Academics are convinced that Pokémon GO can make a valuable contribution to education and communication.
Zoologists at Oxford University are studying Pokémon GO to find out how the game can have a positive impact on the bond between humans and nature. On one hand, there are concerns that the obsession with digital creatures could have a negative effect. It might limit the willingness to interact with the real, natural world. On the other hand, academics point out that there are many similarities between playing Pokémon and activities in nature.
With a few adjustments, such as a more realistic ecology and existing life forms, the game could even become a “Citizen Science” project. This is a project carried out by interested amateurs who report observations, perform measurements, and analyze data. Such a project could also lead to a rediscovery of love for nature and ignite curiosity to explore the surroundings. After all, there is already the hashtag #Pokeblitz. This is used to identify animals and plants encountered during the Pokémon hunt.
Professor Karen Guerrero of Arizona State University has even incorporated Pokémon GO into her curriculum. She uses the game to teach students about cartography. Using Pokémon GO, she explains how to use geospatial technologies and communicate geographic information. She starts her lectures by encouraging students to initiate a discussion on how they have experienced the game. Students then go outside to find the digital monsters or examine a map where Pokémon have appeared. The students work as a group to collect and analyze data:
Which types of Pokémon were found in which areas? Special attention is paid to the difference between natural and man-made areas. How do their values vary? Which Pokémon are common and which are rare? After that, there is a large brainstorming session on additional statistical questions and how to collect the right data to answer those questions. Everything is then organized in a table and processed in a histogram.
Leya says: I would have liked to have Pokémon as a subject in school… I am definitely glad that various intelligent minds are trying to extract the value from Pokémon GO and not just focusing on the negative. I have long been convinced that games can promote and stimulate various senses and abilities. Pokémon GO is excellent for further exploring this field, and I am curious about what applications and games will come in the future. As the saying goes: Learning by Playing!
Tell us in the comments what you think of these universities’ approaches. Is it possible to positively influence education through Pokémon GO? Or is it just a short-lived hype that will pass?
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