Wildlife rescue as a framework for learning

ABSTRACT

Nickelodeon Online has designed and deployed two versions of "Wildlife Rescue", an online game that allows kids to take on the role of a Wildlife Ranger. Rangers are charged with the responsibility of attending to animals who have become sick or injured in locales such as the Serengeti or an island in the South China Sea. We feel that this game which is part simulation and part real-time strategy presents an effective and popular framework for learning about animals, biodiversity and conservation and we describe some of the cognitive instruments used to engage our audience about these topics.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.8 Applications

Keywords:
animals, biodiversity, computer graphics, conservation, education, games, online games, simulation