This CRPA project will develop a game for mobile devices called the "RapidGuppy". It provides users (students 12-21 years of age) with an interesting and fun way to learn details about biological adaptation and genetic change. The game teaches users about the environmental factors that lead to adaptation. More than 30 years of research on the Trinidadian Guppy that "rapidly" evolves (over 3-5 years) is the basis for the game. The research, databases, and mini-documentaries that support the "RapidGuppy" game are linked to allow users to easily delve deeper into these materials. An extensive social media campaign will be used to market the game and the public facing website. Partners in this endeavor include: University of California-Riverside, Habitat Seven, Magmic Inc., and Edu, Inc.
In this project, the mobile device game will be backed by a sophisticated website that contains detailed research results from the field and mini-documentaries showing real fish and the actual research processes as well as researchers and scientists to promote role model development. Interested individuals may also directly access the videos and research results via the website. The target audiences are youth who are prone to play electronic games and the general public. The comprehensive evaluation plan will assess the learning outcomes resulting from the mini-documentaries, in-game content, and website, as well as the playability of the game and website functionality. Impacts resulting from the social media campaign and outreach to underserved audiences will also be measured.
Because of the major social media campaign, this project may increase the level of interest in the science of evolution and genetic change, and raise awareness of STEM careers. If the user groups become excited about the game and the inherent messages, it is anticipated that the public will gain a better understanding of the factors responsible for genetic change.
Evolution has long been deemed the conceptual cornerstone of the biological sciences, yet many students receive little to no exposure to evolutionary concepts in classroom settings. Our overarching goal was to expose young people to fundamental principles of evolutionary biology in a non-threatening way through engagement with digital resources that families can freely access in their own homes. The main deliverables for this project are a mobile storybook application ("app") for tablet devices targeted towards elementary-level youth and their families, two animated educational videos, and a website. The storybook app provides basic information on how evolution works using the Trinidadian guppy as an example and is designed to be a launching point for families to engage in conversations about evolution. The story follows male guppies from three different generations and shows how female preference for brightly colored males can change the color patterns of male guppies over time. A website (www.guppyevolution.com) houses additional content related to the app including videos, photos of the real-life organisms, and information on the science behind the app to enable families to dig deeper into the evolutionary concepts together. A gallery of photos showcasing scientists at work in the field gives viewers a window into what it is like to conduct research related to evolutionary biology. The website also includes links to other educational resources focused on evolution, for continued learning. We also produced two animated videos that can be accessed via the mobile app or the website. The first video (https://vimeo.com/96776961) is centered on the general process of evolution and how small changes over short time scales can lead to large changes over long time scales, leading to the great diversity of life that we can see now on our planet. It uses examples of artificial and natural selection to distill basic evolutionary concepts in a storyline that young people can understand, beginning with the familiar example of dog breeding to set the stage for explaining the fundamentals of evolution. The second video (https://vimeo.com/96778347) focuses in on the example of the Trinidadian guppy and uses illustrations and graphic animations from the mobile app to convey what we have learned about evolution from studying guppies across environments with variable predation pressure. Specifically, it highlights the interplay between predation pressure and female choice on the evolution of male guppy color patterns. A pre-released version of the mobile app was tested with members of our target audience and results showed that although messages must be crafted carefully to avoid confusion, children can gain awareness and understanding of basic concepts of evolution using mobile technology. Given the lack of digital resources centered on evolution education for young children, this resource can therefore provide a unique learning opportunity for elementary and pre-elementary aged children to gain exposure to evolution in a fun and non-threatening way. Also, by using established mobile app distribution platforms, researchers and educators can reach many potential users outside of the classroom. Given widespread misunderstanding of evolution among people within the US, digital educational resources such as this mobile app and the associated videos and web content can be a valuable asset to reach children at a young age, and to engage families in conversations about evolution and the connectedness of all life on Earth.
