This document contains a learning approach for a learning experience on sunscreen use pitched to the Cancer Council Victoria during an open call for educational content design.
Client: Cancer Council Victoria
Document: Learning Approach
Topic: Sunscreen
Audience: Children aged 6-9
Objective: teach children how often and when to use sunscreen / proper application method
“I can explain when and how frequently sunscreen should be applied.”
Method: time management / resource management game.
First, learners receive facts about sunscreen—how it protects you from burns; consequences of not using sunscreen; how frequently it needs to be applied; under what conditions it should be used.
The learning experience will take users through multiple environments where sunscreen use is appropriate, including beach, forest, backyard, and urban environment. The common factor is sunshine.
This learning experience will emphasize that everyone should use sunscreen, regardless their skin tone.
After learning basic facts about sunscreen, learners will play a game. The goal is to prevent as many people as possible from getting burned.
Game design:
You are a lifeguard. It’s a sunny day at the beach, and there are six hours until sundown.
(In game time: 1 hour = 1 minute)
As you know, sunscreen needs to be applied every two hours to prevent burns; every 60 minutes if people are exposed to water.
You have enough sunscreen to go around, but only if you conserve it. Dole it out to those most in need.
You have a finite amount of sunscreen. Your sunscreen will be replenished every 30 minutes. You should have enough to make sure no one gets burned, but you’ll need to pay close attention.
A timer above everyone’s head on the beach shows when they last applied sunscreen.
If a person has gone longer than two hours without sunscreen, they will start to burn. If they’re in the water, they need sunscreen reapplied every hour.
You can click on them to apply a new layer of sunscreen.
Remember, the longer someone goes without sunscreen, the worse their burn will be.
You need to use conserve your resource, applying sunscreen to those who need it soonest.
Learners play until the sun goes down; they can see people turn red they begin to burn.
After the sun sets, learners receive a report on how many minutes of sunburn were allowed on their watch.
Timers above beach characters are randomized; the beach is lightly animated.
