Researching Simulations and Serious Games for Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

Scholars and educational professionals have claimed that simulations and serious games (SSGs) are well-suited to the task of enabling learners to learn how to meet the complex, systemic challenges associated with sustainability. As methods of active, problem-oriented learning, SSGs typically incorporate decision-making that calls on students to consider the application of knowledge and experience consequences of those decisions. Thus, SSGs are viewed as having high potential for developing higher-order thinking and enhancing ‘action competence’.

The definition of SSGs used in this Special Issue encompasses computer/online simulations, role-playing games, board games, and computer/online games that are centrally concerned with teaching and learning for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Papers are sought from any field in which SSGs are being used to educate for sustainability (e.g., medicine, nursing, business, engineering, science, urban studies, geography).

The scope of this Special Issue is also defined in terms of the types of papers that are sought.

1. Conceptual papers that offer theoretical perspectives on how and why SSGs can meet the challenges of sustainability, or on another aspect of designing and using SSGs for sustainability;
2. Empirical studies that report the systematic analysis of data on the learning processes (e.g., goal-setting, debriefing, design elements) and/or effects of SSGs on learning about sustainability issues and solving sustainability problems;
3. Systematic reviews of research on the use of different types of SSGs (e.g., online games), features of SSGs being used to educate for sustainability, analysis of research designs and methods of sustainability SSGs, and synthesis of findings from a body of studies (e.g., effectiveness of climate change simulations).

The following types of papers will not be considered for the Special Issue.

1. Papers that describe the development of a new simulation and reflect in general terms on student responses without systematic data analysis;
2. Papers that describe the simulated modeling of sustainability processes such as climate change outside the context of a game;
3. Studies of computer games whose purpose is primarily entertainment;
4. Papers that are solely focused on the economic pillar of sustainability (e.g., a marketing simulation that is not concerned with social or environmental issues).

Interested scholars with questions may contact the Special Issue editor in advance of submission at [email protected].

Prof. Dr. Philip Hallinger
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Simulations and Serious Games SSG Designs and Methods of Sustainability SSGs Computer/Online Games Educate for Sustainability