SCrisis Terminator: A Computer Game Based Learning Approach for Reducing the Scourge of Sickle Cell Anaemia

Computer game based learning approach has been described as an established means of educating players in an engaging and fun environment. One of the most important and challenging areas in this regard is how to design games to raise awareness of health issues in groups of younger children. It is expected that the game must be fun and engaging, and at the same time deliver the messages about the illness in a way that the children can understand, relate to and remember. As a result, this paper seeks to promote sickle cell health awareness among children between 6 to 12 years old. This includes children who have the condition as well as those who do not. Thus, by developing a computer game coined "Sickle cell terminator", we use game based learning approach to achieve our objective. Consequently, this paper presents a discussion of the game design its impact on the targeted audience in Nigeria and United Kingdom. The game design went through 3 different revisions as a result of evaluating it with groups of children. Preliminary tests of the designed game took place in the United Kingdom while additional tests were conducted in Nigeria. We found that the younger children (6 -8 years old) liked the game but didn't understand the idea of the blood disease and the health messages. The older children generally got the messages, but thought the game was too easy and not engaging. Lesson learnt include the fact that one game is not likely to meet all of the needs we have set as objectives.