Effectively educating students on the multifaceted and systemic nature of climate change presents a significant pedagogical challenge. This research evaluates the impact of "ClimateFresk," a collaborative game, as a tool to enhance climate literacy among Level 7 MSc Engineering students at Kingston University London. A quantitative, pre-test and post-test design was employed with 50 postgraduate engineering students. Participants completed an initial survey to establish baseline data on self-perceived knowledge, understanding of climate change as an interconnected issue, and attitudes towards climate action. Following participation in the three-hour ClimateFresk workshop, a post-survey was administered to measure changes. This research details the comparative findings from the survey data. Analysis focuses on the extent to which the workshop shifted students' perceived knowledge, their appreciation of the topic's complexity, and their stated intentions to engage in climate action. Preliminary analysis indicates a significant shift; self-perceived knowledge of climate change causes and consequences (rated 'Agree' or 'Strongly Agree') rose from 72% pre-workshop to 90% post-workshop. Furthermore, 80% of participants stated an intention to support or participate in climate action following the game. The research will also provide practical insights into the workshop's delivery methodology and discuss student feedback on the game's most beneficial learning elements. The results provide insights into the effectiveness of gamified, interactive workshops as a pedagogical strategy for teaching complex subjects within higher education. This work discusses the potential of such tools to improve understanding, promote engagement, and motivate action, while also providing practical insights into the workshop's delivery methodology.

Authors:
Sahand Hosouli, Kingston University London, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Sahand Hosouli is currently a Senior Lecturer in Renewable Energy Engineering at Kingston University London, United Kingdom.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahand-hosouli-57375715a

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