Vstreet-G: A Web-Based Serious Game for Emancipating Youth on Life Skills

描述(由申请者提供)：第二阶段的项目目标是开发和评估一款名为VStreet-G的独立、基于网络的严肃游戏，并通过增加投资技能部分来完成关于资金管理的交互式多媒体教学。从依赖到独立生活的解放是年轻人，特别是那些被照顾的年轻人最具挑战性和最令人畏惧的人生事件之一。在解放之前，生活在有保障的环境中的青年没有意识到其影响，也没有准备好迎接这一强制变革。VStreet-G模拟游戏将通过激励高危青年在特别适合这一人群的网络环境中学习和应用生活技能，帮助他们为解放做好准备。在第一阶段，我们制作了两个项目：1)关于VStreet-G Serious游戏的设计和开发的概念文件；2)关于资金管理的核心交互式多媒体教学组件，题为Money Medical：健康的网络资金管理和CD。拟议的认真游戏将封装和利用我们之前开发和目前使用的网站Vstreet.com的内容，该网站包含面向青少年生活技能的丰富的基于研究的课程和资源。VStreet-G将提供模拟的解放体验，同时鼓励年轻人访问Vstreet.com上的生活技能材料，以在游戏中前进。在寄养儿童的案例中，联邦《查菲法》要求，所有被法院认定有可能直接从寄养系统中解放出来的人，必须从14岁开始接受生活技能培训。尽管立法者和教育工作者认识到这种教育的迫切需要，但青少年本身并不这样做，直到他们独立生活，他们的生活开始瓦解。VStreet-G游戏将1)提高青年对他们为迈出这一大步所需的生活技能的认识；2)允许他们在模拟的生活情景中练习应用这些技能(如果没有认识和机会实践，解放的青年在现实世界中更有可能失败)；3)为生活技能教育者提供互动材料，激发具有不同识字水平和学习风格的青年的准备意识。第一阶段研究的结果表明，Money Medical在提高年轻人管理金钱的知识和信心方面是有效的。在第二阶段的研究中，至少有150名高危青少年从两个网站招募，我们将检验三个基本研究问题：1)与那些使用Vstreet.com而没有模拟环境体验的人相比，VStreet-G严肃游戏是否增加了用户的动机和准备以与他们即将到来的解放相关的方式改变--包括自我效能感和同理心等关键因素；2)VStreet-G的游戏环境是否比现有的Vstreet.com网站更有效地提高用户的理财技能；3)自我认同残疾的存在是否会对结果产生不同的影响。 与公共健康相关：通过玩拟议的基于网络的严肃游戏，通常抵制传统教育方法、有望过渡到独立生活的高危青年将有机会在虚拟世界中实践过渡。因此，这些青年中的许多人将为成功解放做好更好的准备，从而减少他们对无家可归、身体和精神疾病、滥用药物和卖淫等公共卫生问题的影响。该项目通过提供生活技能认识和培训，将有助于增加高危青年人口作为健康、独立和富有成效的公民生活的机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The aim of the project in Phase II is to develop and evaluate a stand-alone, Web-based serious game titled Vstreet-G, and to complete the interactive multimedia instruction on money management by adding a component on investment skills. Emancipation from dependence to living independently is one of the most challenging and feared life events for youth, especially those in care. Prior to emancipation, youth in supported living situations fail to grasp its impact and are not prepared to meet the enforced change. The Vstreet-G simulation game will help to prepare at-risk youth for emancipation by motivating them to learn and apply life skills in a Web-based environment specially adapted for this population that emphasizes applied learning experiences. In Phase I we produced two items: 1) a concept paper on the design and development of the Vstreet-G serious game and 2) the core interactive multimedia instructional component on money management, titled Money Medical: Healthy Money Management for the Web and as a CD. The proposed serious game will encapsulate and utilize the content of our previously developed and currently used Web site, Vstreet.com, which contains a rich variety of research-based curriculums and resources for teens on life skills. Vstreet-G will provide a simulated emancipation experience while encouraging youth to access the life skills materials on Vstreet.com to advance in the game. In the case of children in foster care, the federal Chafee Act requires that all whom the courts recognize as likely to emancipate directly from the care system be given life skills training beginning at age 14. Although legislators and educators recognize the critical need for this education, youth themselves do not, until they are on their own and their lives have started to unravel. The Vstreet-G game will 1) increase youth's awareness of the life skills they will need to prepare for taking this big step; 2) allow them to practice applying these skills in simulated living situations (without both the awareness and the opportunity to practice, emancipating youth are much more likely to fail in the real world); and 3) provide life skills educators with interactive materials that stimulate awareness about preparedness among youth who have a range of literacy levels and learning styles. The findings of the Phase I study showed that Money Medical was effective in improving youth's knowledge and confidence in managing their money. In the Phase II study, to be conducted with a minimum of 150 at-risk youth recruited from two sites, we will examine three basic research questions: 1) whether the Vstreet-G serious game increases aspects of users' motivation and readiness to change in ways that are relevant to their impending emancipation - including key components such as self-efficacy and empathy - compared to those who, using Vstreet.com, do not have the experience of the simulated environment; 2) whether the game environment of Vstreet-G is more effective at increasing users' money management skills than the existing Vstreet.com site; and 3) whether outcomes are differentially affected by the presence of self-identified disability. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: By playing the proposed Web-based serious game, at-risk youth who are typically resistant to traditional educational approaches, and who are in line to transition to independent living, will have an opportunity to practice the transition in a virtual world. As a result, many of these youth will be better prepared to emancipate successfully, thereby reducing their impact on such public health problems as homelessness, physical and mental illness, drug abuse, and prostitution. This project, by providing life skills awareness and training, will help increase the chances for the at-risk youth population to live life as healthy, independent, and productive citizens.