Fierce planet: sustainability learning through gaming and simulation

This paper introduces and discusses an online game and simulation, Fierce Planet, designed to "prime"tertiary students for urban sustainability themes and scenarios. The framework allows for easy customisation andadaptation through the use of JavaScript modules, similar to NetLogo scripts. Unlike NetLogo, the framework can runin any HTML5-compatible browser, making it more likely to be used and embedded in online materials andcourseware. The paper discusses two adaptations that were trialed with a group of tertiary construction students: asimple tower-strategy styled game, and an interactive simulation based on a curriculum assignment to plan newdevelopments at Melbourne's Fisherman's Bend. Students were given approximately 45 minutes to explore bothadaptations. They were then administered a short questionnaire with a mix of open and closed questions, designed totest the usability of the overall framework as well as the usefulness of the specific model as priming tool forcurriculum concepts and assignments. While actual priming effects are not measured, participants are asked torespond to how well they think the game would prime particular sustainability concepts. The paper presents twofindings from the survey and in-class observations: (1) online interactive environments have matured to the point that2D interactive simulations are feasible in a learning context, though with some limitations; and (2) use of games andsimulations have potential to enhance educational outcomes through priming students for considering complex socialscenarios and concepts, such as trade-offs and possible equilibria between sustainability, affordability and mixed usein urban planning. The research makes a novel contribution to understanding how rich interactive simulations can bequickly developed and deployed to support tertiary social science learning objectives.