Location-based smartphone games in the context of environmental education and education for sustainable development: fostering connectedness to nature with Geogames

• Published in: Environmental education research Vol. 24; no. 11; pp. 1597 - 1610
• Main Authors: Schneider, Joachim, Schaal, Steffen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 02.11.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Complexity; Computer Games; Connectedness to nature; Education; education for sustainable development; educational technology; Environmental Education; Foreign Countries; game-based learning; Games; Handheld Devices; Intervention; Natural environment; Outdoor Education; Pretests Posttests; Recreational Activities; Secondary School Students; Self Concept; Smartphones; Sustainable Development; Teaching Methods; Telecommunications; Germany
• ISSN: 1350-4622; 1469-5871
• DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2017.1383360

Geogames are complex location-based games for smartphones and they are part of a critical discussion within the community of environmental education. The aim of the study is to asses if smartphone games are suitable to foster connectedness to nature and if there are differences between a complex Geogame and a less-demanding treasure hunt. For this purpose, two established scales are used in a pre-post-test-design: the inclusion of nature in self (INS) and the disposition to connect to nature (DCN). Furthermore, the game-related enjoyment was controlled. The results reveal a significant increase of the INS for both game formats, with the strongest effect for the former more nature distant subjects. The DCN-scale shows a similar tendency but not a significant gain. Between the game formats, no significant difference is detectable. So, the main effect seems to be the location-based activity in nature guided by smartphones, not the complexity of a Geogame.