Water safety is a critical issue for First Nations communities. 7th Floor Media, a program of Continuing Studies at SFU, has received Inukshuk funding to develop "Safe Water Challenge"
VANCOUVER January 9, 2007
Water safety is a critical issue for First Nations communities. 7th Floor Media, a program of Continuing Studies at SFU, has received Inukshuk funding to develop "Safe Water Challenge" - a game in which learners play the role of a "Water Monitor" and make choices that will affect the health and well-being of an imaginary First Nations community.
There are 204 First Nations communities in British Columbia, many of them remote and rural. Our goal is to help address the critical demand for trained water monitors in these communities. Designed with and for First Nations learners, "Safe Water Challenge" will allow people to "learn by doing." It will address, in an engaging way, subject-specific knowledge and computer literacy skills that learners will need if they wish to pursue further on-line study to become water monitors. It will also allow learners to assess their interest and suitability for this type of work. "Safe Water Challenge" will reduce access barriers and improve completion rates for First Nations students wishing to pursue post-secondary education in this field.
Partnering with 7th Floor Media on this project are the BC Chiefs Health Committee, Keewatin Career Development Corporation, Phillip Djwa, and content specialist Judtih Law. The project is due for completion in the Fall of 2007.