Interactive game-based learning in urban planning: an introductory course for A-level and pre-university urban planning students

• Main Authors: Jaafar Sidek, Mohd Farid, Termizi, Mazbah
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: LB Theory and practice of education; LB2300 Higher Education; LB3201 School architecture and equipment
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/106170/1/106170_Interactive%20game-based%20learning.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/106170/

A beginner may find it challenging to comprehend the complexity of an urban system, its parts, and how it functions. Urban planning consists of land use planning, development and management, provision of facilities and infrastructures, transportation mode of choice within limited resources of environmental resources and financial availability. The uncertainty of where to begin and how much of the learning experience should be covered may be subjective. Due to a lack of link between the individual's imagination and the actual process of urban system operations, the learning experience could be excessively inconvenient and uninspiring. Thus, there is a need to provide an interesting way of learning urban planning to beginners, particularly to the A-level and pre-university students majoring in urban planning or any other related courses. By having an interactive game-based learning experience for urban planning students, they could explore the number of components involves in an urban system and develop critical thinking to find the solution to urban conflicts and demands by different stakeholders. This study is to expose the use of interactive game-based urban planning software for urban planning introductory course. There are three selected interactive game softwares covered under this study; (1) SimCity 4 by Maxim and Aspyr, (2) Cities Skylines by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive, and (3) Highrise city by Fourexo Entertainment. All interactive game softwares are found relevant in giving preliminary exposure to urban planning. Each software has its strengths and features in terms of user experience. Thus, interactive game software could be used as an introductory exposure to A-level and pre-university urban planning students. In the future, the use of interactive game software could be introduced and exposed to more urban planning students at the entry-level so to overcome the misconception about the conventional theoretical-based urban planning study experience.