Ingress in Geography: Portals to Academic Success?

Abstract

Niantic Labs has developed an augmented virtual reality mobile app game called Ingress in which agents must seek out and control locations for their designated factions. The app uses the Google Maps interface along with GPS to enhance a geocaching-like experience with elements of other classical games such as capture-the-flag. This study aims to assess the effect Ingress can have on introductory to physical geography students. These goals include: whether the students can acquire greater geographical interest through Ingress, garner a sense of community, and whether students exhibit improved exam scores in the classroom.