Engaging Youth in the Participatory Design of News Literacy Games: Opportunities, Challenges, Future Directions

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: Video Games, Participatory Design, and Communication

Abstract

This article discusses the potential game design as an innovative and participatory approach to news literacy. Based on data obtained during a game design workshop with youth participants, we discuss two youth-produced games about fake news, and analyze the personal, social and cultural dimensions of youth attitudes and practices in relation to news literacy, as manifested through the process of game design. This research thus sheds light on the opportunities and challenges related to the use of games and participatory game design for news literacy education, while also contributing to our understanding of the emerging processes and mechanisms that can support young people’s roles as designers, and not only consumers, of educational games about the news.

Authors

• Yoo Kyung Chang, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Ioana Literat, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Shu-Yi Hsu, Teachers College, Columbia University