Swoosh & Teachers as Scholars

By: Liana Greenberg-Nielsen

On April 8, the Stone Living Lab Education Team led a one day professional development opportunity for Boston area teachers in partnership with Teachers as Scholars! The day was spent taking a deep dive into the subject of coastal resiliency, participatory science, and hands-on activities. In the morning session, teachers were able to play the role of students and were led through a game of Swoosh! Swoosh is a roleplaying simulation game created by Adalia Xiony Rodriguez, a former National Parks Service Coastal Stewardship Corps member. Swoosh and all of its accompanying materials can be found on our website for you to use in your classroom! Keep reading to hear from Xiony about the game:

My name is Adalia Xiony Rodriguez and I am the creator of the Swoosh simulation game that explores the ramifications of coastal flooding on nearby communities. The main objective of this game is to make young people and educators aware of current challenges that coastal communities face in light of accelerating climate change.

Massachusetts coastlines are populated with thousands of people. However, not all have direct access to these spaces, whether it is because of privatization or lack of knowledge. This simulation game aims to expose students of all backgrounds to real scenarios that may affect their families or cities that they live in, while encouraging them to learn more about the places they call home. My motivation in creating this project was to not only inspire young people to find ways to create change, but to continue to diversify the career fields that attempt to find solutions to complex coastal challenges. Please enjoy the game and welcome to Swoosh!