Computer games, video games and virtual classroom for HIV/AIDS prevention education in schools

I designed and developed computer games, video game and virtual classroom for HIV/AIDS prevention education for secondary school students in Uganda. This project was supported by UNESCO fellowship of five months in which I gathered requirements for systems design from stakeholders that include students, teachers and HIV counselors. The virtual classroom is at http://cs.joensuu.fi/~jbada/netaids The virtual classroom offers introductory lessons in HIV/AIDS epidemic and discussion forum for online discussions by students and teachers. The classroom was designed using open source software tool (MOODLE). One video game was developed using participatory design approach in which school girls constructed poems and drama based on local cultures that places them at risk of HIV infection. The two computer games run on CDs. The first game teaches students HIV basic knowledge, human immunity system and AIDS development in human body. The second game teaches students ways of HIV transmission, how to avoid HIV infection and responsible living. The students first take lessons from virtual classroom before they play any of the two computer games. Games serve the purpose of learning and evaluation. The computer games and video game run on CDs. With the permission of the Ministry of Education and Sports the virtual classroom and games were implemented in selected Ugandan schools in the first phase of this project. The students and teachers highly evaluated the application and recommended its implementation in all schools with computer laboratories in the country. This application can be implemented in other countries where HIV infection is high.