Confronting Challenges Regarding Global Energy Politics

This study is devoted to the qualitative analysis of dialogues conducted between students using a modern multiple platform of transmedia storytelling. The challenge-based scenario used in this research is related to global energy politics. Collapsus combines interactivity, animation, fiction and documentary. We are interested in the way students face to face interact when using this platform in order to resolve various challenges in the interactive game that influence the world s energy production as well as in the creation of authentic learning conditions similar to the target country s that offer access to speaking, listening and writing skills in the English language. Results of analysis demonstrate that verbal communication has a coherent structure, when groups try to resolve the common challenges through the interactive game. The only difficulties students encountered are identified in the initial stage and are associated with the operational features of the platform. Afterwards, though, students fully understand and cooperate successfully.

Autorentext

Zacharoula Smyrnaiou is Lecturer in "Didactic Science" and Researcher in Educational Technology Lab (ETL, School of Philosophy, University of Athens, http://etl.ppp.uoa.gr). In the recent years, her research interests and publications concern the teaching of science using new information technologies and the integration of computers in education.