The FAS Learning Technologies Program focuses on ways to use technology to improve how

people teach and learn. To meet the nation’s education and training challenges, new and
affordable means of training highly diverse populations will be required. Advanced technologies,
including computer games and simulations, can make learning more productive for students of all
ages and backgrounds. Creating these tools in a scientifically rigorous and affordable manner
demands new approaches in curriculum development, collaboration and research.

To promote the use of advanced technologies in learning, the Learning Technologies Program:

• builds constituencies to support increased research and development funding for learning
science and technology;
• creates superior learning games and simulations to generate research findings, works with
scientists and teachers, and collect data to demonstrate how and what games teach;
• holds conferences and summits and writes policy briefs and reports. Our Educational
Games Summit report (www.fas.org/gamesummit) guides our research and development
and is widely cited by the press, educational professionals and decision makers.

Current FAS projects include the following:

Immune Attack: a three dimensional, immersive video game in which the

player aids the body in the fight against bacteria. Explicitly designed to
integrate the laws of molecular science into its game mechanics, Immune
Attack is designed to demonstrate that a video game can effectively teach
advanced concepts in molecular science and cell biology to a wide selection
of the American public. fas.org/immuneattack

Discover Babylon: a three dimensional, immersive game in which players

interact with artifacts from the Walters Art Museum and ancient texts from
the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. Discover Babylon reassembles
cultural material that is currently spread across the world’s museums.
Discover Babylon contributes research in information management and
encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. fas.org/babylon

Multi Casualty Incident Responder: a training game that combines

realistic simulations with advanced training technologies to teach teams of
firefighters. The training simulations and instructional materials developed
by the project will are available to individual fire training departments
throughout the US, and are customizable to meet local training needs.
fas.org/programs/ltp/games/mci_responder.html

Medulla: an open source collaborative toolset that enables users to manage

research and learning in virtual worlds. Medulla brings together an easy-to-
use set of tools and services that will make it possible for subject matter
experts, educators and learners to contribute, use and repurpose digital
content. www.youtube.com/user/FAScientists