Developing Basura Hero: An Educational Game to Raise Awareness on Recycling and Sustainability in Children

Abstract

This study explores the design, development, and evaluation of Basura Hero, an interactive
educational video game created with the purpose of teaching school-aged children the correct
classification of waste and the great importance of recycling as an essential part of environmental
care. Through a playful and immersive approach, Basura Hero not only seeks to transmit theoretical
knowledge about sustainability, but also to promote positive practices and attitudes towards the
environment from an early age, encouraging students to reflect on the impact of their actions and to
make responsible decisions in their daily lives. The game is designed to be engaging and fun, using
various levels and challenges to teach concepts such as waste segregation, recycling processes,
and the environmental impact of improper waste management.
To evaluate the effectiveness of Basura Hero, a quasi-experimental study was designed with
elementary school students, who were evaluated before and after the intervention to measure
changes in their knowledge and willingness to recycle. This evaluation was carried out through a
pre-test and a post-test that allowed observing the impact of the game on the understanding of
recycling concepts and on the motivation to adopt sustainable practices. The results indicated a
significant improvement in students' learning and attitude towards recycling, demonstrating the
potential of educational video games to positively influence the development of environmental
awareness.
These findings highlight that the use of video games such as Basura Hero in the school
environment could strengthen environmental education and foster a culture of sustainability in future
generations, becoming a valuable resource for the formation of more responsible and
environmentally conscious citizens.