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Learning Interdisciplinarity and Systems Approaches in Agroecology: Experience with the Serious Game SEGAE

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Jouan

    (SAS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35042 Rennes, France)

  • Mireille De Graeuwe

    (ULiège Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA research and teaching center, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium)

  • Matthieu Carof

    (SAS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35042 Rennes, France)

  • Rim Baccar

    (USC 1432 LEVA, Ecole Supérieure d’Agricultures, INRAE, SFR 4207 QUASAV, 55 rue Rabelais, 49100 Angers, France)

  • Nathalie Bareille

    (INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, 44300 Nantes, France)

  • Suzanne Bastian

    (INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, 44300 Nantes, France)

  • Delphine Brogna

    (ULiège Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA research and teaching center, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium)

  • Giovanni Burgio

    (DISTAL, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

  • Sébastien Couvreur

    (USC 1481 URSE, Ecole Supérieure d’Agricultures, INRAE, 55 rue Rabelais, 49007 Angers, France)

  • Michał Cupiał

    (Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-269 Kraków, Poland)

  • Benjamin Dumont

    (ULiège Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA research and teaching center, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium)

  • Anne-Lise Jacquot

    (PEGASE, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35042 Rennes, France)

  • Serena Magagnoli

    (DISTAL, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

  • Joanna Makulska

    (Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-269 Kraków, Poland)

  • Kevin Maréchal

    (ULiège Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA research and teaching center, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium)

  • Guénola Pérès

    (SAS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35042 Rennes, France)

  • Aude Ridier

    (SMART-LERECO, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35042 Rennes, France)

  • Thibault Salou

    (SAS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35042 Rennes, France
    ITAP, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro, 34060 Montpellier, France)

  • Barbara Tombarkiewicz

    (Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-269 Kraków, Poland)

  • Fabio Sgolastra

    (DISTAL, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

  • Olivier Godinot

    (SAS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 35042 Rennes, France)

Abstract

Agroecology represents a pertinent option to improve the sustainability of agriculture. To promote its application, agroecological concepts should be taught to students and professionals in the agricultural sector. However, most agricultural courses are not adapted to teach these concepts due to little interactivity or interdisciplinarity, and a lack of a systems approach to farm management. Serious games help to fill these gaps by simulating complex models in which players can learn by doing. We thus developed a serious computer game, called SEGAE (SErious Game for AgroEcology learning), which represents a mixed crop-livestock farm and assesses impacts of farming practices on indicators related to environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Its pedagogical interest was evaluated through two types of surveys given to university students who played the game during a one-week workshop: A knowledge survey on agroecology, and a feedback survey based on flow theory. Results showed that students increased their knowledge of agroecology significantly, particularly those who had had little knowledge of crop production. More than 86% of the students enjoyed the game, appreciating its interaction and feedback. Thus, SEGAE is an interesting tool to help students acquire knowledge of agroecology in a fun way by facilitating interdisciplinary and collaborative learning.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Jouan & Mireille De Graeuwe & Matthieu Carof & Rim Baccar & Nathalie Bareille & Suzanne Bastian & Delphine Brogna & Giovanni Burgio & Sébastien Couvreur & Michał Cupiał & Benjamin Dumont & Anne-, 2020. "Learning Interdisciplinarity and Systems Approaches in Agroecology: Experience with the Serious Game SEGAE," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4351-:d:363031
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vanloqueren, Gaëtan & Baret, Philippe V., 2009. "How agricultural research systems shape a technological regime that develops genetic engineering but locks out agroecological innovations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 971-983, July.
    2. Jason S. Wu & Joey J. Lee, 2015. "Climate change games as tools for education and engagement," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 413-418, May.
    3. Line Louah & Marjolein Visser & Alice Blaimont & Charles De Cannière, 2017. "Barriers to the development of temperate agroforestry as an example of agroecological innovation: Mainly a matter of cognitive lock-in?," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/258841, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    4. Alexander Wezel & Julia Goette & Elisabeth Lagneaux & Gloria Passuello & Erica Reisman & Christophe Rodier & Grégoire Turpin, 2018. "Agroecology in Europe: Research, Education, Collective Action Networks, and Alternative Food Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Paul Stock & Rob J.F. Burton, 2011. "Defining Terms for Integrated (Multi-Inter-Trans-Disciplinary) Sustainability Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(8), pages 1-24, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lorenz Probst, 2022. "Higher Education for Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Empirical Evidence 2013–2020," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-24, March.
    2. Jouan, Julia & Carof, Matthieu & Baccar, Rim & Bareille, Nathalie & Bastian, Suzanne & Brogna, Delphine & Burgio, Giovanni & Couvreur, Sébastien & Cupiał, Michał & Dufrêne, Marc & Dumont, Benjamin & G, 2021. "SEGAE: An online serious game to learn agroecology," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).

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