Serious games for teaching learning in environmental education

Abstract

The need to shift to a responsible consumption model, encourage citizen participation, recycling habits, and water conservation, makes it vital to seek innovative ways for environmental education. Therefore, in this study, the serious games Save the Earth Planet ECO Inc. and Eco Ego were implemented in the teaching-learning process of high school students at Unidad Educativa Mariano Benítez, with the aim of promoting sustainable attitudes and behaviors, and raising awareness about environmental management and care. A quantitative, descriptive, and explanatory methodology with a quasi-experimental approach was followed. Before and after the use of these video games, a survey was conducted to measure participants’ opinions and perceptions of learning in environmental education. As a result, the application of serious games succeeded in promoting more sustainable attitudes and behaviors towards the environment among the participants, leading to reflective learning, meaningful experiences of reconnection with nature, and the strengthening of their commitment and participation in ecosystem protection.

Keywords

• meaningful learning
• serious games
• video games
• environmental education
• sustainability