The South Korean government intended to gamify educational courses to attract more young people into environmental-related fields such as chemical safety, and also raise awareness among children about the importance of safety awareness when dealing with chemicals.
Latest technology such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) would be integrated into experiential learning modules so that participants could experience for themselves near real-live working environment without having to deal directly with hazardous chemicals.
The experiential learning modules would also help the participants to familiarise themselves with evacuation procedures.
Apart from the use of VR and AR, the government would also plan for the development of board games for young children. The board game concept was conceived to make learning fun while driving across the awareness of safety culture.
A taskforce would be distributing the board game to more than 50 junior schools that are located in Seosan, Yeosu, Cheongju, Gunsan and Ulsan.
The junior schools were specially selected as they were located near to major industrial hubs and would also serve as evacuation centres if chemical accidents were to occur at any of the industrial hubs.
As part of the safety awareness pilot project, the South Korean government had already installed chemical safety signboards in the selected areas:
a. Seosan – 8 signboards
b. Yeosu – 5 signboards
c. Cheongju – 20 signboards
d. Gunsan – 23 signboards
e. Ulsan – 44 signboards
The new boardgame would allow participation of up to four players, with dices and cards.
Players would take on different roles in the game, revolving around the concept that safety officers have to rescue citizens from villians who use chemical for nefarious purposes.
Other interactive elements include videos and learning journals in 3D environment.
Terra Link Research 