Designing collaborative games for children education on sustainable development

Abstract

Recent research in the digital learning game area strives for defining a solid grounding methodology, capable of driving the game design process towards the maximization of the intended educational results. In this work, we investigate the mix of tangible interaction, immersive environments, collaborative multiplay and validated theoretical background in the design of WaterOn!, an educational game focused on teaching water cycle contents for children. The paper presents the design decisions taken in light of the adopted methodologies, and discusses some open questions related to the use of these tools.