Trust in Media and Information Literacy for Infectious Agents
aBOUT
The Project
The PLAYMUTATION project started in 2022 with the purpose of analyzing the use of digital games to inform about the evolution of viral genomes, transmission, and mutations, as well as to promote self-care and infection prevention in youngsters.The digital game Mutation Madness was born.
During the testing phase and observing its success in schools, the team wondered whether involving the youngsters in the process of making games and co-creating media would better address the process of learning. The PLAYMUTATION has evolved with the development of ‘Game-It-Yourself’ activities and other products came along, such as the short movie ViralMutation and the Virtual Reality Game ‘Virulent Odyssey’.
Back to school initiatives to test these mentioned products, we noticed that some of the information and bias that youngsters had were based on the social media, being vulnerable to infodemics, misinformation/disinformation, conspiracy theories, and manipulation techniques. The project is now acting upon this scenario, using gamification as a media co-creating technique.
PLAYMUTATION PRODUCTS
A 1st PERSPECTIVE GAME – VIRUS
The Virtual Reality Game Virulent Odyssey
Virulent Odyssey is a Virtual Reality (VR) game to assist the education for viral infections. In this game, players change the perspective to a virus using a VR headset and go through a network of blood cells and try to reach the ‘spicule’ in a cell.
Project Outputs
1. The game Mutation Madness
2. The VR game Virulent Odyssey
3. Animated Movie Viral Mutation
4. The ‘Game-it-Yourself’ Toolbox
5.Book Our Showcase Library
NEWS
Latest News
TESTIMONIALS
The mechanics of the game put us in an entertainment environment, leaving aside that the game includes educational content.
—Player of Mutation Madness (12th school participants)
I learned that viruses spread and that I must protect myself. I liked it because it’s catchy and fun.
— Player of Mutation Madness (7th-9th school participants)
The activity was able to stimulate students who are less skilled in programming and would be an incentive to include in classes.
— Activity My Game Mutation Madness 2D (ICT Teacher)
With the game Mutation Madness, I learned more about viruses and how they spread. It was an interesting game to play while learning.
— Player of Mutation Madness (7th-9th school participants)
We liked the way it transmitted information about the virus in a more didactic and fun way.
— Participant Activity My Game Mutation Madness 2D (12th school participants)
I learned more about viruses and how they spread. And also how we can defend ourselves against them. I really liked the dynamics and the game
— Player of Mutation Madness (7th-9th school participants)
I discovered that not all cells are compatible with a given virus and that until a virus reaches/finds the cells it goes through several obstacles.
—Spectator of ViralMutation (7th-9th school participants)
I learned that viruses can make people sick or even kill. Cells have a very important function than it seems, as they are the ones that can expel the viruses that are present in our body.
— Spectator of ViralMutation (7th-9th school participants)
I learned that to spread, viruses affect a cell that is compatible. There are several types of cells, some of which remove cells from the body.
— Spectator of ViralMutation (7th-9th school participants)
It would be great to have practical application of various concepts of media literacy, involving games, debates, student forums, creation of student radio and TV channels.
— Participant in GIY Workshop (Researcher)
I learned that cells are part of our organism/body and are good for us, and the virus spreads and enters our body, our body has several ways of defending itself.
— Spectator of ViralMutation (7th-9th school participants)
I really liked the way in which the biology aspects could be related to aspects of programming. Doors were opened to a series of things that we had never experienced before, which made the experience super interesting and enriching.
— Participant Summer School (12th school participants)
What I liked the most was the part of creating the game where we just put together the components already made and made our personal changes.
— Participant Summer School (12th school participants)
“[What I liked was to] Be able to understand the process of creating a game. Collecting the sample in the Ria was interesting as it allowed us to interact more.”
— Participant Summer School (12th school participants)
This week, I learned a lot about something interesting and got to experience some really cool and enriching things.
— Participant Summer School (12th school participants)