SERIOUS GAMES AS TOOLS FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION. AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS

Martina Rossi, Guendalina Peconio

Abstract


The use of serious games in education today represents an innovative strategy for promoting learning and awareness in various educational contexts, including nutrition education. The research presented here explores the educational potential of these digital tools, with a particular focus on the perceptual and symbolic processes that influence their acceptability and educational effectiveness. Set within the theoretical framework of game-based learning and theories of embodied cognition, this exploratory study involved a sample of n=11 third-year students in the Bachelor’s program in Psychological Sciences at the University of Foggia, who were administered a specially designed self-report questionnaire. The results highlight a generally positive perception of serious games as tools capable of stimulating participation, immersion, and motivation, but at the same time underscore the need for a solid scientific foundation, content consistency, and adequate pedagogical mediation. Students recognize the game as a formative and reflective experience, the effectiveness of which, however, depends on the quality of the pedagogical design and the epistemic transparency of the content.


Keywords


Serious Games, Game-based Learning, Food Education, Exploratory Study

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.32043/gsd.v1i1.1707

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