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- Title
An Educational Video Game for Nutrition of Young People.
- Authors
Ledoux, Tracey; Griffith, Melissa; Thompson, Debbe; Nguyen, Nga; Watson, Kathy; Baranowski, Janice; Buday, Richard; Abdelsamad, Dina; Baranowski, Tom
- Abstract
Background. Playing Escape from Diab (DIAB) and Nanoswarm (NANO), epic video game adventures, increased fruit and vegetable consumption among a multi-ethnic sample of 10-12 year old children during pilot testing. Key elements of both games were educational mini-games embedded in the overall game that promoted knowledge acquisition regarding diet, physical activity and energy balance. 95-100% of participants demonstrated mastery of these mini-games suggesting knowledge acquisition.Aim. This article describes the process of designing and developing the educational mini-games. A second purpose is to explore the experience of children while playing the games.Method. The educational games were based on Social Cognitive and Mastery Learning Theories. A multidisciplinary team of behavioral nutrition, PA, and video game experts designed, developed, and tested the mini-games.Results.Alpha testing revealed children generally liked the mini-games and found them to be reasonably challenging. Process evaluation data from pilot testing revealed almost all participants completed nearly all educational mini-games in a reasonable amount of time suggesting feasibility of this approach.Conclusions. Future research should continue to explore the use of video games in educating children to achieve healthy behavior changes.
- Subjects
EDUCATIONAL games; SIMULATION games in education; NUTRITION; VIDEO games; YOUTH
- Publication
Simulation & Gaming, 2016, Vol 47, Issue 4, p490
- ISSN
1046-8781
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/1046878116633331