Serious Game against bullying School of Empathy

School of Empathy addresses the following aspects:

•     Improved adequate assertive and empathic behaviour in potential bullying contexts.
•     Observed decreasing on hostile or by-standing behaviour.
•     Increased acceptance of differences and non-hostility towards colleagues
•     Increased awareness of the impact of one actions over others and cooperative behaviour.
•     Incorporation of reproval of anti-social behaviour at individual and group-level.

 

The game presents three modes in which the user can play: victim, bully and observer. In the development of this game there are different situations to solve that make it easier for the user to put on the role of all the figures. The player, through dialogues and different dynamics in the form of mini games, “interprets” the different characters that can be immersed in a situation of these characteristics. The ultimate goal is that young people who try this game really know what happens when situations of Bullying occur, learn to detect them and help solve them.

 

The game has been made available for the 10 schools in the eConfidence pilot tests, in the experimental stage for the pupils participating. Following the completion of the pilot tests and upcoming project research results, more information on the game will be made available on the eConfidence website.

 

Educational benefits of School of empathy

School bullying and peer victimisation are recognised as a widespread social problem among children and youngsters that peak during early adolescence. Most children are not directly involved in bullying incidents, but they are present as observers (‘bystanders’) and play an important role in encouraging or discouraging bullying behaviour. Among different approaches to intervention, serious games can be suitable tools for intervention with children and adolescents as they make the learning process more enjoyable and effective.

 

The goals of the eConfidence game tackling bullying are to help students:

• Improve the ability to recognize bullying situations, including incidents of verbal and relational violence
• Understand different roles children can play in bullying contexts
• Identify and use adequate, assertive ways of coping with bullying situations, either as a victim or a bystander
• Identify and use adequate, prosocial ways of interaction with peers (instead of aggression)