Using Games
Content
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why using games
What types of games to use
Competition games
Thinking games
Role plays
1. Elements
2. Example
3. Organization
6. Quiz and puzzles
1. Elements
2. Water facts
3. Example
7. Designing a game
8. Tip
1. Why using games
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Games are attractive
Games can be self-learning
Games can simulate real-life experience: some things
you can only explain with a game
Competition To give energy to the training
or awareness building
To create ‘extra’ interest and
get feedback
Thinking
games
Illustrate a principle or a
special point
Make sure the message ‘lands’
Role play:
Simulate real life experience
Important lessons to be
captured by facilitator
Quizes and
puzzles
Test understanding
Self learning and self
correcting
3. Competition games – example 1
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Water Policy Game (MetaMeta) uses a floating triangle
(inspired by IWRM diagrams) on which weights are
placed till the triangle becomes out of balance, tilts and
sinks
The weights represent pressure on environment,
economy or social development
Players are trading cards which describe certain water
developments and the respective weights on
environment, economy and social development
3. Competition games – example 1(2)


The Water Policy Game explains impact of different
developments and policies and the principle of balance
integrated water resource development
The floating triangle is inspired on the principle of the
water clock (floating pierced bowl), used to distribute
water in ancient irrigation systems
4. Thinking game – example 1

Aquadukt (Schmidt Verlag): explains importance of
water systems development to service residential
areas
Players have to develop wells,
construct water channels and
develop new residential areas
In ‘Roman’ fashion
4. Thinking game – example 2

No Know (Water Education Foundation): is simple
race game explaining sources of water pollution
5.1 Role play - elements
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Plot – make sure you have a reasonable understanding
where the role play will lead to
Opposing roles – make sure the roles of different
players is likely create some ‘fireworks’
‘Characters’ – make sure characters are ‘recognizable’
General information – in the beginning
Additional information – during the game
5.2 Example of role play:
The River Basin Game
http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/pubs/working/WOR75.pdf
5.3 Role play - organization
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Make sure everyone understands his role!!
Make sure there is no language problem
Role of facilitator is important:

To get it going
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To ask in the end: so what happened? what can we
take from this?

To summatize the main learning points
Accept that each roleplay will leads its own life – you
cannot predict outcome
Duration: can be from 5 minutes to one day, even
more
6.1 Quiz and puzzles - elements
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Quiz – competition – quizmaster/ jury gives the
answer
Puzzle – individual, should be able to check the answer
Consider:
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Mix of serious and non-serious question
Add time element
Make it unforgettable, hilarious
6.2 Quiz questions – water facts (1)
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There is the same amount of water on Earth as there was
when the Earth was formed.
The water from your faucet could contain molecules that
dinosaurs drank.
Nearly 97% of the world’s water is salty or otherwise
undrinkable. Another 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers.
That leaves just 1% for all of humanity’s needs - all its
agricultural, residential, manufacturing, community, and
personal needs.
Water regulates the Earth’s temperature. It also regulates the
temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen
to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and
removes wastes.
6.2 Quiz questions – water facts (2)
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75% of the human brain is water and 75% of a living tree is
water.
A person can live about a month without food, but only
about a week without water.
Water is part of a deeply interconnected system. What we
pour on the ground ends up in our water, and what we
spew into the sky ends up in our water.
The average cost for water supplied to a home in the U.S. is
about $2.00 for 1,000 gallons, which equals about 5 gallons
for a penny.
Water expands by 9% when it freezes. Frozen water (ice) is
lighter than water, which is why ice floats in water.
6.3 Example of self-learning puzzle
Basics of HydroGeology
Try to move from rainfall to recharge – but follow only the true statements. Best to do this in group of 2
or 3 and discuss – see which group finds the correct route.
RAINFALL
All aquifers
are
permeable
Groundwater
flows best in
layers of
coarse sand
and gravel
The age of
groundwater
can be from
weeks up to
millennia
Shallow
aquifers
recharge
quickly
`
Most water on An aquitard is Shallow
earth is salt
a very old
aquifers are
aquifer
more prone to
organic pollution
than deep
aquifers
Confined
Some rivers
Some aquifers
aquifers are
are
are recharged
‘sandwiched’ recharged by by rivers
between
groundwater
impermeable
layers
Most fresh
In clay you will
water on earth not find much
occurs as
groundwater
groundwater
Because of
overpumping,
farmers may
suffer from
‘cones of
depression’
The effects of
chemical
groundwater
pollution may
last for
centuries, if
not more
If too much
High fluoride The
A tubewell is a Water tables
groundwater
levels in
transmissivity of horizontal well do not have
is used, land groundwater an aquifer
four legs
may sink
can cause
depends on its
dental
thickness and
problems and the hydraulic
kidney failure conductivity
The zone of
Granite
Groundwater
If a well is first Some
aeration is the formations
discharge can
developed, it
groundwater is
aquifer
are not very
be through
yields
naturally
underneath a permeable
wells, lakes,
sparkling
chemically
recreational
wetlands, rivers water
contaminated
area
or waterlogged
areas
Hydraulic
A deeper well Contamination
Most
Most
conductivity
will always
is caused by
groundwater
groundwater is
measures the yield more
pesticides,
flows in
too heavy to
voltage of
water
industrial/urban underground
evaporate
groundwater
waste, oil and
rivers
human waste
Groundwater
with high
sodium
content is
called
sodawater
Fossil
groundwater
is not
recharged
Unconfined
aquifers
extend across
country
borders
In artesian
wells water
flows
upstream
RECHARGE
7. In designing a game what is important
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Fun
Keep it simple and deliberately simplify:
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Test the game
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We tend to make games too complex and boring
To make sure it is understood and liked
Be aware of cultural sensitivities

Some games are not liked or accepted in certain groups
or cultures
Tip:
Ask students
to make a game themselves:
this encourages them to
think of stakeholders and
rules of the game
BECAUSE
IN WATER MANAGEMENT MANY THINGS ARE
ON SETTING THE RULES OF THE GAME…