News

On 6-8 November 2024, UCD collaborated with the City of Utrecht and Veilig Verker Nederland (VVN), as part of the REALLOCATE project, to engage schoolchildren in co-creating safer and more sustainable school environments through interactive, gamified activities focusing on walkability and cyclability.

Two guest lessons were held at Kaleidoskoop and Marcusschool in Utrecht, where students learned about road safety and their school environment in an interactive way. The lessons consisted of two parts: first, the students worked with the board game "Where is the danger?". In groups of five, they explored their school environment and identified where they saw hazards and potential solutions. The key topics that emerged during the board game were the absence of pedestrian crossings, excessive car speeds, illegal parking, and the lack of cycling infrastructure.

After the board game, the students moved on to Minecraft. In this digital environment, they answered road safety questions and worked on improving the school environment by developing the solutions they created during the board game. The Minecraft session was carried out in pairs or trios, with laptops pre-installed to ease the burden on the school. In addition, guest teachers ensured that the teachers were relieved from the lesson delivery, allowing them to focus on guiding the students.

Such co-creation activities through gamification offer significant benefits in improving school urban space design among schoolchildren. This approach leverages the engaging and interactive nature of platforms, such as Minecraft, to foster creativity, participation, and a sense of ownership among young participants. By involving children in the design process, these activities not only enhance their understanding of urban planning, but also empower them to contribute meaningfully to their environments. Incorporating game-like aspects into non-game environments, or gamification, has shown potential in promoting positive behaviours across a number of fields. Interactive and playful environments captivate children's interest, making them more willing to participate in urban planning activities. This engagement is crucial for fostering a sense of responsibility and ownership over the design process.

This particular co-creation approach seeks to create a meaningful gamification experience that fosters empathic understanding and strategic thinking skills among participating children in the design of walkable and cyclable infrastructure to school.

Walkability and cyclability are crucial factors that contribute to the overall well-being and safety of school communities. These elements not only encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles but also foster a sense of community and social interaction. In this co-creation activity, we aim to investigate the potential of adopting a gamification platform to assess the perceptions and opinions of school children regarding the quality of walkability and cyclability within their school areas. This study will further contribute to one of the REALLOCATE fundamental pillars which is smart and green transformative solutions.

Safety is of paramount concern for the school children, and it has been identified as a key factor in determining a good infrastructure design in providing a positive experience in walking or cycling to school. Reliable and efficient pedestrian paths and cycling lanes are essential to attract and retain users. Collaboration between public and private organisations, as well as engagement with stakeholders, is necessary to ensure the successful implementation and acceptance of sustainable transportation initiatives. By acting as both designers and players, children develop critical thinking skills as they assess the feasibility and impact of their design choices.

In conclusion, the REALLOCATE project showcased how gamification can engage students in urban planning, empowering them to identify safety issues and propose solutions for safer, more sustainable school environments. This approach fosters critical thinking, empathy, and ownership, highlighting the value of involving young voices in designing smart, green urban spaces.

Thank you very much to Asst. Prof. Dr Aura Istrate (UCD), Dr Ungku Norani Sonet (UCD), Dr Ítalo Sousa de Sena (UCD) and Mathilda van der Zwaag (VVN) for providing this update from the REALLOCATE project work in Utrecht.