Project Apollo

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges for traditional methods of outreach that serve to help people maintain and improve their health.  “Building Back Better” is a priority across the federal Government, and expanding digital capacity through use of modern technologies is one of the ways that outreach delivery is being adapted to best serve Canadians. In particular, game-based learning on digital platforms has been shown to increase user engagement and comprehension. This may offer an effective method for the outreach to youth, which the Government has identified as a priority group. ROEB EHP-ON, the Transformation Office and the Canada School of Public Service are collaborating on a project under the Solutions Fund to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of game-based learning digital solutions as a tool to increase awareness and motivate behaviour change about environmental health hazards amongst youth. Digital solution technologies under examination include web-based applications, 360o 3D video production, augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed-reality.

The effectiveness of a solution considers user engagement and behaviour change, and feasibility is evaluated based on financial costs, accessibility and learning resource supports. The project adopts a human-centered design approach which optimizes system development by focusing on user needs.  Methods involve a review of literature and identification of market trends on game-based learning, consultation with behavioural specialists regarding behaviour change measurement, and facilitated group discussions with stakeholders on digital solutions. The assessment will provide suggestions on game-based learning designs and platforms for new and improved outreach to youth. 

Before Project Apollo

Health Canada - Environmental Health Program Ontario

The contents of Project Apollo were derived from previous studies. The primary goal of Environmental Health Program Ontario was to increase awareness on environmental hazards to minimize risks and health impacts to the public. This goal was reached through the Radon Program, the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), and the Air Program.

• The Radon Program aims to reduce the number of homes and buildings with radon levels above the Canadian Guideline, thereby reducing the number of radon-induced lung cancer incidences.
• The Chemicals Management Plan aims to reduce risks posed by chemicals to individuals and their environment.
• The Air Program provides health-focused leadership to ensure that actions to improve air quality will benefit the health of individuals.

Outreach and Engagement

Interaction with the right audience is an important step in every study and project. Outreach and engagement occurred at various trade shows, conferences, high schools, and universities (including the Toronto Metropolitan University, previously known as Ryerson University). The BORIS- CMP Learning Tool was brought in and used to engage the audience while educating them about their health. However, the team felt that there were more ways to engage individuals and the public about environmental health. The solution was a Healthy Home Virtual Reality Tour.

Healthy Home Virtual Reality Tour

This tour is a rudimentary computer-based virtual reality (VR) outreach tool that provides users with an immersive learning experience that focuses on environmental health hazards. The tour begins by allowing the user to explore any room in a household. By looking around the rooms, informative icons appear, followed by a brief explanation of the common household hazards. The launch of this VR tool was successful, with a lot of positive feedback from participants. However, there were multiple limitations including the cost, software design, and accessibility issues.

Designing Project Apollo

Purpose

This project is an assessment to explore the type, effectiveness, and feasibility of game-based learning digital solutions as an educational tool to inform Canadian youth about environmental health hazards. EPH-ON hypothesizes that digital solutions designed with game-based learning can increase awareness and motivate behaviour change among Canadian youth about environmental health hazards.

Definitions

• Digital solution "types" can include but are not limited to the following technologies: virtual reality, augmented reality, mobile devices, and computers.
• The "effectiveness" of a solution will consider user engagement and behaviour change.
• The "feasibility" of a solution will be evaluated based on financial costs, accessibility, learning resource support(s) and other known limitations.

Target Audience

The primary audience originally consisted of youth in Canada from the ages of 13 to 24. It has since been narrowed down to high school students in Canada. Health Canada considers Canadian youth a vulnerable priority demographic because of their comparatively greater biological susceptibility to adverse health effects from exposure to chemicals and pollutants.

The secondary audience consists of educators. Input from these audiences is necessary to ensure the successful creation and implementation of any future prototypes in both classroom and home settings.

Project Activities

Research Report - Completed

The assessment includes a research report on game-based learning and behaviour change. The report identified four common types of digital technologies used in the education sector.

Recommendation Reports - Current Stage

The final and current stage of the project activities consists of recommendation reports. It is necessary to provide Health Canada with research evidence to determine the type(s) of digital solutions that it should consider developing in the future.

The final report is planned for June 2022.

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