A 3D Serious City Building Game on Waste Disposal

The environmental priority requires structural interventions that will be effective in the long period only if they are accompanied by modifications of behaviors, orientations and beliefs, specially investing in the new generations. This paper presents a 3D Virtual World serious game named Pappi World, designed according to pedagogical theories and to the Italian Environmental Ministry guidelines. This game aims at helping children to learn how to dispose waste and to understand that waste can become a relevant resource when correctly managed. The game proposes individual and collaborative activities and exploits the city evolution mechanism proper of city-building games to involve the students. Pappi World is also evaluated 1) considering the learning efficacy and the student perceptions and 2) collecting the teachers opinions related to the game usability, fun, engagement, mechanism and metaphor adequateness as well as expected learning outcomes. Also the student perceptions on the game were collected. With regards to learning effectiveness, the empirical evaluation revealed a significant difference between pre-game and post-game knowledge. Students reported they were engaged and had fun playing Pappi World. Teachers expressed a positive opinion on the game adoption and its effectiveness, also providing useful suggestions to improve it.