The Solar System Traveler: A Model-Based Board Game to Advance Primary Student Interest, Knowledge and Learning in Astronomy

Students often find astronomy abstract and difficult, which decreases their motivation and negatively affects learning outcomes. This study designed a model-based board game called “Solar System Traveler” (SST) to improve learning outcomes and increase students’ knowledge of and interest in astronomy. The game involves comparison, classification, and interconnection among planets. This study applied a game design framework based on the system model and the concept-building analogical models to represent the abstract scientific concepts and phenomena. The design process involved four stages: defining the learning objectives, analyzing the concepts, developing the game, and modeling the game’s mechanisms. SST was designed to teach students the structure of the solar system through representation. Questionnaires and interviews were used to assess the students’ performance. In total, 54 participants (20 girls and 34 boys) in grades 5–8 were recruited from two schools. The results revealed that after playing SST, the students were able to draw the solar system, and they exhibited improved high-order conceptual thinking. The students also demonstrated a strong interest in astronomy and a motivation to learn. The results indicated that model-based environment board games designed in accordance with the concept-building analogical models framework improve learning outcomes and increase students’ knowledge of and motivation to learn astronomy.