Source: University of Otago
Aotearoa Explorers is based around achievable objectives to give the players a sense of challenge. At the end of each level a quiz tests what the children have learned.
School students are now able to explore the Asia-Pacific region – including parts of Aotearoa New Zealand – without leaving their classroom.
With just a click of the mouse they can be immersed in Aotearoa Explorers, a digital game developed with expert advice from a group of University of Otago academics.
Launched this week, the game was created by the Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs) as a free digital resource that fits into the New Zealand curriculum.
Hélène Eunson, CAPEs Programme Manager, who is based at Otago, says Aotearoa Explorers was developed when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted “Building Global Communities”, a programme taking international students into schools to talk about their home country and diverse cultures.
Players can explore Ōtepoti Dunedin
Players can explore 30 different virtual locations in Aotearoa (Dunedin, Wellington, Rotorua), China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore.
The young explorers, in Years 5 to 8, can choose either English or te reo Māori and can customise the avatar to suit their personality.
As they roam the map, the players encounter ‘locals’ they can interact with and ask questions about a variety of topics.
“It’s a dialogue and they get to learn more about the culture and history of those locations. They have a blank scrapbook and as they interact with people it fills up your scrapbook. They can also take photos –of animals and key landmarks. The pictures then go in the scrapbook as well.”
The game is based around achievable objectives to give the players a sense of challenge. At the end of each level a quiz tests what the children have learned.
“Students are given a fun and educational learning tool that enables them to explore the Asia-Pacific and learn more about the countries, cultures, and unique attributes of North Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
“Our goal is to empower the children to feel ready to interact with the region by sparking interest and giving them the confidence that they have become more familiar with what those countries have to offer.”
Young explorers can choose either English or te reo Māori and can customise the avatar to suit their personality.
An Otago academic advisory group spanning departments ranging from Geography to Information Science and the College of Education helped steer the development.
Professor Jeff Smith, former Dean of the College of Education, says: “Aotearoa Explorers provides an engaging springboard for teachers working to broaden horizons for students who are learning about what is beyond our shores. I can see Aotearoa Explorers’ potential for engendering a broad exploration of overseas locales in the classroom.”
Pre-launch feedback and user testing from students has been very encouraging, Hélène says.
“I really liked the fact you could pick your avatar and that there was different music for each place. Enjoyed the different little things you had to take photos of in each place and the people you have to talk to. I enjoyed walking around and exploring,” one student wrote.
“I thought it was really cool and I loved seeing all the different places and things! I felt like an explorer.”
Educators likewise had responded with enthusiasm.
“I enjoy the concept of this game,” says teacher Anna Hartley. “As students explore the countries in the game it ignites their curiosity and sparks new learning opportunities, online and also offline, as well as across curriculum areas.
“Being able to track the students’ progress as they navigate the game is invaluable as it allows teachers insight into if students are engaging with the game in a purposeful way.”
Go here to access the game and play it for free
