INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ASSESSING CHILDREN’S AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THROUGH E-DIGITAL GAMES

Abstract

Sustainable development is a global priority, requiring future generations to adopt responsible practices that safeguard the environment. In Sarawak, persistent issues such as river and sea pollution, poor waste management, and community cleanliness continue to threaten both biodiversity and human well-being. This highlights the need for innovative educational approaches that promote environmental awareness, particularly among primary school children. The objective of this research is to assess children’s awareness of environmental issues through an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enhanced e-digital game, while simultaneously fulfilling the Construction Sustainability course learning outcome at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). The course emphasizes understanding the elements, benefits, constraints, and future directions of sustainable construction projects, making this assessment a practical teaching and learning method. The study adopted a qualitative methodology, combining game-based learning with AI assisted observation and analysis. Primary school children participated in interactive digital games designed around pollution and environmental care. Their decision-making and behavioral patterns were observed, and AI tools such as ChatGPT were employed to generate insights on awareness levels. Undergraduate students engaged in evaluating the data, linking the findings to sustainability elements relevant to construction practices. The results show that e-digital games significantly enhanced children’s engagement and improved their environmental awareness. AI integration provided meaningful assessment feedback, while students demonstrated deeper comprehension of sustainability dimensions, including environmental preservation, cost efficiency, and the challenges of limited resources and stakeholder involvement. In conclusion, this study highlights the dual benefit of using AI-based digital games to cultivate early environmental awareness and strengthen experiential learning for construction sustainability education.