Computer games may be a key to ecological learning, study says
Computer games may be a key to ecological learning, study says
Computer games may be a key to ecological learning, study says
October 12, 2022
By Jonathan F. McVerry
Summary
Computer games are an effective way to teach ecological issues and build pro-environment policy support, according to published research by an interdisciplinary group of Penn State scholars.
The study compared the effects of reading a website to playing "CZ Investigator," a narrative-based computer game designed by co-author PejmanSajjadi, where players interact with a virtual natural environment.
The purpose of the study was to test how the game would affect players' understanding of the "Critical zone"-the CZ in the game's name-which is the area of land ranging from the bottom of groundwater to the top of trees, critical to all life on the planet.
"If they're designed well, we can leverage these characteristics and try to deliver a meaningful message. We can create serious games that are fun and engaging."
The research team confirmed that using a serious game to teach about complex environmental systems enhanced the "Ability to think in terms of distinct, but related systems." Participants in both the "CZ Investigator" and web page conditions displayed systems thinking and policy support, but the game was more effective.
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Reference
McVerry, J. (2022, October 12). Computer games may be a key to ecological learning, study says. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://phys.org/news/2022-10-games-key-ecological.html