| Description | Historical empathy is a fundamental construct that facilitates awareness of multiple perspectives and enables learners to appreciate the complex situational and social factors that have influenced historical events. Research has shown that students exposed to traditional, lecture-based instruction tend to put forward naïve explanations for historical actions (Lee & Ashby, 2001) while students engaged in activities that involve looking through the eyes of people in the past tend to demonstrate deeper, more intellectually complex understandings of history (Levstik & Barton, 2011). Recently, scholars have argued for an updated conceptualization of historical empathy as a dual-dimensional, cognitive-affective construct involving three interrelated elements: historical contextualization, perspective taking, and affective connection (Endacott & Brooks, 2013). Emerging research suggests that videogames may offer special affordances to teach toward this updated theoretical model (Diamond, 2012). In an effort to determine what particular qualities of games may contribute to the development of historical empathy, this poster explores the affordances and constraints of Ubisoft's Valiant Hearts: The Great War (2014). A close examination of the affordances and constraints of Valiant Hearts will provide a starting point for educators and researchers interested in its suitability for the classroom. It will also be useful to developers interested in this game from an educational technology perspective. |
