The Station: A Model for Content Co-Design with Rural Youth

We describe the design, modification, implementation, and preliminary research of a place-based serious AR (augmented reality) application in rural school setting. The Station is collaboratively designed iPhone app that allows players to explore world around them through educational quests. It links virtual gameplay real-world locations discovery via GPS. quest content user generated companion editor, web-based platform anyone design author their own quest. When used student context, editor users move from passive consumers game active creators. follow group ninth-grade students western Maine who worked create for collaboration with Mathematics Science Alliance, facilitated researched project. Youth participants were able location combined historical, geographical, scientific knowledge while also learning importance storytelling. During our observations pilot deployment this program, key elements emerged should be incorporated as part co-design process successfully Station. Our model can useful engaging youth creators both informal formal education settings.