Game Based Learning 2010

Imogen joined Epic in June 2004. She has a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and an MSc in Knowledge Based Systems. After a period working as an English language teacher, both abroad and in England, Imogen worked as a technical author for a graphic design company in Germany from 1996. On returning to England she continued to work as a technical author, this time in the field of digital radio.

Imogen is experienced in writing and designing user, program and training guides. She also has experience in website and user-interface design, online-help design, development, translation and localisation, project management and marketing. She is familiar with a wide range of software tools and also has programming and scripting skills. Imogen speaks German and Spanish.

Since joining Epic in June 2004, Imogen has worked on many e-learning programmes for both the public and private sectors. From early 2006 she has worked as Lead Designer on courses for various clients including: the National Centre for Drug use in Ireland, Barclays Bank, British Airways, the Ministry of Defence, E.ON (the German based power company), Tarmac, and the European Service Network sponsored by the European Commission.

The Army’s slogan ‘be the best’ lends itself to competition and game-based learning, while its widely dispersed servicemen and women make mobile learning the obvious answer. As a result, one of the UK’s market leaders in e-learning, Epic, has produced two very different learning solutions for the Army on the Nintendo DS platform: one that addresses Entry Level 3 Numeracy basic skills for new recruits; the other, vehicle maintenance training for Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

In what promises to be a fascinating presentation, Epic’s director of learning, Dr Naomi Norman, and head of learning, Imogen Casebourne will explore the principles behind these two solutions. In particular, they will describe:

•  the use of visual representations and language to instigate understanding through games and other learning approaches on the Nintendo DS;
• the virtuous cycle of learning created through motivation and engagement and the drive to practice in order to improve on one’s performance;
• research undertaken to analyse the effectiveness of these solutions in the field;
• how, despite the appeal of competitive game-play, Nintendo DS can actually breed collaboration.

Naomi and Imogen’s highly visual presentation will end with a look to the future: how games may be used to offer more for Army training; and where Epic can learn from what it’s done for the Army to provide more innovative solutions to its clients in other sectors, including Education, Health and Business.