XRT: eXtraordinary Road Trip

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XRT eXtraordinary Road Trip

• 2006 National Air Quality Conferences
• Air Quality Forecasting, Mapping and Monitoring
• And
• Communicating
• Air Quality and Communities in Motion
• Quality of Air Means Quality of Life
• February 5-8. 2006
• San Antonio, TX

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XRT eXtraordinary Road Trip

• Teaching Drivers to be Stewards of Air Quality

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Todays Message

• Partnership Experience
• Recommendations for others
• What is XRT and what are the benefits of the XRT
  program
• Rapid learning lesson
• Preview the XRT computer game and website

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Multi-Agency Partnerships

• Identify the roles
• Identify funding sources
• Define the scope of work
• Share in the decision making and process
• Share in the pitfalls
• Share in the success

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Partners and Planning

• WI DNR, IL DOT and NIRPC
• EPA/OTAQ DOT/FMHA-CMAQ
• Fluid Entertainment Knupp Watson Discovery
  World
• Technical Assistance WI high school student
  interviews, UW educational gaming research,
  driver ed Ford Motor Co. eco-driving research,
  DNR/AM technical content and review coordination
  with IL and IN

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Project and Partnership Recommendations

• Was the experience good?
• Successes and Pitfalls
• What we would do differently
• What we would recommend
• Would we do it again ?

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What is XRT?

• Game-based learning
• Teaches eco-driving skills
• Through a learning environment that builds on the
  educational properties of games
• Competitive, thought-provoking, fun

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XRT Components

• CD ROM computer simulation game
• Web site www.eXtraordinaryRoadTrip.org
• Museum venues where kids and adults can learn by
  doing interactive childrens museums museums
  of science and industry
• Driver education module

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XRT CD Edutainment

• Computer Simulation
• Player goal - adjust the choices of 25
  personalities to achieve healthy air in their
  world
• Learning goal - how driving and consumer choices
  affect air quality

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Research Computer Games Aid Learning

• Computer games simulate worlds
• that embody particular social practices and
  problems
• that prompt integrated thinking, social
  interaction and use of technology

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Research DNR Air Outreach

• 1993 67 of SE WI aware of ozone alerts
• 2003 89 aware of Ozone Action Days
• 56 reduced car use when air quality is bad
• 35 made long term behavior changes as suggested
  in the Ten Simple Steps

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Research Teaching Teens

• Early adopters of environmental values
• Early adopters of technology
• Need wheels, any wheels
• Lessons about air quality must
• Empower with new skills
• Resolve conflict of values between desire for car
  and desire for clean air

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Eco-Driving The Lesson

• safe, smooth driving
• reduces gasoline consumption and exhaust
  emissions
• fosters consumer choices for efficient
  transportation technology
• fosters smart urban growth

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XRTeXtraordinary Road TripThe Game
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Reggie Korthals, Director Environmental Planning
Programs Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning
Commission (MPO) [phone] rkorthals_at_nirpc.or
g Elizabeth (Betsy) Tracy Air Quality
Specialist Illinois Department of
Transportation Office of Planning and
Programming [phone] tracyer_at_dot.il.gov Sar
a Burr, President The Burr Group. LLC (608)
576-2195 burren_at_tds.net Formerly, Air Education
Manager, WDNR Elisabeth Olson XRT Project
Manager/Outdoor Air Quality Educator Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources (608)
264-9258 Elisabeth.Olson_at_dnr.state.wi.us