Game design is a creative and innovative way to build understanding of science concepts and express them within a meaningful context. It combines aspects of science, technology, digital technology, literacy and the arts.
My game is set in ImmunoCity – basically the internals of your body. These little white blood cell-like creatures chase after the little crowned, spiky viruses. It’s basically like how blood cells in your body take down and destroy the virus1.
Anya, D-Bug Game Design Challenge participant
Educational research shows:
- game playing allows students to explore science topics – and approaches to learning – in an active manner
- games provide low-risk settings that enable students to consider larger-scale, real-world impacts
- game-based scenarios help students learn about their own agency
- the fun of gameplay is advantageous to diverse learners who may find the content challenging if taught in a conventional manner.
In this activity, students use their knowledge of viruses, methods of viral transmission and infection2, and defence strategies – including our immune systems and vaccines – to design a game. The game can take many forms – a visual representation, diorama with 3D models and/or digital technology.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- observe and recreate some of the basic structures of a virus
- discuss methods of viral transmission and infection
- discuss some of the ways our immune system3 protects us from viral infection
- discuss some defence strategies we can use to protect ourselves from viral infections4
- use this information to create characters in a physical or digital game
- use this information to create a narrative about viruses, transmission and defence strategies
- use this information to create a game or game idea.
Infographic factsheets
The Science of Medicines – Whakatere Waka project uses games and game design as part of its outreach. The team has created infographic factsheets that provide helpful background information:
- D-Bug Fun Facts: Going Viral!
- D-Bug Fun Facts: Deadly Looks
- D-Bug Fun Facts: Transmission & Infection
- D-Bug Fun Facts: The Immune System
- D-Bug Fun Facts: Vaccines & Antivirals
- D-Bug Fun Facts: Mutations
- D-Bug Fun Facts: Defence Strategies
- D-Bug Fun Facts: Community Immunity!
The activity Viruses and immunity – interpreting infographics aids students with observing and deciphering the information presented in these factsheets.
Download the Word file (see link below).
Nature of science
Science communication can take many forms. Games are capable of reaching a wide audience and presenting information in a fun and engaging manner. The levelling up during a game is similar to scaffolding new, more complicated content.
Related content
These resources provide additional information about viruses and vaccines:
There are two unit plans for primary classrooms:
Visit this curated collection: Viruses and the immune system
Activity ideas
- The wars within – an introduction to the immune system
- Fighting infection card game – explore how two types of immune cells5 help fight viral infections
- Drama with microbes – using drama to model science ideas
- Spreading diseases – model the spread of a virus through a group
Useful links
New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) has a number of resources regarding game-based learning. You need to register to access some of the resources. Read the reports on the NZCER Games for Learning project.
Acknowledgement
The Science of Medicines is a collaboration6 between the University of Otago and Tūhura Otago Museum and was funded by an Unlocking Curious Minds community engagement grant.
- virus: A microscopic infectious particle that can only multiply inside the cells of living organisms. They are capable of taking over the cell to produce copies of itself. They are inactive outside of a living host cell.
- infection: Invasion of the body or a species by something that could be harmful or cause a disease.
- immune system: The natural defence system found in living things. In humans, a network of organs, cells and proteins that helps to protect us against anything it recognises as being an ‘invader’ or ‘foreign’, for example, bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, parasites and transplanted organs and tissues. In plants, a network of disease resistance genes enable plants to detect and resist things like fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes and insects.
- infection: Invasion of the body or a species by something that could be harmful or cause a disease.
- immune cells: Cells that circulate in the blood that help fight off or prevent disease.
- collaboration: Working together with a common purpose.
