Pest Quest: A Game of Strategy, Uncertainty, and Sticky Traps

Abstract

Abstract Educational games are employed to teach a variety of scientific skills and concepts. We evaluated Pest Quest, a co-operative tabletop game designed to teach about Integrated Pest Management. In it, students worked together to protect a farm from insect pests by scouting and making sound treatment decisions. We gave students in an introductory, nonmajors entomology course assessments of their Integrated Pest Management knowledge and attitudes toward agriculture before and after playing a digital port of the game. We also administered a postgame survey to gauge students’ opinions and feelings about the game. Pest Quest proved engaging and accessible, with students enjoying the game and having the impression it helped them learn. However, this conclusion was not captured in our assessments. We provide access to physical and digital versions of Pest Quest and suggestions for more effective implementation in entomology and agriculture classrooms.