Sharonov A.A. THE USAGE OF ECOPSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES IN THE DESIGN OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL VIDEO GAME
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/nsr.jvolsu.2026.3.4
UDC:37
Andrey A. Sharonov, Master’s Student, Volgograd State University, Prosp. Universitetsky, 100, 400062 Volgograd, Russian Federation, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract. The relevance of this analytical article stems from the need to identify effective forms of environmental education that can combine emotional engagement with the development of practical ecosystem-restoration skills. The aim of the article is to analytically describe approaches to integrating methods from ecological psychology and conventional game design and to outline possible ways to implement them in the format of an environmental-education video game. The study employs an interdisciplinary theoretical-applied analysis: systematizing typologies ofecopsychological approaches, matching methodological techniques with game mechanics and technical solutions, and formulating recommendations for operationalizing measurements of impact on components of ecological consciousness. The paper examines key design elements: simulation-driven visualization, narrative and personification of natural actors, mechanics for allocating limited resources, a visual-and-auditory restorative environment, and builtin analytics. The proposed conceptual solutions are aimed at achieving educational objectives: increasing domain knowledge about ecosystem cycles, developing practical skills for sustainable resource management, and stimulating collective restoration practices. The result is a concise methodological framework and a set of design recommendations suitable for implementation in demonstration prototypes and for subsequent empirical validation. The practical significance lies in the proposal of a reproducible platform of design solutions that can be used by educators, educational-program developers, and researchers in the field of environmental education.
Key words: ecological psychology, ecological consciousness, educational software games, game mechanics, software design.
Citation. Sharonov A.A. The Usage of Ecopsychological Approaches in the Design of an Environmental Educational Video Game. Prirodnye sistemy i resursy [Natural Systems and Resources], 2026, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 34-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/nsr.jvolsu.2026.3.4
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