Modding for Change

Climate change is a difficult topic for students due to interconnections and feedback among multiple components of the climate system. But many people also disengage from this discussion due to feelings of powerlessness. To engage students with this topic, it is also important for them to feel empathy for those affected and agency to make change. We designed and facilitated a week-long game design workshop for 11 grade 7 students. Students learned about climate change issues, and then modified the game Forbidden Island to engage players in an issue of their choice. Based on observations, interviews, and analyses of students' games, we describe how the game narratives and game mechanics that students created reflected refinements in their reasoning about, and empathy for climate-related issues.