Our R&D process produces not only working prototypes of innovative digital learning resources, but new insights into the design and use of digital resources for learning across a number of different subject areas and age groups. As part of our prototype design process we conduct design workshops with children and teachers, produce overviews of related literature and projects, and report on trials in schools and other settings. As projects progress we post many of these findings and reports here.
(NB read summaries of all our prototype projects in the 'showcase' section.)
Current reports available:
(projects are listed in alphabetical order)
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Adventure Author
Adventure Author is a game-authoring tool designed to support interactive storytelling skills through the use of game technologies. Drawing on traditional role-playing techniques, it moves away from first-person-shooter game formats, by emphasising character, plot and narration.
Read Adventure Author context paper - web version (6 pages)
Read Adventure Author context paper - pdf version for best printing results (opens 235kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Astroversity
Astroversity is a multiplayer game that enables children to take on collaborative problem-solving roles in a scenario set in outer space. In the game the three players take the role of students in a space academy who have to rescue their peers from a range of toxic gases after a disaster.
Read Astroversity research report - web version (22 pages)
Read Astroversity research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 643kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read other Astroversity papers (in 'other publications' section)
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Debating the Evidence
The goal of Debating the Evidence is to create a safe environment that encourages students to critically evaluate and discuss scientific evidence in scenarios where social consequences are high and when the evidence is sometimes incomplete or conflicting.
Read Debating the Evidence research report - web version (11 pages)
Read Debating the Evidence research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 422kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Fizzees
Fizzees (Physical Electronic Energisers) is a prototype project that enables young people to care for a 'digital pet' through their own physical actions. In order to nurture their digital pet, keep it healthy and grow, they must themselves act in physically healthy ways.
Read Fizzees context paper - web version (9 pages)
Read Fizzees context paper - pdf version for best printing results (opens 261kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Future Landscapes
Future Landscapes is an interoperable, responsive tool that allows young people to discuss and represent ideas about humans' influence on future landscapes. Young people will be able to enter and manipulate different kinds of data in order to explore the influence of humans on the environment, by visualising 'future' landscape scenarios in both 2D and 3D formats.
Read Future Landscapes context paper - web version (4 pages)
Read Future Landscapes context paper - pdf version for best printing results (opens 160kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read Future Landscapes research report - web version (3 pages)
Read Future Landscapes research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 726kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Iya-ola
Iya-ola is a collection of language learning games with a difference: the player can only progress through collaborating with a learner in a different country. Iya-ola provides carefully structured language exercises using web-based audio-visual chat technology. Initially focusing on English and Spanish, it has the potential to be developed for use with other languages.
Read Iya-ola final report - web version (3 pages)
Read Iya-ola final report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 150kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Jungulator
Jungulator allows 14-17 year-olds to develop new audio-visual compositions in partnership with the computer. Users input audio and visual samples and set the criteria for how they are manipulated; the computer randomly applies these criteria, affecting the samples as they continue to play in real time, simultaneously the user responds to these changes.
Read Jungulator research - web version (17 pages)
Read Jungulator research - pdf version for best printing results (opens 780kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read Jungulator WAC trial report - web version (4 pages)
Read Jungulator WAC trial report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 145kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read Jungulator mini-report - web version (4 pages)
Read Jungulator mini-report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 223kb file in pdf format in same window)
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The Language Train
The Language Train (by MindWeavers) aims to create engaging tasks for students aged between 5 and 11 to practice phoneme recognition, by modelling different versions of words in Spanish.
Read The Language Train trial report - web version (4 pages)
Read The Language Train trial report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 157kb file in pdf format in same window)
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MediaStage
MediaStage (previously Tableaux) is a virtual television studio with a cast of virtual actors. You can become the producer and director of your own animated 3D dramas or documentaries. MediaStage puts control of scenery, props, actors, cameras and lights into the hands of learners.
Read MediaStage research report - web version (2 pages)
Read MediaStage research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 119kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read other MediaStage papers (in 'other publications' section)
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Moovl
Moovl allows children to draw on a tablet PC with a stylus, then program their drawings to move according to simple physics of mass, elasticity, air resistance and solidity. An online scrapbook component allows users to share their images. It is intended to allow very young children to explore simple science principles.
Read Moovl research report - web version (10 pages)
Read Moovl research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 2.9mb file in pdf format in same window)
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Mudlarking in Deptford
Mudlarking in Deptford is a project that empowers young people to engage creatively with their built environment. Taking advantage of mobile technologies, students (aged 11/12) initiate and add to an ever-evolving tour in and around Deptford Creek in London.
Read Mudlarking mini-report - web version (3 pages)
Read Mudlarking mini-report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 1.17mb file in pdf format in same window)
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Pleasurable Cities
The Pleasurable Cities project explores the pros and cons of technology-enhanced systems (utilising located media and mobile phones) to enable young people to share their ideas with peers and policy makers and to affect change to the environments in which they, live, play, work and learn.
Read Pleasurable Cities discussion paper - web version (8 pages)
Read Pleasurable Cities discussion paper - pdf version for best printing results (opens 403kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Racing Academy
Racing Academy is a prototype multiplayer car racing and vehicle engineering simulation embedded within an online community. In order to succeed in the racing game, players need to engage with different engineering challenges in car design and, in the online community, are able to share advice and suggestions with their peers.
Read Racing Academy research report - web version (14 pages)
Read Racing Academy research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 580kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Savannah
Savannah is a strategy-based adventure game where a virtual space is mapped directly onto a real space (a school playing field). Children 'play' at being lions in a savannah, navigating the augmented environments with a mobile hand-held device. By using aspects of gameplay Savannah challenges children to explore and survive in the augmented space, adopting strategies used by lions.
Read Savannah non-technical game description - web version (2 pages)
Read Savannah research report - web version (17 pages)
Read Savannah research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 478kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read other Savannah papers (in 'other publications' section)
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Snapshot
Snapshot is a narrative simulation adventure game which engages the learner as a responsible photo-journalist within in a small, suburban community. The game explores how the learner responds to the events and circumstances which occur in a real-time 3D world, observing events, taking snapshots and interviewing people.
Read Snapshot context paper - web version (4 pages)
Read Snapshot context paper - pdf version for best printing results (opens 145kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Space Mission: Ice Moon
This is a multimedia adventure role-play which involves students as an 'Emergency Response Team' rescuing six astronauts on Jupiter's icy moon of Europa. During the activity, which supports Key Stage 3 science, students work in a range of science disciplines and use resources such as video-conferencing, pre-recorded video streaming, interactive graphics, text 'chat' facilities, and a data library.
Read Space Mission: Ice Moon research report - web version (14 pages)
Read Space Mission: Ice Moon research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 728kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read Space Mission: Ice Moon context paper - web version (4 pages)
Read Space Mission: Ice Moon context paper - pdf version for best printing results (opens 157kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read Space Mission: Ice Moon mini-report - web version (3 pages)
Read Space Mission: Ice Moon mini-report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 444kb file in pdf format in same window)
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Welcome to the Neighbourhood - Space Signpost
Welcome to the Neighbourhood is a new approach to public understanding of science that allows people in public spaces to explore the solar system while standing in a city street. Users control a moving signpost that points to objects in the solar system while navigating a digital interface to explore the planets, asteroids, comets and spacecraft to which the signpost is pointing.
Read Welcome to the Neighbourhood (Space Signpost) research report - web version (8 pages)
Read Welcome to the Neighbourhood (Space Signpost) research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 357kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read Welcome to the Neighbourhood (Space Signpost) mini-report - web version (4 pages)
Read Welcome to the Neighbourhood (Space Signpost) mini-report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 1.24mb file in pdf format in same window)
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World Power League
The World Power League (formerly known as 'Public Private Matters') is a web-based resource designed to stimulate young people to reflect on the concepts of citizenship and politics. Using the functionality of an online ‘election’ it invites users to consider how power is used in everyday life in both public and private, and to vote on how they would prefer it distributed.
Read World Power League context paper - web version (4 pages)
Read World Power League context paper - pdf version for best printing results (opens 160kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read World Power League research report - web version (17 pages)
Read World Power League research report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 772kb file in pdf format in same window)
Read World Power League mini-report - web version (3 pages)
Read World Power League mini-report - pdf version for best printing results (opens 201kb file in pdf format in same window)
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