CERISE: Chemical Education Realized through Interactive Storytelling Experiences

Abstract

Black women are a hugely underrepresented group in STEM, and it is imperative for educators and researchers at all types of higher learning institutions to change that. One way to do this is to increase the emotional investment and engagement of these students with chemistry. This inspired our group to begin developing an educational video game that provides students with fun, interesting, and culturally relevant narrative experiences where both their choices and mastery of chemistry concepts will impact the story. This video game is known as CERISE (Chemical Education Realized through Interactive Storytelling Experiences) and is currently being developed within the Unity engine as a 2D pixel-style RPG. The gameplay of CERISE demonstrates the ubiquity and applicability of chemistry in the life of a young Black woman named Abby who is just starting her scientific career. Students can guide Abby through various modules with their own self-contained narratives that incorporate topics and skills typically covered in standard general chemistry curricula. CERISE goes beyond being just an assessment tool though, because correct application of chemistry skills will not just lead to a better grade, but it will also change the story and the lives of the in-game characters. This will add an additional layer of depth and emotional engagement for the student. The goal of this publication is to demonstrate our first fully playable module which highlights the chemistry of skin care, as well as introduce the concept of the game. Preliminary student feedback from testing the game with general chemistry students is also presented. We anticipate that CERISE will be an exciting and innovative way for instructors to increase the emotional engagement of all students, but that it can especially be an excellent platform for increasing engagement of Black women, and other under-represented groups, with chemistry so as to better help them succeed in STEM fields.