Modding for Change: Promoting Empathy and Agency for Climate Systems

Anna Amato, Camillia Matuk, Talia Hurwich

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Climate change is a difficult topic for students due to interconnections and feedback among multiple components of the climate system. But many people also disengage from this discussion due to feelings of powerlessness. To engage students with this topic, it is also important for them to feel empathy for those affected and agency to make change. We designed and facilitated a week-long game design workshop for 11 grade 7 students. Students learned about climate change issues, and then modified the game Forbidden Island to engage players in an issue of their choice. Based on observations, interviews, and analyses of students' games, we describe how the game narratives and game mechanics that students created reflected refinements in their reasoning about, and empathy for climate-related issues.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of FabLearn 2020 - 9th Annual Conference on Maker Education
Subtitle of host publicationMaking as Resistance and Resilience
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages126-129
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781450375436
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 4 2020
Event9th Annual Conference on Maker Education: Making as Resistance and Resilience, FabLearn 2020 - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: Apr 4 2020Apr 5 2020

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Conference

Conference9th Annual Conference on Maker Education: Making as Resistance and Resilience, FabLearn 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period4/4/204/5/20

Keywords

  • Climate Change
  • Constructionism
  • Game Design
  • Modding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Software

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