The effect of using games in teaching conservation

Abstract

Games are an increasingly popular approach for conservation teaching. However, we know little about the effectiveness of the games on students’ experiences and knowledge acquisition. Many current games are supplemental games (SG) that have no meaningful interaction with the subject matter. We adapted the experiential gaming (EG) model where students were immersed in goal-orientated tasks found in real-life situations, and they tackled questions to complete actions for their main task. Classroom-based games were created for eight different conservation topics for an annual Wildlife Conservation Course and an annual Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice. Data were collected over two cycles, a total sample size of 55 multinational students. We used a combination of repeated-measures design and counterbalanced measures design; each student was subjected at least twice to each of the EG and didactic instruction (DI) treatments, and at least once to the SG approach. We compared students’ perception, learning and behavioural responses to the treatments, including measures of student personality types and learning styles as explanatory variables. Findings revealed multiple benefits of the classroom EG compared to the DI approach, such as increased attention retention, increased engagement and added intrinsic motivation. The improved level of intrinsic motivation was mainly facilitated by increased social bonding between participants. Further, we show that this EG approach appeals to a wide range of learning styles and personalities. The performance of SG was generally intermediate between that of EG and DI. We propose EG as a beneficial complement to traditional classroom teaching and current gamified classes for conservation education.

Could Nintendo’s Animal Crossing be a tool for conservation messaging?

“…Games that involve players experiencing the consequences of decision-making are thought to be more effective learning processes than regular teaching (Garris et al, 2002). This has been demonstrated for conservation education specifically (Tan et al, 2018). Gaming psychologists have identified specific features that heighten the effectiveness of these educational games, such as the use of a customisable avatar (a prominent feature of ACNH), that raises the player's sense of identity and investment in the content (Annetta, 2010).…”

The Loop Trail “Quest”: Use of a Choice-based Digital Simulation, An Interactive Video, and a Booklet to Communicate and Analyze Decision-making of Park Visitors

“…The motivational power of games has been applied to conservation education. In the first study to examine the effects of games on conservation teaching, Tan et al (2018) reviewed seven hands-on activities and role-play games, including topics on conservation biology, conservation genetics, and human wildlife conflict. This study concluded that conservation games can play an important role in making conservation more immersive.…”