Science Daily — Researchers from
Germany, Portugal and the UK have developed an interactive role play game which
helps children to cope with bullying at schools. Currently over 1,000 children
all over Europe are part of pilot studies which aim to explore the impact that
the software may have in the possible reduction of bullying among pupils.
In the specially developed computer game “FearNot!” each child takes the role
of an invisible friend of the victimized character, discussing problems and
exploring possible solutions and coping strategies. The advice given
subsequently influences the actions of the victim.
With “FearNot!” the researchers are using a new and innovative approach to
get children reflect on the sensitive topic of bullying. “This 3-D interactive
virtual environment provides a safe haven for individual children, where they
witness bullying scenarios without being directly involved,” says Rui
Figueiredo, a scientist at the Institudo de Engenharia de Sistemas e
Computadores in Portugal and one of the Kaleidoscope researchers involved in the
project. “We use emergent narrative techniques, which enable the learner to
direct the path the story should follow.”
Bullying is an often underestimated problem in the everyday life of school
children. Studies show that this behavior can be found in nearly every school
and that the incidence is considered to be quite high. Bullying can take many
different forms including name-calling, spreading rumours and lies, as well as
threatening, blackmailing and beating up other children.
The Kaleidoscope research group involved on this project will present more of
their work at the upcoming Kaleidoscope 2007 Symposium which will take place
from November 26 to 27 in Berlin.The scientists who contribute to the
application and the following studies are members of Kaleidoscope, a
pan-European research network on technology-enhanced learning.
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