Editorial

Citation

Davidson, D. (2005), "Editorial", On the Horizon, Vol. 13 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/oth.2005.27413baa.001

Editorial

This Second Special Issue of On The Horizon that focuses on strategies for applying games, simulations and interactive media experiences in learning contexts. This issue, follows the first special issue which also addressed similar themes.

And like the first issue, this issue was developed collaboratively. Throughout the process, the authors and editors all worked together, using MovableType (www.movabletype.org) to create a thematically connected issue. We have been working together, creating articles with concepts that resonate with each other. This issue is the work of all of us as a whole and I would like to thank all the authors for their participation.

It is my pleasure to introduce our international group of contributors, each writing in a topic area that addresses various methods for implementing games, simulations and interactive media in learning contexts. Along with myself, our group includes: Ian Bogost, Mia Consalvo, William Crosbie, Michael Mateas, Kurt Squire, David Thomas and Jill Walker.

In my article, I give an overview of the phenomenon of university programs and degrees in games, simulations, and interactive media, Kurt Squire delves into what kinds of learning that occurs during gameplay, David Thomas discusses the issue of games teaching us violent or educational content, or both. Mia Consalvo explores how cheating at games can be turned into a learning opportunities, Michael Mateas delineates the importance of procedural literacy, Jill Walker illustrates how blogging can be used in teaching and learning, Ian Bogost challenges us to become more actively involved in our educations and shows how games enable us to do so. William Crosbie provides an in-depth review of Virtual Humans by Peter Plantec.

In closing, I would like to note that this special issue, like the first, is meant to serve as the basis of many more discussions across conference panels, online forums and interactive media that in turn will engender more special collaborative issues. So, let the conversation continue …

Drew Davidson