COSEE California recognizes the need to support education and outreach associated large NSF science initiatives, such as the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). We are working toward providing innovative ways to interest and engage the public in observatories and observatory science.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography is collaborating with the OOI Cyberinfrastructure Education team to create a prototype game for use in a science center setting.
XBOX 360
Serious gaming is a burgeoning field of education, but to date the focus has been on 2-D games that are designed for long-term play. Little work has been done on determining the efficacy of using popular gaming platforms like the XBOX in unconventional settings such as science centers. The game is built on an XBOX platform using open source software. Advantages of using this popular gaming technology include:
- the ability to support the games on any XBOX 360 console or Windows-based desktop machine
- the use of standard XBOX gaming controls already familiar to a large number of middle and high school students, and many adults.
These games can potentially serve as integral components of problem-based learning activities, and be structured to promote higher-order thinking skills in an entertaining context.
Prototypes
Two prototype games are currently in various stages of development, focused on:
- exploration of hydrothermal vents, and
- manipulating equipment that is part of a seafloor cabled observatory
The games have been piloted with audiences at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps and modifications are being made based on user feedback. A trailer for the most recent versions of the games is available on YouTube.
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