On October 15 and 18, 2024, Petra Weixelbraun had the opportunity to participate in the renowned CHI Play 2024 in Tampere. The Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (CHI PLAY) is an international and interdisciplinary conference organized by ACM SIGCHI, bringing together researchers and professionals from the fields of play, games, and human-computer interaction (HCI). The event serves as a global meeting point for all those interested in the dynamic intersections between games and digital interaction.
At the conference, Petra Weixelbraun presented her paper titled “Discussing the Protagonist Role of Students in Game-Based Learning.” Developed in collaboration with her colleagues as part of the Serious Game Changers research project at the Center for Teacher Education, this paper explores the role of students as active creators in game-based learning and examines how this engagement can foster digital competencies. The paper advocates for a stronger emphasis on the “protagonist role” to make the potential of digital technologies accessible to students, empowering them to use these tools actively and creatively.
Beyond the paper presentation, CHI PLAY 2024 offered numerous networking and exchange opportunities for participants from various disciplines. The international setting enabled engaging discussions and insights into innovative projects in the fields of game studies and HCI.
The publication can be found here: Full text in the ACM Digital Library