Roblox-based tsunami survival game: A tool to stimulate early childhood disaster preparedness skills

¹ Department of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
² Department of Geophysics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
³ Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social and Political Science Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
⁴ Graduate Program in Disaster Science, Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center, and Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: okta@usk.ac.id

Abstract

Disaster education for early childhood is crucial, especially in Indonesia, which is located within the Ring of Fire, an area prone to various disasters, including tsunamis. Children are a vulnerable group in disaster situations, as they are susceptible to physical and psychological negative impacts. In this context, a game-based approach becomes an attractive alternative as it combines interactive and enjoyable learning experiences. The objective of this study is to explore the effectiveness of using this game as a means of teaching tsunami preparedness. The Tsunami Survival game has visually appealing, child-friendly graphics and easily understandable elements. This study was conducted at Darul Hikmah Kindergarten in Kajhu Village, Aceh Besar District, focusing on the utilization of a game-based approach, specifically the Roblox-based Tsunami Survival game, to educate and stimulate disaster preparedness skills among 20 children aged 4-6 years. The game has equipped children about the actions to be taken during a tsunami through engaging storytelling and gameplay. It incorporates age-appropriate content, interactive gameplay, and virtual scenarios to engage children in learning about evacuation, emergency response, and survival skills. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted to evaluate the impact of the game-based approach on the children's disaster preparedness skills. At the same time, questionnaires and interviews gathered qualitative data on their engagement and perceived learning outcomes. The expected outcomes include improvement knowledge and awareness of tsunami preparedness, as well as insights into the practical implementation of game-based learning in early childhood education. This research contributes to the development of effective strategies for disaster education and resilience-building among young children, leveraging the popularity and accessibility of gaming platforms.