Hexacago: A game-based approach to engaging youth in health and science

 描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的科学教育合作奖（SEPA）项目将使用游戏和游戏设计作为非正式科学教育和健康课程的基础。这三个项目合作伙伴包括：芝加哥大学的游戏规则改变者芝加哥设计实验室（GCC实验室）;转化医学研究所;以及大学入学和成功中心（CCAS）的GEAR UP计划。GCC实验室是一个跨学科的游戏和研究实验室，由教师，员工，学生和高中青年组成，设计旨在提高学术成就和优化年轻人的健康和福祉的游戏。GEAR UP旨在提高与芝加哥公立学校合作的青年的学习成绩和中学后教育的准备。我们将设计一个创新的基于游戏的科学和健康课程干预：Hexacago健康学院（HHA）。HHA将让高中生参与学习和解决主要的性和生殖健康问题和风险行为（例如，性传播感染、艾滋病毒/艾滋病、少女怀孕、吸烟）。HHA将使用游戏，与STEM科学和卫生专业人员的互动以及指导。拟议的SEPA项目将分为三个阶段：1）Hexacago游戏设计（第1年和第2年）和HHA开发（第3年）; 2）在随机对照试验中严格评估HHA（第4年）; 3）传播和交流（第5年）。我们假设，与随机分配到对照组的青少年相比，随机分配到HHA的青少年将提高学习成绩，科学和健康职业兴趣。该提案的总体目标是创造一个丰富的，基于游戏的学习体验，以提高学习成绩，科学和健康的职业兴趣，以及健康行为。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) project will use gameplay and game design as the foundation for an informal science education and health curriculum. The three project partners include: The University of Chicago's Game Changer Chicago Design Lab (GCC Lab); the Institute for Translational Medicine; and the Center for College Access and Success's (CCAS) GEAR UP program. The GCC Lab is an interdisciplinary game and research lab comprised of faculty, staff, students, and high school youth that design games aimed at improving academic achievement and optimizing the health and well-being of young people. GEAR UP aims to increase academic performance and preparation for post-secondary education among youth in partnering Chicago Public Schools. We will design an innovative game-based science and health curriculum intervention: Hexacago Health Academy (HHA). HHA will engage high school students in learning about and addressing major sexual and reproductive health issues and risk behaviors (e.g., STIs, HIV/AIDs, adolescent pregnancy, smoking). HHA will use game-play, interaction with STEM science and health professionals, and mentoring. The proposed SEPA project will have three phases: 1) Hexacago game design (years 1 and 2) and development of the HHA (year 3); 2) rigorous evaluation of HHA in a randomized controlled trial (years 4); and 3) Dissemination and communication (year 5). We hypothesize that youth randomized to HHA will have improved academic performance, science and health career interest compared to those randomized to the control group. The overall objective of this proposal is to create a rich, game-based learning experience to improve academic performance, science and health career interest, and health behaviors.