The Impact of a Science Education Game on Students’ Learning and Perception of Inhalants as Body Pollutants

Abstract

This study investigated the knowledge gains and attitude shifts attributable to a unique online science education game, Uncommon Scents. The game was developed to teach middle school students about the biological consequences of exposure to toxic chemicals in an environmental science context, as well as the risks associated with abusing these chemicals as inhalants. Middle school students (n = 444) grades six through eight participated in the study consisting of a pre-test, three game-play sessions, and a delayed post-test. After playing the game, students demonstrated significant gains in science content knowledge, with game usability ratings emerging as the strongest predictor of post-test content knowledge scores. The intervention also resulted in a shift to more negative attitudes toward inhalants, with the most negative shift occurring among eighth grade students and post-test knowledge gains as the strongest predictor of attitude change across all grade levels. These findings suggest that the environmental science approach used in Uncommon Scents is an efficacious strategy for delivering both basic science content and influencing perceived harm relating to the inhalation of toxic chemicals from common household products.

Acceptability of an Online Health Videogame to Improve Diet and Physical Activity in Elementary School Students: “Fitter Critters”

“…The high acceptability ratings for the game are encouraging for further research on the ability of ''Fitter Critters'' to improve healthy eating and activity. Studies of health videogames used in school to increase health knowledge reported satisfaction and usability ratings ranging from 3.39 to 3.75 on a 5-point scale, 10,11 which is lower than the mean ratings observed in the present study. As satisfaction and usability appear to be correlated with knowledge gained, the high acceptability of ''Fitter Critters'' has implications for its ability to impact health knowledge and ultimately behavior.…”

“…The health meter changes based on the Critter's diet and physical activity. The diet meters represent daily nutritional requirements, based on the USDA recommendations for children [8][9][10][11][12] years old, and fill as the player feeds the Critter. Meters reset daily so they can be filled again the next time the player logs on.…”

“…8 The integration of health videogames into schools to improve weight-related behaviors is largely unexplored but has great potential for preventing childhood obesity. Videogames have been used in schools to teach educational content and convey health messages related to nutrition, 9 alcohol and drug use, [10][11][12] and hygiene. 13 Videogame acceptability may be critical to the ability of these games to impact behavior, as student satisfaction and usability ratings of videogames were positively correlated with knowledge gained.…”

“…13 Videogame acceptability may be critical to the ability of these games to impact behavior, as student satisfaction and usability ratings of videogames were positively correlated with knowledge gained. 10,11 ''Fitter CrittersÔ,'' developed by Megazoid Games (Collegeville, PA), is an online videogame intended for use in schools for children [8][9][10][11][12] years old, which won 2nd place in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Michelle Obama 2010 Apps for Healthy Kids contest. In the game, the player is responsible for the health of a virtual pet (Critter).…”

Development of a Coding Instrument to Assess the Quality and Content of Anti-Tobacco Video Games

“…7 Games have been used in several prevention and cessation programs in high school students and adults, [8][9][10][11] and previous research has shown the use of electronic games as an effective method for increasing content knowledge about the risks of drugs and alcohol use for adolescents. [12][13][14][15] Additionally, researchers found that a computer-based, interactive substance abuse treatment and prevention program increased drug abuse prevention knowledge and decreased the frequency of smoking among adolescents. 16 For example, in a meta-analysis of computerdelivered interventions for alcohol and tobacco use, researchers analyzed the effect sizes from 42 randomized controlled trials, and found the average weighted effect size (d) across the studies to be 0.20, p < 0.001.…”