Intellectual outputs

Intellectual Output 4: Digital Educational tool on parks and environment

OUTPUT DESCRIPTION The educational game will simulate the challenges that a park administration organization such as EPEO and Regional Parks of Sierra de Espadà must address in day-by-day activities. Being an Institution aimed at the implementation of sustainability, a Nature Park ought to pursue the mission of nature protection, but even the objectives of development and well-being of local communities. This means dealing with complex and diverging aims that suit perfectly with the rationale of the game, where the player is called to organize the costly use of resources to get a better result. IO4 is a digital game representing in a real map form the borders and the different habitats of at least five natural parks: the park of Cento Laghi and the Park of River Taro, both administered by EPEO and in the Continental European Biogeographic (see EU Natura 2000 network); the Regional park of Sierra de Espadà, in the Mediterranean European Biogeographic Region; the Snæfellsjökull National parks, in the Arctic European Biogeographic Region; and finally, the Protected Landscape of the Little Carpathians, in the Alpine European Biogeographic Region. This means that the serious game will cover three different types of protected areas (Regional Park, National Park, and protected landscape) and four types of European geographic environments (Arctic, Alpine, Continental, and Mediterranean). OBJECTIVES To develop a digital tool that helps with the learning of students in terms of environmental education, that can entertain them while learning. Moreover, it contributes directly to objective 1 (innovative and digital gamification as an educational tool for upper schools on Parks and environment), as the output is exactly that; objective 2 (promotion of biodiversity protection and natural parks as relevant social and educational value of European cultural heritage, with strong connections to job creation and economic growth) because the students will be able to learn about real parks and have a further understanding about their importance and role in the society; and objective 3 (strengthening the profile of the teaching professions with new skills and knowledge in Digital tools and gamification) as teachers will have at hand a tool that they can easily apply in their classes.