Affective Learning and Serious Games

In a world where technology and education intertwine, the way we learn and interact with information is undergoing a profound transformation. This transformation is deeply influenced by nonverbal communication, human-computer interaction through emotions, emotion expression, emotion recognition, and persuasion techniques. These topics are not only inherently fascinating but also pivotal in creating innovative educational systems.

Humans have a natural tendency to perceive emotions even in artifacts. The behavior of a robot, whether through gestures, movements, or simulated expressions, can evoke emotional reactions in us. This innate response lays the foundation for intuitive interactions with technology. Imagine a world where computers, robots, and other digital artifacts understand and respond to our emotions. Such interactions have the potential to revolutionize the way we learn, communicate, and solve problems.

Games, on the other hand, captivate people of all ages. Beyond entertainment, games offer a powerful medium for interaction and engagement. Serious games, in particular, take this concept further by addressing real-world issues and fostering learning through immersive experiences. They enable users to learn visually, emotionally, and experientially, making education not just effective but enjoyable.

This book explores the exciting fields of Affective Learning, Serious Games, and next-generation educational technologies, shedding light on recent research and its implications for the future of education. Emerging technologies such as virtual and mixed reality, and digital twins are also highlighted for their potential to create immersive and culturally responsive learning experiences. These emerging disciplines leverage emotional engagement and game-based learning to enhance educational outcomes. Affective Learning uses emotional cues to create responsive, human-like interactions in educational systems, while Serious Games harness the power of gaming to teach through simulated experiences. Together, they represent a promising direction for the future of learning. The authors offer interdisciplinary insights that connect research findings with real-world educational practice.

Prof. Kaoru Sumi is a Professor in the Faculty and Graduate School of Systems Information Science at Future University Hakodate, Japan. She specializes in human-agent interaction, affective computing, persuasive technologies, and serious games. Her research explores how emotion-driven interaction, avatars, and immersive technologies—such as virtual reality, mixed reality, and digital twins—can enhance culturally sensitive and engaging learning environments.

While completing her Ph.D. in Engineering at the University of Tokyo, Prof. Sumi was concurrently involved in research at ATR (Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International), where she worked on early applications of human-computer interaction and intelligent systems. After receiving her doctorate, she held positions at NICT (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology), Osaka University, and Hitotsubashi University, and later served as a Visiting Professor at the University of British Columbia. She has led numerous interdisciplinary projects supported by various national and international funding agencies, including MEXT, IPA (Information-technology Promotion Agency)—notably through the MITOH (Unexplored IT Talent) Program—and other public and private research grants.

She has published extensively and received multiple best paper awards in international venues such as ICCE and ITS. Her recent work spans affective learning in programming education, serious games for behavior change, and cross-cultural analysis of persuasive media. She actively mentors students from diverse countries and participates in global collaborative research initiatives.

Prof. Sumi is the author of Affective Learning & Serious Games, a comprehensive volume on emotional engagement, game-based learning, and next-generation educational technologies. She is a senior member of IEEE and ACM and serves as an associate editor for multiple international journals. Her mission is to bridge research and real-world innovation by designing emotionally intelligent systems that foster inclusive and effective learning across cultures.