavy list. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s an accurate representation of kids’ interests or if they distributed the survey digitally, which could attract a larger proportion of technology-loving respondents. Still, it was nearly 5000 kids, so that’s got to count for something!
Incredibly scary was the amount of the list that’s food brands. (At least it’s scary to me…) But it’s also interesting that technology has a larger presence than television networks and programs.
The main technology players on the list are
1: Wii
2: DS
12: iPod
14: Playstation
22: Nick.com
31: PSP
36: YouTube
42: Xbox
50: Mario
51: iTunes
54: iPhone
65: Google
76: GameCube (surprised me!)
96: Nintendogs
The tv networks and commercial properties on the list are
7: Nickelodeon
13: Disney Channel
17: Cartoon Network
35: Spongebob Squarepants
46: iCarly
75: Animal Planet
84: LEGO
95: Monopoly
Read the full list at http://www.asksmartypants.com/younglove/Young_Love_Top_100.pdf
2. Highlights State of the Kid 2009
The good folks at Highlights for Children (my old stomping ground) recently released the results of a reader survey. 845 kids (ranging from 5-12) returned surveys that were bound into the March 2009 issue or answered the survey online.
The questions are more about childhood than about any specific interest area and the report is written in such a way that still promotes the magazine, but it’s still a nice peek into kids’ lives.
The highlights?
* Kids overwhelmingly said their biggest problem is schoolwork, homework, and tests (23.4%). Then comes social issues, such as dealing with parents (8.1%), siblings (8.7%), and friends (7.3%).
* Outside their family, kids admire their friends (28.4%) and their teachers (17.2%).
* If kids had an extra hour in the day, 36.3% would play, have fun, or play video games.
Various research studies have shown that at age 3, children have around 15-20 people in their social network, and it’s mostly caregivers. By age 9, they have around 40 people in their network. The growth is mostly from the addition of friends. The questions Highlights asked help remind us that children worry about social issues and that their social situations can also be an important influence.
On a side note, it’s also fascinating to read what kids would tell President Obama (20.9% would tell him he’s liked) as well as what they want grown-ups to know about being a kid today (28.9% said being a kid is hard and 21.3% say being a kid is fun). They peppered the report with actual entries from kids, which is just plain fun to read.
Teenreads.com survey
Teenreads.com (which I highly recommend, by the way, as a great source for young adult novels) released the results of a survey of nearly 2900 of their readers ages 11 to 18. By their own admission, the respondents are teens who are already hooked on reading, so it doesn't provide info about how to draw kids to reading. Still, some interesting stuff and definitely worth a read. Here's some highlights:
Social Networking
71% use facebook (26% more than once a day, 14% daily)
42% use MySpace (8% more than once a day, 7% once a day)
25.7% have a twitter account (6% use it more than once a day, 2.8% once a day)
Television Use
25% use a DVR regularly, 15% sometimes, 59% never (could this be a sign of the book-loving respondents' bias?)
25% watch 4-5 hours a week, 22% 6-8 hours, 27% 8+ hours, 22% 3 hours or less
Games
77% play games online
Social Networking
71% use facebook (26% more than once a day, 14% daily)
42% use MySpace (8% more than once a day, 7% once a day)
25.7% have a twitter account (6% use it more than once a day, 2.8% once a day)
Television Use
25% use a DVR regularly, 15% sometimes, 59% never (could this be a sign of the book-loving respondents' bias?)
25% watch 4-5 hours a week, 22% 6-8 hours, 27% 8+ hours, 22% 3 hours or less
Games
77% play games online
The Amanda Project
Originally published on my tumblr blog on 12/2/09
I'm obsessed with books, particularly young adult novels, which some might consider weird given my chosen career of making interactive products. Still, books are cool. So I was particularly excited to discover The Amanda Project. It's planned to be a series of novels, but it's also an interactive community where users can post their own stories, some of which will become parts of the published novels.
The premise for collaborative story telling is great. Amanda disappeared, but she left clues with her friends, including you and me. So now we can share the clues she left with us as well as read the other clues and piece together the mystery. Nice, huh?
I'm obsessed with books, particularly young adult novels, which some might consider weird given my chosen career of making interactive products. Still, books are cool. So I was particularly excited to discover The Amanda Project. It's planned to be a series of novels, but it's also an interactive community where users can post their own stories, some of which will become parts of the published novels.
The premise for collaborative story telling is great. Amanda disappeared, but she left clues with her friends, including you and me. So now we can share the clues she left with us as well as read the other clues and piece together the mystery. Nice, huh?
Articles of Interest
Originally posted on my tumblr blog on 12/6/09
I'm cleaning out tabs on my browser and have articles of interest...
* Warren Spector on the Disney Epic Mickey title for Wii (from Kotaku) Art is pretty crazy. Looks to me as though it'll feel like playing Fantasia
* "Why an iPhone could actually be good for your 3-year-old" (from Boston Globe) Has a good video of kids with iPhone, too!
* "Developmental Stage Select" (from Escapist) by Neils Clark, author of Game Addiction. Basic overview of development and role of games.
* "The Hidden Playground" (from Escapist) Discussion of how kids aren't playing outside as often any more and how games like The Hidden Park (iPhone) might help reclaim outdoor play.
I'm cleaning out tabs on my browser and have articles of interest...
* Warren Spector on the Disney Epic Mickey title for Wii (from Kotaku) Art is pretty crazy. Looks to me as though it'll feel like playing Fantasia
* "Why an iPhone could actually be good for your 3-year-old" (from Boston Globe) Has a good video of kids with iPhone, too!
* "Developmental Stage Select" (from Escapist) by Neils Clark, author of Game Addiction. Basic overview of development and role of games.
* "The Hidden Playground" (from Escapist) Discussion of how kids aren't playing outside as often any more and how games like The Hidden Park (iPhone) might help reclaim outdoor play.
Selected Writing
I've been known to write from time to time. A few can be read or downloaded online.
Resources for Developers pdf handout. Developed with Carly Shuler for the 2008 Sandbox Summit
Professor Dalrymple's Patented Fairy Catching System (on Amazon.com)
Taiwan Travels on HighlightsKids.com
Dishing Criticism Efficiently on disclife.com
Taking Criticism with a Smile on disclife.com
Resources for Developers pdf handout. Developed with Carly Shuler for the 2008 Sandbox Summit
Professor Dalrymple's Patented Fairy Catching System (on Amazon.com)
Taiwan Travels on HighlightsKids.com
Dishing Criticism Efficiently on disclife.com
Taking Criticism with a Smile on disclife.com
Presentations
Here's the files from some past presentations. I'll update with new ones as I go.
Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses 3: Research for Kid-Friendly Social Gaming Experiences presented @ 2010 Game Developers Conference (pdf, 12.8 mb)
Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses 2.0: The Research You Should Know When Making Games for Kids presented @ 2009 Game Developers Conference (pdf, 10 mb)
Fun Follows Function: Ten Tips for Developing Quality Toys. Presented with Carly Shuler @ 2008 Sandbox Summit (pdf)
Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses: Researching Games with Kids presented @ 2008 Game Developers Conference (pps file)
Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses 3: Research for Kid-Friendly Social Gaming Experiences presented @ 2010 Game Developers Conference (pdf, 12.8 mb)
Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses 2.0: The Research You Should Know When Making Games for Kids presented @ 2009 Game Developers Conference (pdf, 10 mb)
Fun Follows Function: Ten Tips for Developing Quality Toys. Presented with Carly Shuler @ 2008 Sandbox Summit (pdf)
Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses: Researching Games with Kids presented @ 2008 Game Developers Conference (pps file)
Monday, February 8, 2010
Back to Blogger...
After a failed go with Tumblr, I'm coming back to here. I'll be reposting some of my favorite posts over the past few months. Otherwise, onward!
About Me
I design, research, and produce kids’ games (mostly digital, mostly educational) and online learning environments. Depending on the client’s needs, I’m available to oversee the production process or consult at various stages of research and development if a development team is already in place. (See this pdf of my freelance services for more information.)
As much of my work focuses on helping game designers incorporate developmental psychology and research into their game design paradigm, I also offer workshops for clients who wish to educate their staff on bridging game design with developmental psychology and research methods.
One day soon, I’ll also complete my studies for a doctorate in instructional technology and media at Teachers College, Columbia University.
If you want the full story of my career, my resume/c.v. and a list of freelance services are both online.
If you’re interested in working with me, please drop me a line at carlaeng /at/ gmail /dot/ com. Or connect with me on Facebook or LinkedIn. I'm always happy to connect with others in the field!
Blue skies,
Carla
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