Electricity Made Exciting with "Ludwig", the Online Physics Game

For the longest time now, computers and new media have been much more than playthings. "Ludwig" is the name of the innovation in the young sector of game-based learning. With backing from VERBUND, the Viennese software manufacturer Ovos has developed this new physics game on the subject of electricity. To coincide with the start of the school year, the game is going to be available for school classes and students throughout Austria and will enhance the offering of the VERBUND electricity school.

"Ludwig" is the first computer game in the German-speaking world to turn the criteria that makes international top games so successful into something useful for schools. The list of prominent supporters and creative minds is impressive and ranges from the Department of Education, Danube University Krems, the Institute for Didactics of Physics, University of Graz (http://aeccp.univie.ac.at/), right through to Departure Vienna.

In its capacity as sponsor, VERBUND makes it possible for school classes throughout Austria to utilise the innovative game in the forthcoming school year and to thus gain insight into the production of electricity from diverse energy sources. One of the topics deals exclusively with the generation of electricity from water. The game will be available to school classes and students in time for start of the school year 2011.

Experimentation and application

How can you motivate students to enjoy learning a subject – and, ideally, to apply it as well? By joining them in exploring worlds and making a change. During the course of the game, "Ludwig" gives students the possibility to build up a complete physics library on the subject of energy generation. Recorded in this library are physical phenomena and principles, together with their relatonships and applications.

Experiments promote understanding of the principles in a playful way. Unlocked principles are combined and applied to solving tasks and advancing the game in keeping with problem-based learning.

VERBUND electricity school promotes energy knowledge

As Austria’s largest electricity company with the focus on hydropower, VERBUND takes on responsibility in the education sector. Since 2010, "VERBUND Climate School of Hohe Tauern National Park" has been sensitising young children to pay attention to climate protection, about what everyone can do for climate protection in daily life and the impacts that this can have on the environment.

From autumn 2011, the subject range offered by the VERBUND electricity school will be broadened: alongside the "Ludwig" physics game, VERBUND will make tuition material available on the subject of electricity production and power plants. Excursions to VERBUND power plants throughout (most) of Austria round off the programme and turn the energy sites into a tangible experience for students.

Knowledge pioneers who wish to experience the making of "Ludwig" at close hand may download and test the first version of Ludwig for free and make an impact on the further developments through their own feedback.