Using a Location-Based AR Game in Environmental Engineering

摘要

Location-based AR games have experienced a tremendous rise. With Ingress (2013) and later Pokemon GO (2016), the two games have established a new genre on the one hand and set new bench-marks in popularity on the other. The specific characteristics, like multiplayer mode, integration of authentic places, and ubiquitous accessibility, make it likely that these games may have a potential as learning tools, i.e., being used in a game-based learning setting. In education for engineering disciplines, such as Environmental Engineering, authentic on-site experiences can be provided using location-based games. The study presented herein analyzes the application of a serious location-based AR game in the course Urban Water Management of the Master's programme Environmental Engineering. Methodologically, the application was evaluated with the help of questionnaires (N = 7, 9, 17, pre- and posttest, perceptions and preferences of the students). Despite the advanced level of education, there was a high acceptance of the game-based learning setting. The study supports the hypothesis that location-based AR games can be well-suited learning tools in higher education.