The Nexus of Energy, Water, and Climate: From Understanding to Action

能源、水和气候的联系：从理解到行动(Café+)项目将与来自新墨西哥州四个高度不同社区的年轻人和成年人一起开发和测试两个以能源、水和气候为重点的互动棋盘游戏概念。项目的四个主要目标是：(A)在四个项目地点开发、玩测试和实施两种基于能源、水和气候内容的棋盘、卡片或其他非电子游戏；(B)确定游戏的主要特征，在激发兴趣、参与和学习的同时最大限度地解决问题；(C)探索游戏对对话、学习和Café+满意度的影响；以及(D)评估该模式在整个现有的咖啡馆科学计划中全面实施的可行性，本项目基于此。洛斯阿拉莫斯国家实验室、桑迪亚国家实验室、PNM Resources、Scott Balaban游戏设计、洛斯阿拉莫斯县公用事业部门以及来自广泛组织和机构的大量顾问和顾问将合作开发、测试和实施Café+游戏模式。主要交付成果包括：(A)两个侧重于能源、水和气候内容的非电子多年龄商业质量游戏；(B)一项全面的试点研究，考察Café+模式对目标受众的影响、有效性和可行性；以及(C)游戏实施模式的形成性和总结性评估。Café+的一个重要成果是，来自不同背景的新墨西哥州青少年和成年人将通过开发和测试引人入胜的、创新的商业质量游戏来学习相关的科学内容。250多名青年和成年人将直接受益于他们参与试点研究。他们不仅将在小组合作的同时学习重要的科学内容(仅限青年和青年/成人小组)，而且他们还将作为游戏测试员参与真实的科学过程体验。在这个角色中，年轻人和成年人将体验到诸如试错和改进等关键的科学概念。此外，这些游戏将向公众开放，并在整个咖啡馆科学计划(n=960名青年)中实施。评价研究将采用混合方法方法来检查项目的执行情况、效果和影响。将使用焦点小组、观察和调查来评估一些变量，例如(但不限于)：内容知识和学习、兴趣、参与度、游戏特征、游戏过程、游戏障碍和挑战、参与者互动和动机。嵌入式评估机会还将审查参与者的决策能力、分析技能，以及在游戏中导航时将获得的知识转移到现实世界中的能力。在仅限青年参加的试点试验点收集的数据将用于对青年和成人试验点跟踪的类似变量进行比较分析。形成性方法将为方案和游戏的完善和调整提供迭代的、持续的机会。形成性和总结性评估将努力记录评估Café+作为一个全面发展项目的可行性所需的关键数据和结果，并在全国范围内增加游戏和项目地点。咖啡馆+项目将增加关于21世纪青年在科学咖啡馆环境中学习和参与科学的有限文献基础。更重要的是，这项初步研究可能有助于弥补目前缺乏关于非电子游戏对青年群体和青年/成人群体的影响的研究，这些群体和青年/成人群体在科学咖啡馆的环境中合作做出重要的科学决定。这一比较数据可能对其他有兴趣实施类似的青少年和成人游戏项目的项目模式具有重要意义。此外，内容的相关性不仅可能激发青年在STEM学习课程和从事职业的兴趣，而且还可能激励青年和成人参与者更多地参与当地社区内外的公民参与活动。

The Nexus of Energy, Water, and Climate: From Understanding to Action (Café +) project will develop and test two interactive board game concepts focused on energy, water, and climate with youth and adults from four highly diverse communities in New Mexico. The four primary goals of the project are to: (a) develop, play test, and implement two board, card, or other non-electronic games grounded in energy, water, and climate content at four project sites, (b) identify the key characteristics of the games that maximize problem solving while stimulating interest, engagement, and learning, (c) explore the implications of game playing on dialog, learning, and Café+ satisfaction for youth and adult participants, and (d) evaluate the viability of this model for full scale implementation throughout the existing Café Scientifique program, from which this project is based. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, PNM Resources, Scott Balaban Games Design, the Los Alamos County Utilities Department, and a host of advisors and consultants from a broad range of organizations and institutions will collaborate to develop, test, and implement the Café+ games model. The primary deliverables include: (a) two non-electronic multiage commercial quality games focused on energy, water, and climate content, (b) a comprehensive pilot study examining the impact, effectiveness, and viability of the Café+ model with the target audiences, and (c) formative and summative evaluations of the games implementation model. A significant outcome of Café+ is that New Mexico youth and adults, from diverse backgrounds, will learn relevant science content through the development and testing of engaging, innovative commercial quality games. Over 250 youth and adults will benefit directly from their participation in the pilot study. They will not only learn important science content while working collaboratively in groups (youth only and youth/adult groups), but they will also participate in an authentic scientific process experience as playtesters. In this role, youth and adults will experience critical science concepts such as trial and error and refinement. Further, the games will be made publicly available and implemented across the entire Café Scientifique program (n=960 youth). The evaluation study will employ a mixed methods approach to examine project implementation, effectiveness, and impacts. Focus groups, observations, and surveys will be employed to assess a number of variables such as (but not limited to): content knowledge and learning, interest, engagement, game features, game play processes, gaming obstacles and challenges, participant interactions, and motivation. Embedded assessment opportunities will also examine participants' decision making abilities, analytical skills, and ability to transfer knowledge gained to real world situations as they navigate through the games. Data collected at the youth-only pilot test sites will be used in a comparative analysis of similar variables tracked at the youth and adult sites. Formative approaches will provide iterative, ongoing opportunities for programmatic and game refinement and adjustments. The formative and summative evaluations will endeavor to document critical data and findings needed to assess the viability of Café+ as a full scale development project, with additional games and project sites across the country. The Café+ project would add to the limited literature base on learning and science engagement of youth within Science Café settings in the 21st century. More critically, this pilot study could contribute to the dearth of current research on the impact of non-electronic game play can have on youth only groups and youth/adult groups working collaboratively to make important scientific decisions within Science Café settings. This comparative data could prove significant for other program models interested in implementing similar youth and adult game based program. Further, the relevance of the content could potentially spark youths' interest not only in pursuing courses and careers in STEM, but it could also motivate youth and adult participants to become more involved in civic engagement activities occurring within and beyond their local communities.