ecgbl 2011 - what happens off the field? proposing a rhetorical approach of the affinity spaces...

What Happens Off the Field? Proposing a Rhetorical Approach of the Affinity Spaces Surrounding Games

Vlieghe Joachim, Bourgonjon Jeroen, Rutten Kris, Soetaert Ronald

Observation about studies on games and learning…

INTRODUCTION

IN games SURROUNDING games

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INTRODUCTIONObservation about studies on games and learning…

IN games

“Studies of gamer communities suggest the importance of not just focusing on games, but looking at gamer discourse to understand emerging digital

literacies. (…) Like video games themselves, gaming communities are interactive in nature, frequently functioning as spaces for participating in

social practices with a life beyond the boundaries of the game itself.”

Kurt Squire (2008) Video-Game Literacy: A Literacy of Expertise, pp. 653 and 644

SURROUNDING games

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INTRODUCTIONObservation about studies on games and learning…

IN games

“Studies of gamer communities suggest the importance of not just focusing on games, but looking at gamer discourse to understand emerging digital

literacies. (…) Like video games themselves, gaming communities are interactive in nature, frequently functioning as spaces for participating in

social practices with a life beyond the boundaries of the game itself.”

Kurt Squire (2008) Video-Game Literacy: A Literacy of Expertise, pp. 653 and 644

SURROUNDING games

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affinity spaces (Gee)

communities of practice (Lave & Wenger)

THEORYCentral concepts…

Communities as living curricula

… getting acquainted with symbols and practices of a particular community.

Social learning in…

THEORY

communities of practice (Lave & Wenger)

excludes certain people and practices.

communities

Criticism

The presumption of membership…

THEORY

Shift the focus of research from…

Suggestion

to

THEORY

communities

spaces

“In affinity spaces people ‘bond’ first and foremost to an endeavor or interest and secondarily if at all, to each other.”

James Paul Gee (2007) Affinity Spaces: From Age of Mythology to Today’s Schools, p. 98.

Observation

THEORY

affinity spaces (Gee)

Community membership is based on imagined ties.

Historical interdisciplinairy relations

THEORY

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

Historical interdisciplinairy relations

Symbolic representation: abstraction of differences among members.

THEORY

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

Non-hierarchical bonding over an endeavour is a temporary state.

Historical interdisciplinairy relations

THEORY

Temporary Autonomous Zone (Bey)

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

“(…) one [has] to work in the knowledge that whatever one [says is] going to be systematically received in radically heterogeneous ways that we [are] neither able nor entitled to prescribe.”

Mary-Louise Pratt (1991) Arts of the Contact Zone, p.39

Historical interdisciplinairy relations

THEORY

Contact Zone (Pratt)

Temporary Autonomous Zone (Bey)

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

Educational spaces should honor difference and

conflict.

Historical interdisciplinairy relations

THEORY

Contact Zone (Pratt)

Temporary Autonomous Zone (Bey)

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

InsightsCommunity, not as a necessity but a potential resource for learning.

THEORY

Contact Zone (Pratt)

Temporary Autonomous Zone (Bey)

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

Community, not as a necessity but a potential resource for learning.

Community formation, as a process of identification through symbols and practices (filtering away differences).

Insights

THEORY

Contact Zone (Pratt)

Temporary Autonomous Zone (Bey)

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

Community, not as a necessity but a potential resource for learning.

Community formation, as a process of identification through symbols and practices (filtering away differences).

Uninstitutionalized space, as an environment where unsegregated collaboration is possible for a limited period of time.

Insights

THEORY

Contact Zone (Pratt)

Temporary Autonomous Zone (Bey)

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

Space for conflict, as a scene where multiple perspectives are allowed and honored.

Community, not as a necessity but a potential resource for learning.

Community formation, as a process of identification through symbols and practices (filtering away differences).

Uninstitutionalized space, as an environment where unsegregated collaboration is possible for a limited period of time.

Insights

THEORY

Contact Zone (Pratt)

Temporary Autonomous Zone (Bey)

imagined communities (Anderson)

affinity spaces (Gee)

METHODOLOGYDefining the object of studyHow are communities formed in affinity spaces?

METHODOLOGYDefining the object of studyHow are communities formed in affinity spaces?

Learning to identify and to participate.

ongoing argumentative conversations in which people engage temporarily by identifying with others.

METHODOLOGY

Affinity spaces as…

Defining the object of study

An observation from the field of New Rhetoric…

“Man is the symbol-using (symbol-making, symbol-misusing) animal.”

Kenneth Burke (1966) Language as symbolic action, p.16

METHODOLOGYRhetorical approach

“Man is the symbol-using (symbol-making, symbol-misusing) animal.”

Kenneth Burke (1966) Language as symbolic action, p.16

METHODOLOGYRhetorical approachAn observation from the field of New Rhetoric…

human symbol use

METHODOLOGYSuggestions from New Rhetoric…

How to study affinity spaces?

Analysis

METHODOLOGY

shifting, broadening and enlarging the scope.

Circumference

Suggestions from New Rhetoric…

How to study affinity spaces?

human symbol use.

Analysis

METHODOLOGYSuggestions from New Rhetoric…

How to study affinity spaces?

shifting, broadening and enlarging the scope.

Circumference

human symbol use.

Analysis“(…) the playing field extends beyond the game itself to the social context and the rhetorical perspectives (intentional or otherwise) of its creators.”

Colleen Macklin (2010) in Henry Jenkins, Ethics and Game Design: A Conversation (Part Two)

METHODOLOGYSuggestions from New Rhetoric…

How to study affinity spaces?

shifting, broadening and enlarging the scope.

Circumference

human symbol use.

Analysis

• Artifacts (or practices)• Public discussion surrounding them

METHODOLOGYSuggestions from New Rhetoric…

How to study affinity spaces?

shifting, broadening and enlarging the scope.

Circumference

human symbol use.

Analysis

• Artifacts (or practices)• Public discussion surrounding them

Selection and deflection of reality.

Screens or perpectives.

METHODOLOGYSuggestions from New Rhetoric…

How to study affinity spaces?

shifting, broadening and enlarging the scope.

Circumference

human symbol use.

Analysis

• Artifacts (or practices)• Public discussion surrounding them

Selection and deflection of reality.

Screens or perpectives.

“(…) directs the attention to one field rather than another.”

Kenneth Burke (1966) Language as symbolic action, p.50

METHODOLOGYSuggestion from New Rhetoric…

How to study affinity spaces?

shifting, broadening and enlarging the scope.

Circumference

human symbol use.

Analysis

• Artifacts (or practices)• Public discussion surrounding them

Selection and deflection of reality.

Screens or perpectives.

Identification and division with others.

METHODOLOGYFocus on spaces where gamers share experiences.

Collecting data…

METHODOLOGYFocus on spaces where gamers share experiences.

Collecting data…

For instance: online forums, chat rooms, …

METHODOLOGY

Focus on language, argumentation and conflict.

Analyzing data…

Focus on spaces where gamers share experiences.

Collecting data…

For instance: online forums, chat rooms, …

METHODOLOGY

o General clusterso Theme-specific clusters

For instance:

• Clustering words and symbols (signaling different perspectives).

Focus on language, argumentation and conflict.

Analyzing data…

Focus on spaces where gamers share experiences.

Collecting data…

For instance: online forums, chat rooms, …

METHODOLOGY

• Focusing on argumentation and conflict (signaling dominant clusters).

o Extension of previous arguments (identification)o Challenges of previous arguments (oppositions – division)

o General clusterso Theme-specific clusters

For instance:

• Clustering words and symbols (signaling different perspectives).

Focus on language, argumentation and conflict.

Analyzing data…

Focus on spaces where gamers share experiences.

Collecting data…

For instance: online forums, chat rooms, …

Value for education

VALUEA rhetorical approach in game studies…

anthropology of learning in a digital culture.

Value for education

VALUE

Emerging forms of learning and literacy.

A rhetorical approach in game studies…

anthropology of learning in a digital culture.

Value for education

VALUE

Emerging forms of learning and literacy.

A rhetorical approach in game studies…

anthropology of learning in a digital culture.

Value for education

VALUE

literacy

… as a social construction.

Value for education

VALUE

literacy

… institutionalisation of identification.

Establishing a community of practice through…

Value for education

VALUEMeta perspective for educators…

on how learners established a shared notion of what is valuable (for) learning.