Interest in (and use of) digital learning environments has increased over the last decade, leading to a proliferation of designs for simulation andgame-based learning. One important characteristic of such designs is the extent to which they model the epistemological norms of real practices. Shaffer, for example, describes epistemic games as learning environments that are designed explicitly to help players develop “ways of seeing and solving problems that matter in society” and “…have the power to help shape how young people see themselves and the world around them.”
The purpose of this special issue is to initiate dialogue regarding topics central to the development, analysis, and implementation of epistemic games. The current issue will look at epistemological games in the broad sense of games and digital environments that: introduce learners to or increase participation in a community of practice; develop important cultural or practical values such as civics; enhance players’ identity or create new identities or possible selves; teach players to participate in a semiotic domain; develop complex, real-world problem solving skills in a situated context; and develop epistemic frames or other measures of enculturation. In this issue, we intend to present papers that describe (a) current empirical research on the design and use of such epistemological games; (b) theoretical perspectives on how and why epistemological games introduce players to communities of practice or semiotic domains; (c) criteria for what constitutes a “good” epistemic game; (d) provide critical perspectives on implicit and explicit values in epistemological games; (e) studies of complex problem solving in epistemological games; and (f) current issues in the implementation of epistemological games in learning environments.
*Recommended Topics*
Topics to be discussed in this special issue include (but are not limited to) the following. Ideally papers will approach their subject from more than one of these perspectives.
– Case-studies or worked examples of designs in use
– Empirical findings, including experimental designs, ethnographic studies, and other methodological approaches
– Theoretical arguments
*Submission Procedure*
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit papers for this special theme issue on Epistemology in Games on or before July 31, 2014. Authors who are considering submission are welcome to submit an abstract to the editors for feedback any time prior to the deadline. All submissions must be original and may not be under review by another publication. INTERESTED AUTHORS SHOULD CONSULT THE JOURNAL GUIDELINES FOR MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS at http://www.igi-global.com/journals/guidelines-for-submission.aspx. All submitted papers will be reviewed on a double-blind, peer review basis. Papers must follow APA style for reference citations.
*All inquires should be should be directed to the attention of:*
Jenny Saucerman
Guest Editor
E-mail: jenny.saucerman@gmail.com
*All manuscript submissions to the special issue should be sent through the
online submission system:*
http://www.igi-global.com/authorseditors/titlesubmission/newproject.aspx