Baumgeflüster

By Katharina Lillich

Supervisor: Dr. Gesa Lüdecke

"Baumgeflüster" (tree whisper /rustling of the trees) is an HTML, CSS and JavaScript-based application in the format of a quiz game that aims to convey environmental knowledge.

With the rising importance of technology for everyday routines and the rapid growth of screen time, life is increasingly lived online. At the same time, the internet is widely relied on as a source for acquiring knowledge on the environmental crisis. Sourcing information online, however, requires perseverance: information (particularly reliable information) is scattered and mostly intended for passive consumption.

In order to circumvent this issue, "Baumfragen" utilizes a unique, interactive format to present information in an engaging and informative way. Quizzes, in particular, can introduce and explore serious topics in a concise and understandable way while providing a fun learning environment. The "Baumfragen" application has been specially designed to include short fact sheets after each question explaining the answer in more detail. In addition, further resources and recommended readings are available for every question to facilitate the players' own research. The underlying principle of this learning tool is, therefore, to maximize learning and the communication of information by minimizing the complexity of the learning interface.

As this project arose out of the desire to make the knowledge gained through the LMU and RCC Environmental Studies Certificate Program (ESCP) accessible to a wider audience, it is embedded in a broader interdisciplinary perspective—especially by drawing inspiration from the wide variety of courses that are part of the ESCP.

This final project also included a short survey conducted online that initiated a phase of redevelopment. The majority of participants expressed an interest in questions that could help them live more sustainably. This posed a challenge for us in terms of shaping our content, as the learning material used in the ECSP was often quite theoretically and academically advanced, and therefore unsuited to this demand. In the end, two versions of the quiz were designed: one focuses on providing environmental knowledge that can be applied in everyday life, and the other version applies more academically focused material.

Beyond "Baumgeflüster" being our final project on the ESCP, we plan to release the quiz online, making it accessible to the general public. Additionally, we are pursuing the idea of developing a complementary mobile application and a multiplayer environment to attract a broader audience and contribute to a greater dissemination of environmental knowledge.