About GAMLIT

Mission statment
GAMLIT (GAMing and LITeracies) is a network formed on the assumption that meaning making around games is mediated by different modes of communication that may occur inside, across, and in relation to specific game worlds. In this way, games may be seen as valuable tools and social arenas for developing a broad range of literacies, including, but not limited to, speaking, reading, writing, multimodal production, and embodied forms of expression. Despite such meaning making activities, players’ game experiences and game-related literacies are not necessarily recognized by mainstream work and education domains. This both calls for further exploration of what constitutes game-related literacies, as well as studies on how game-related literacies can be applied meaningfully into other domains of life.

Objective
The main objective of GAMLIT is to explore research synergies and promote collaboration among researchers all over the world interested in games and literacies within different domains. The network seeks to promote research through scientific exchanges and dialogue on game-related literacies across various areas of research such as literacy research, language learning, game studies, media education and sociolinguistics. The goal of GAMLIT is to promote high-quality research through open discussion, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the dissemination of the work of the members.

Background
The first formation of GAMLIT took place at the initiative of Thorkild Hanghøj based on meetings at the ARLE, ECGBL, NNMF and CLS conferences, as well as email conversations with several researchers working with games and literacies. A common thread in these dialogues was an interest in creating a collaborative network, which could unite researchers working in different fields and attending different conferences. This lead to the launch of the GAMLIT website (gamlit.org) and the formation of the GAMLIT coordination group in summer 2019, which included Signe Hannibal Jensen, Sandra Schamroth Abrams, and Chris Bailey. The core aim of the coordination group is to facilitate communication and activities among the group members. GAMLIT is not tied up with any particular conference or special interest group. Instead, the coordination group strongly encourages our members to meet and arrange symposia at existing conferences. In order to support this aim, GAMLIT has appointed different ambassadors at relevant conferences – see below.

Activities
The main activities of GAMLIT involve

  • Bringing researchers together at conferences, seminars, symposia etc. in order to present and discuss research relating to games and literacies
  • Communicate online in order to share ideas, research and calls for publication and/or presentations conference calls in the GAMLIT Google Group
  • Create common possibilities for publication of research on games relating to relevant fields such as literacy education, language learning and game studies.

Research meetings
The members of GAMLIT aim to meet, present and discuss research on games and literacies at research conferences such as:

  • AERA (American Educational Research Association)
  • ARLE (International Association for Research in L1 Education)
  • CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning)
  • CLS (Connected Learning Summit)
  • DIGRA (Digital Games Research Association)
  • Designs for Learning
  • ECGBL (European Conference on Game-Based Learning)
  • European Conference on Literacy
  • LRA (Literacy Research Association)
  • NNMF (Nordic Network of Mother Tongue Didactic Research)
  • UKLA (United Kingdom Literacy Association)

Publications
The GAMLIT members aim to publish high-quality research through peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings and research anthologies. The members are encouraged to share ideas and possibilities for research publications.

Online discussion and blog postings
The GAMLIT members are encouraged to share relevant calls, news and activities through the GAMLIT Google Group and mailing list.

Participants
Based on invitations from the GAMLIT coordination group, more than 40 researchers signed up as members. Members represent a diverse and international mix of regions, countries, and research experiences and interests. List of members. can be found here.

GAMLIT Coordinators
GAMLIT is coordinated by:

  • Thorkild Hanghøj, Ph.D., Aalborg University Copenhagen
  • Signe Hannibal Jensen, Ph.D., University of Southern Denmark
  • Sandra Schamroth Abrams, Ph.D., St. John’s University
  • Chris Bailey, Ph.D., Sheffield Hallam University