Playing for a Sustainable Future: The Case of We Energy Game as an Educational Practice

Tania Ouariachi, Wim J. L. Elving and Frank Pierie
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Tania Ouariachi: Professorship Communication, Behaviour & the Sustainable Society, Center of Expertise Energy, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Zernikeplein 7, 9747 AS Groningen, The Netherlands
Wim J. L. Elving: Professorship Communication, Behaviour & the Sustainable Society, Center of Expertise Energy, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Zernikeplein 7, 9747 AS Groningen, The Netherlands
Frank Pierie: Professorship Communication, Behaviour & the Sustainable Society, Center of Expertise Energy, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Zernikeplein 7, 9747 AS Groningen, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Energy transition is key to achieving a sustainable future. However, in this transition, an often neglected pillar is raising awareness and educating individuals on the benefits, complexities, and urgency of renewable energy supply and energy efficiency. This paper exemplifies an educational practice to create awareness on sustainable energy transition by playing a “serious” game, the We Energy Game. Concretely, this qualitative study aims to analyze communicational and educational aspects of the game by making use of a validated framework for serious games analysis, and to expose the opinion of players after maintaining group discussions. The analysis reveals a detailed insight of narrative elements, messages, and gameplay mechanisms, but also educative aspects to be considered by teachers if they are interested in putting the game into practice in their classes. The group discussion reveals that the game has been more successful in achieving cognitive (understanding/knowledge) and affective (emotion/interest and concern) engagement than in motivating attitudinal or behavioral engagement.

Keywords: sustainability; energy transition; serious games; educational technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3639-:d:174980

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