New Perspectives in Science Education

We present a card game developed by the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) to enhance the quality and effectiveness of educational teaching. This game explores the nuclear reactions that power stars and take place in stellar interiors, particularly the proton-proton chain of reactions. It focuses on innovative methodologies and digital solutions to increase student engagement and provide a better educational experience. 

The proton-proton chain is a series of nuclear reactions in stellar cores, where hydrogen nuclei (protons) fuse to form helium. This process releases energy in the form of light and heat, while also producing positrons, neutrinos, and gamma rays. These reactions occur sequentially, using the products of one reaction as inputs for the next, and overlapping wherever the necessary reactants are present to sustain them. Understanding how these reactions occur can be challenging, and this game was designed to assist teachers in explaining the physics of stars. In fact, the game consists of a series of iterative steps in which the various cards represent different particles, and the game dynamics closely reproduce the series of nuclear reactions underlying the inner workings of stars.

In this presentation, we will discuss the various stages of the game design, the reasons behind the decisions that shaped its core algorithm, the artistic choices made, how the game was introduced to the public as part of a broader educational activity – reaching up to 2,000 students in 2024 – and its subsequent digital implementation using Scratch, a visual programming environment created by the MIT Media Lab to promote digital literacy and computational thinking.

The game (the cards and the digital version) is available on Play Inaf, the INAF platform for innovative teaching, particularly in astronomy and astrophysics. This platform utilizes interactive resources, educational games, multimedia materials, and hands-on activities to engage students, teachers, and science enthusiasts in unique learning experiences. The goal is to make complex scientific concepts more accessible and engaging by leveraging modern technologies and creative teaching methods, promoting interest in science, and encouraging critical thinking.