C6 BioFarm: A Sustainability Game for Learning the Role of a Bio
C6 BioFarm: A Sustainability Game for Learning the Role of a Bio-‐based Economy CenUSA Grant K-‐12 Extension Outreach Jay Staker April 9, 2015 The C6 Team • Sponsored by: – CenUSA Bioenergy Grant supported by Agriculture and Food Research IniMaMve CompeMMve Grant No. 011-‐68005-‐30411 from the USDA NaMonal InsMtute of Food and Agriculture, Iowa – NSF EPCoR (NaMonal Science FoundaMon grant) – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach • Ag and Natural Resources • 4-‐H Background • • • Start Point: learning about biochar and the implicaMons of large volume biochar producMon from switchgrass. (Purdue-‐developed curriculum delay led to C6 as interim) EducaMonal objecMves broadened to the carbon economy, transiMon from petroleum-‐C economy to bio-‐C economy. Old to new C STEM learning goals and links to learn about the importance of the iniMaMve – sustainability from economical, environmental, and social standpoint – need to build resiliency into agricultural systems based on natural variaMons (weather, markets, poliMcal, etc.) • Created C6 BioFarm to implement into classrooms Goal of C6 BioFarm • Educate youth about the role of carbon in the bioeconomy through an interacMve game on biomass producMon using agricultural pracMces, consequences, and technology that: • requires real life farming decisions (crop insurance, cropping decisions, ferMlizer & pesMcides); • ranks players on economic, social, and environmental impacts of their decisions that focus on long term viability and efficiency aber 3 years of play; • is supported by an iBook and Science, Technology, Engineering, and MathemaMcs (STEM) lessons that provides content on biomass producMon, processing, products, and STEM careers; • has career videos that feature youth, interns, and professionals linked to the bioeconomy. Objec3ves: Teach 5,000 students about ag producMon, bioenergy, and show them possible careers in these fields. • 4-‐H, FFA, and K-‐12 science students will gain knowledge of biomass producMon, biofuels producMon, and carbon and nutrient cycling by parMcipaMng in youth acMviMes (measured by pre/ post surveys and open-‐ended quesMonnaires) • Youth will gain knowledge about STEM careers by parMcipaMng in 4-‐H, FFA, and K-‐12 as classroom experiences (indicators measured by pre/post surveys and open-‐ended quesMonnaires). Programs: C6 BioFarm Game Development at the core: • Web app and more informaMon found at: C6BioFarm.Weebly.com • iBook on the Apple iTunes store. • Tell us what you learned on our website. • CollaboraMon: – Master Gardeners – Purdue University – University of Nebraska Mapping the learning Process Builds on C6 simple App and EducaMonal materials hgp://iowaepscor.org/educaMon/c6 Gather informaMon to develop gaming algorithms and supporMng iBook content. • Meet with experts in ag producMon, economics, environment, insurance, biomass processing, and educaMon. • Test algorithms and iBook content with youth in camp and workshop sehngs • Revise and supplement algorithms and content based on feedback collected via surveys and focus groups • IdenMfy gaming engine and distribuMon process: iPad • Program game and edit videos • Revise iBook based on input from youth and experts Superhero C6 EvoluMon • 2013 – Posters – Html-‐based game for classrooms – Basic presentaMons for classrooms • 2014-‐15 – iPad game development began – Teaching curriculum – Career videos – iBook C6 BioFarm Poriolio • Learning for middle school and high school students about: – Bioenergy – Agricultural ProducMon – Carbon – The Environment – Agricultural and Bioenergy Careers • Download the iBook: Apple iTunes store • Web app at: C6Biofarm.Weebly.com • YouTube Channel: CenUSA C6 Game Early Childhood !!!!Hi,!I’m!C6.!I’m!carbon.!!I!am!a!very!important!part!of!your! life!!Did!you!know!that?!!I!make!up!18%!of!the!human!body!!I! ! also!am!a!part!of!almost!everything!you!use!every!day!!!Take!a! look!around!and!see!what!else!is!made!of!carbon!! ! I’m!new!carbon!!I! come!from! biomass,!or!plants!! ! Did!you!know!I! make!up!40%!of!all! plants?! I’m!old!carbon!!I’ve! been!inside!the! ! Earth!for!millions!of! years!!I!am!found!in! coal,!oil!and!gas.! Curriculum • Lessons that support C6 BioFarm game • Linked to standards: Science, Ag, Tech • AcMve learning format – Purdue – University of Nebraska • iBook – Series of chapters that uMlize the interacMve nature of iBook plaiorm – Chapters that examine the content for STEM relaMng to C6 BioFarm Curriculum: STEM and Ag Classes Sample EssenMal QuesMons: – Why is Carbon so special and so important to everything around us? – What makes Carbon so valuable for our fuel and chemical needs? – Energy is so important to all of us. What are some examples of Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy Sources and what are the important differences between fossil and renewable energy? – What is Bio Energy? Key Terms: – Carbon – Carbon Cycle – Old Carbon – New Carbon – Fossil Fuel – Biomass – Biofuel – Renewable Energy Career Videos • • • • • • Technical Insurance Financial Ag ProducMon STEM Educator Bio-‐based DuPont plant engineers Conceptual Frame • • • • Carbon’s role in the economy Carbon source opMons Source opMon ramificaMons Pyrolysis and the science and engineering processing – bio-‐products – Biochar • • • • Carbon economy ProducMon to products Sustainability: social, environmental, economic Associated careers iOS C6 BioFarm • An ag-‐based game linked to curriculum and iBook. • Suite of learning materials that: • focuses on STEM content and ag pracMces • allows player to make choices and understand the realiMes of replacing petroleum Carbon with bio-‐based carbon. iOS iOS Android • • • • • • • 8 Fields, $1,000,000 PlanMng OpMons Corn Soybeans Switchgrass Corn with crop insurance Soybeans with crop insurance Game Flow Game Play! • Year 1! 1 Select the crop you will plant in each field. 2 Calculate cost for each field using the planMng costs table on Page 1. 3 Select yes or no for Insurance (Factor this decision into your planMng costs). 4 At the end of the cycle fill in the yield, using a random number generator to idenMfy the yield modifier factor number (for all fields). 5 Determine final yield = (yield/acre)* yield modifier factor Crop insurance factor modifier = .75 Use number generated from random number generator and apply to table on the bogom. 6 Fill in price/unit for each crop in each field that is supplied by game leader. 7 Profit = final yield*price/unit-‐planGng costs+field profits total Add or subtract from account balance Random acts of fate iBook Purdue Curriculum: Future Plans • Other feedstocks – Corn stover sold to DuPont-‐Pioneer • • • • • • • • • Biochar applicaMon Environmental effects score FerMlizer applicaMons Real-‐Mme update for prices Government subsidies RIN data Taxes Weather impacts Farm economics 2015 Rollout • Team of undergraduate programmers have created a basic game for classrooms – Android – Apple • PresenMng the programming in summer camps, teacher training, and other educaMonal sehngs • Professional programming team will put the finishing touches on the app Agricultural ProducMon Chemistry Pre-‐College C6 Target Audiences and Content Foci Economics Industrial Science Environmental Science C6 BioFarm Undergraduate Agronomy Graduate Agronomy Producers Extension C6 BioFarm Reach Students: 2014-‐15 • CenUSA Interns – Aaron Jacobson, CoD – Caitlyn Carlson, CoE – Breanna Branderhorst, CALS • College of Design – Stefanie Dao, graphic arMst • Vice President of Extension and Outreach – Nicole Barbee, Col. Of Eng. Intern Students 2015 • CenUSA Interns – Juan Venegas: programmer – Mouhamad Diallo: Outreach • College of Engineering Programmers – Camden “Jackson” Voigt – Alex Berns • Graduate Student – Abby Peterson Acknowledgements • • • • • • • • • • CenUSA Iowa Epscor Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-‐H College of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Engineering College of Design Jill Euken Sorrel Brown Purdue University University of Nebraska
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