Computer assisted comprehension of distant worlds: Understanding hunger dynamics in Africa

Conveying a sophisticated understanding of rural food systems is difficult, especially when students have little to no first hand experience in rural areas. This article presents the results of a classroom exercise using a co mputer program known as RiskMap that simulates rural economy and hunger dyn amics in different African countries. The content of the software program a nd how it might be used in the classroom is initially discussed. The paper then addresses two research objectives. 1. Determine if students' understan ding of a subject was enhanced when learned through a hands-on, computer si mulation exercise (versus learning through discussion and answering questio ns). 2. Determine student attitudes towards learning via interactive, compu ter simulation exercises. The exercise revealed a quantifiable improvement in student understanding that could be linked to the computer exercise. The evaluation results also suggested that students were favorably disposed to learning via an interactive, computer exercise in class. The "realness" of the experience seemed to account for much of this appeal.