Knowledge gains from the game were largest on water-flow, weather-vs-climate, greenhouse-effect, and household-conservation items, but three misconceptions were not effectively addressed¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r2 · q4
Currency · newest study 2015 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q4 i? Three popular misconceptions persisted: that resorts waste much water, that the greenhouse effect is unnecessary for survival (gain not maintained at delayed posttest), and that melting snowpack will raise lake levels. → E. Michael Nussbaum 2015

Evidence¶

E. Michael Nussbaum 2015¶

E. Michael Nussbaum, Marissa C. Owens, Gale M. Sinatra, Abeera P. Rehmat, Jacqueline R. Cordova, Sajjad Ahmad, Fred C. Harris, Jr., Sergiu M. Dascalu. (2015). Losing the Lake: Simulations to Promote Gains in Student Knowledge and Interest about Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.12973/ijese.2015.277a

q4 · i? · causal · r2

Item analysis of the experimental group's posttest responses in the randomized trial; the authors report these three misconceptions persisted and conclude supplementary instruction is needed to reinforce these aspects of the game.

"However, there were three popular misconceptions that were not effectively addressed, relating to casinos and resorts wasting a lot of water (untrue), the necessity of the greenhouse effect for human survival (effect significant at posttest but not maintained at delayed posttest), and that melting snowpack will cause lake levels to rise."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• The game produced large gains on the constructed-response household conservation item but no significant effect on the Las Vegas water-conservation importance item — related
• Playing the game produced a small but significant increase in student interest, driven by items about Las Vegas water sources and home water conservation — related
• Students rated the game positively, most often citing fun/interactive features, visuals, and new information learned — related
• PAIR-C scaffolding shows mixed evidence for deep understanding and reduced misconceptions in emergent-phenomena instruction — related
• Playing Losing the Lake significantly increased seventh graders' objective-test content knowledge relative to a control group viewing an earth science website — related