A Gamification Model Proposal for Teaching Healthy Nutrition

Abstract

Healthy nutrition in children is an important factor for achieving ideal growth and development curves, age-appropriate development of cognitive functions, and prevention of metabolic diseases and disorders such as obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Nutritional habits acquired during this period form the basis of a healthy lifestyle to be maintained throughout life. When the literature is examined, it has been determined that effective results can be obtained by adopting lifestyle changes and proper nutrition education in the target group of children. The fact that children's interests are effective in lifestyle change and adoption of proper nutrition education brings gamified education to mind. This study aims to provide an innovative way to facilitate lifestyle change. A three-stage, scenario-based model was designed based on the outputs obtained from the literature review (psychological indicators, entertaining content, relevant graphical designs, etc.). In this research article, the dynamics of gamified healthy nutrition were examined and a game model was presented accordingly. The presented model is aimed to be a model that can be used as a basis by researchers who may be interested in the field, especially entrepreneurs, educators, and health professionals.

Keywords

• Healthy nutrition
• gamification
• childhood diseases
• healthy living

Sağlıklı Beslenmenin Öğretilmesi ile İlgili Bir Oyunlaştırma Modeli Önerisi

Abstract

Çocuklarda sağlıklı beslenme, ideal büyüme ve gelişme eğrilerinin yakalanması, bilişsel fonksiyonların yaşa uygun şekilde gelişmesi, obezite, diyabet, dislipidemi gibi metabolik hastalık ve bozulmaların önlenmesi için önemli bir etkendir. Bu dönemde kazanılan beslenme alışkanlıkları, yaşam boyu sürdürülecek sağlıklı bir yaşam tarzının temelini oluşturur. Literatür incelendiğinde hedef kitle olan çocuk yaş grubunda yaşam tarzı değişiklikleri ve doğru beslenme eğitiminin benimsenmesiyle etkili sonuçların elde edilebileceği tespit edilmiştir. Çocukların ilgilerinin yaşam tarzı değişikliğinde ve doğru beslenme eğitiminin benimsenmesinde etkili olması, akla oyunlaştırılmış eğitimleri getirmektedir. Bu çalışma ile yaşam tarzı değişikliğini kolaylaştırıcı yenilikçi bir yol hedeflenmiştir. Literatür taraması sonucunda elde edilen çıktılar (Psikolojik göstergeler, eğlenceli içerikler, ilgiliye yönelik grafiksel tasarımlar vs.) baz alınarak üç aşamalı, senaryo temelli bir model tasarımı gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu araştırma makalesinde söz konusu oyunlaştırılmış sağlıklı beslenmenin dinamikleri irdelenmiş ve bu doğrultuda bir oyun modeli sunulmuştur. Sunulan model ile girişimciler, eğitimciler, sağlık profesyonelleri başta olmak üzere alanla ilgili olabilecek araştırmacıların dayanak olarak kullanabileceği bir model hedeflenmiştir.

Keywords

• Sağlıklı beslenme
• oyunlaştırma
• çocukluk çağı hastalıklar
• sağlıklı yaşam

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