Bacttle: a microbiology educational board game for lay public and schools

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Science Education
• Game-Based Learning

Background:

• Serious games positively impact science understanding.
• Scientific outreach is crucial for public engagement.
• There is a need for accessible tools to introduce microbiology concepts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess an adaptive difficulty microbiology board game called "Bacttle."
• To introduce microbiology concepts to the public and educators.
• To evaluate the game's impact on microbiology knowledge.

Main Methods:

• Developed "Bacttle," a board game with cards, a 3D-printed board, and tokens.
• Implemented adaptive difficulty and open-source digital content.
• Assessed 169 participants at science fairs using pre- and post-game surveys.
• Measured changes in microbiology concept understanding.

Main Results:

• "Bacttle" significantly increases general microbiology knowledge.
• The game is effective for players as young as 5 years old.
• The highest knowledge gains were observed in players with no prior microbiology comprehension.

Conclusions:

• "Bacttle" is an effective tool for science outreach and education.
• The game successfully enhances microbiology understanding in a diverse audience.
• Accessible game design can bridge the gap in scientific literacy.