ABSTRACT COMPILATION - EduGC 2025

24 / 87 ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION The integration of gamified learning environments into environmental education has emerged as an innovative strategy to increase student engagement and conceptual understanding. This project introduces the Eco Valley Challenge, a Minecraft Education-based module tailored for the Environmental Sustainability course, focusing on four selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). PROBLEM STATEMENT Traditional lecture-based approaches often fail to engage students with sustainability concepts in a meaningful way. There is a need for experiential and interactive learning tools that make abstract SDG content more relatable especially for digital-native learners. LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Enhance understanding of selected SDGs through challenge-based learning 2. Encourage environmental awareness and responsible action 3. Develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills CORE FEATURES The Eco Valley Challenge invites students into a fun, immersive world where they engage in meaningful sustainability tasks through hands-on play: 1. SDG 2: Assist Minecraft agents in cultivating carrots as food for villagers. 2. SDG 6: Clear grey-colored clay pollution to restore clean water flow from the hills. 3. SDG 7: Build a solar-powered lighting circuit using redstone and sensors, with an automatic switch that detects nightfall. 4. SDG 15: Conduct reforestation by cutting trees and replanting saplings, which grow instantly with the help of simulated compost. Redstone circuits, agent coding, and environmental restoration are embedded in every task, reinforcing both technical and ecological learning. TARGET AUDIENCES Designed for undergraduate environmental and civil engineering and students. The Eco Valley Challenge not only makes environmental science engaging but also cultivates environmental stewardship, teamwork, and systems thinking. Future enhancements may include the integration of auto-assessment tools and SDG-