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Intergenerational tabletop game design for exploring the climate emergency: insights from an undergraduate field course
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Cai Ladd
Journal of Geography in Higher Education, Pages: 1 - 11
Swansea University Authors:
Merryn Thomas, Emilia Urbanek , Cai Ladd
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© 2025 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) License.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1080/03098265.2025.2497225
Abstract
While studies show the value of playing games for exploring complex geographical concepts, much less research considers the value of game construction. Here we present the rationale, methodology and pedagogical affordances of an “intergenerational climate change game” creation assignment that formed...
| Published in: | Journal of Geography in Higher Education |
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| ISSN: | 0309-8265 1466-1845 |
| Published: |
Informa UK Limited
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69429 |
| Abstract: |
While studies show the value of playing games for exploring complex geographical concepts, much less research considers the value of game construction. Here we present the rationale, methodology and pedagogical affordances of an “intergenerational climate change game” creation assignment that formed part of a 2nd year undergraduate field course to the Isles of Scilly, Southwest UK. During and after the field trip, students and staff reflected on the process and learnings. First, the assignment was effective in consolidating students’ knowledge from various field trip activities and encouraging critical thinking. Students actively engaged in the learning process by playing and appraising their own and each other’s games. They enjoyed the creative and novel approach, which was felt to develop teamwork, soft skills and problem solving. The intergenerational element also developed students’ ability to simplify complex concepts to be understood by older/younger non-expert audiences. We conclude by considering the role of playful methodologies in geography undergraduate field trips, and further applications of our approach. |
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| Keywords: |
Production pedagogy, game design, constructionist gaming, climate change, intergenerational |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by the University of Stirling Ageing and Place: Pandemic Recovery and Action on Climate CHange (APPROACH) fund, as part the Social Behavioural & Design Research Programme (UK Research and Innovation) under grant number ES/T014016/1. |
| Start Page: |
1 |
| End Page: |
11 |