Exploring Playful and Technological Strategies

Insights for Developing Games and Educational Applications About Recycling for Children

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29147/datjournal.v10i2.891

Keywords:

Games, Educational Applications, Recycling, Children

Abstract

As human behavior becomes a significant factor in the impact of waste disposal on nature, it is crucial to explore strategies to engage the population on this topic and encourage a more sustainable relationship with the environment. The present review focuses on mapping and understanding relevant aspects provided by the literature from January 1, 2020, to May 10, 2024, for the production and use of game software and applications to teach children about environmental preservation and recycling principles. The results highlight the importance of environmental awareness from early childhood, emphasizing the role of playful and technological education in promoting sustainable practices among children.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

José Alberto Gomes de Oliveira Karnikowski, University of Aging; Pencillabs; Gamifica.

Is PhD candidate in Digital Media at the University of Porto. Master’s in AAA Modeling from Voxel School Madrid, specialist in UX/UI (University of Porto) and Game Design (Estácio de Sá). Graduated in Law from the University Center of Brasília (UniCEUB) and in Digital Game Development from the Higher Education Institute of Brasília (IESB). Works as a Digital Media Supervisor at the University of Aging. Game programmer at Pencillabs and a professor of game development at Gamifica.

Kerolyn Ramos Garcia, University of Brasília

Is PhD in Health Sciences and Technologies from the University of Brasília (UnB), with a specialization in Health Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention, including a sandwich mobility program at the University of Porto (UPorto). Master’s in Health Sciences and Technologies from UnB, lato sensu postgraduate degree in Gerontology from the Federal University of Tocantins, and Bachelor’s in Collective Health from UnB. Substitute Lecturer at UnB in the Collective Health course. Works as a professor, researcher, and in the Coordination of People Management at the University of Aging at UnB (UniSER-UnB). Engages in the fields of Gerontology (Human Aging), Collective Health, Public Health, Digital Health, Education, and Psychology.

Tiago Barros Pontes e Silva, University of Brasilia

Is Associate Professor in the Department of Design at the University of Brasilia (UnB). Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Design, he works in the areas of Cognitive Ergonomics, Interaction Design, Information Design, and Game Design, with a focus on informational artifacts and systems in their dimensions of playfulness, learning, health, mobility, ubiquity, and emergence. He holds a Ph.D. in Arts, a Master’s degree in Psychology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Design with specializations in Graphic Design and Product Design from UnB.

References

BANDURA, A. Social foundations of thought and action. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1986.

FINK, A. Conducting research literature reviews: From the internet to paper. 3rd ed. London: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2010.

KAVERI, G. Household waste generation: Understanding family practices and challenges in Singapore. Unpublished manuscript, 2021.

KIM, S., et al. Educational games and students’ game engagement in elementary school classrooms. Journal of Computers in Education, v. 4, n. 4, p. 395-418, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-017-0095-4

KUROKAWA, H., et al. Improvement impact of nudges incorporated in environmental education on students’ environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 325, 116612, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116612

LANKES, M., et al. InterPlayces: Results of an intergenerational games study. In: Serious Games: Third Joint International Conference, JCSG 2017, Valencia, Spain, November 23-24, 2017, Proceedings 3. Springer International Publishing, 2017.

LOCRITANI, M.; MERLINO, S.; ABBATE, M. Assessing the citizen science approach as tool to increase awareness on the marine litter problem. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 140, p. 320-329, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.023

MOHER, D.; LIBERATI, A.; TETZLAFF, J.; ALTMAN, D. G.; The PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, v. 6, n. 6, 2009. Disponível em: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed1000097. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097

NINSIANA, W.; SEPTIYANA, L.; SUPRIHATIN, Y. Introducing eco-literacy to early childhood students through digital learning. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), v. 18, n. 1, p. 89-96, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v18i1.20678

PAREJO, J.-L., et al. Plastics as an educational resource for sustainable development: A case study in Ghana. Sustainability, v. 13, n. 12, 6727, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126727

POJE, M., et al. Environmental Education on Sustainable Principles in Kindergartens—A Foundation or an Option? Sustainability, v. 16, n. 7, p. 2707, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072707

PRAET, E., et al. Bottle with a message: The role of story writing as an engagement tool to explore children’s perceptions of marine plastic litter. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 186, 114457, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114457

PRAMLING SAMUELSSON, I. Why we should begin early with ESD: The role of early childhood education. International Journal of Early Childhood, v. 43, n. 2, p. 103-118, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-011-0034-x

ROSSANO, V.; DE CAROLIS, B.; MANZONI, P. Mini-games to Motivate and Engage Users in Learning Recycling Rules. In: International Conference in Methodologies and Intelligent Systems for Technology Enhanced Learning. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20617-7_10

SALAZAR, C., et al. From theory to action: Explaining the process of knowledge attitudes and practices regarding the use and disposal of plastic among school children. Journal of Environmental Psychology, v. 80, 101777, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101777

SHEAVLY, S. B.; REGISTER, K. M. Marine debris & plastics: Environmental concerns, sources, impacts and solutions. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, v. 15, n. 4, p. 301-305, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-007-0074-3

TERÁN, Y.; GIMÉNEZ, A. Experiencias de educación ambiental en la catedra Biología del Programa Ingeniería Agroindustrial de la UCLA. Agroindustria, Sociedad y Ambiente, v. 1, n. 18, p. 132-138, 2022.

Downloads

Published

2025-08-25

How to Cite

Karnikowski, J. A. G. de O., Garcia, K. R., & Silva, T. B. P. e. (2025). Exploring Playful and Technological Strategies: Insights for Developing Games and Educational Applications About Recycling for Children. DAT Journal, 10(2), 116–126. https://doi.org/10.29147/datjournal.v10i2.891

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025): DESIGN, ARTE E TECNOLOGIA + Dossier PPErgo UFPE

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 DAT Journal

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.