At the first in a series of regional public conversations on digital media and
learning, three experts in education and gaming shared their views and
experiences about the use of video games for learning. It was held at the
Newberry Library in Chicago on February 8.
The public program was opened by Jonathan
Fanton, President of the MacArthur Foundation, and moderated by Connie
Yowell, MacArthur's director of education grantmaking. Panelists
included:
Sasha
Barab of Indiana University demo-ed his latest project, Quest
Atlantis, an immersive online world designed to help teach science to
junior high school students.
Nichole
Pinkard, Director of Technology at the University of Chicago’s
Center for Urban School Improvement, shared her experience creating an
innovative digital media after school program.
David
Williamson Shaffer, a professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison
and author of How Computer Games Help Children Learn, discussed his
latest research on games and learning.
