The situation was bleak: There were just a few plants. The mule deer were hungry. There were no pollinators. Other animals were reproducing. The ecosystem was on the verge of collapse. Those in charge would need to figure out what went wrong. And then make quick decisions to save it. Good thing this was a simulated game designed to engage students in complex science concepts. They probably won’t feed mule deer in the future, but through a thoughtfully constructed interactive video game, learners can build their science proficiency in engaging and meaningful ways.
Developed in partnership with Schell Games, DigitalMill, and the play2PREVENT Lab at Yale School of Medicine (play2prevent.org), PlayForward: Elm City Stories is an interactive, role-playing videogame designed to provide at-risk young teens the opportunity to acquire and practice skills to reduce sexual risk behaviors, with the ultimate goal of preventing HIV.