Depok-The Vocational Education Program of the Universitas Indonesia (UI) invites elementary school children in grades 4–6 in the Greater Jakarta area to participate in creating an ideal urban planning design through the Roblox game media. The activity entitled “City Planning through the Roblox Game for the Alpha Generation” aims to train children to learn how to vote in urban planning.
The community service activities which take place from April to June 2023 are organized by three study programs from the Department of Applied Humanities Social Sciences, includes Tourism Business Management, Media Production, and Public Relations. Several lecturers involved, including Dr. Poeti Nazura Gulfira Akbar, S.T., M.Sc.; Anisatul Auliya, SST. Par., M.Par.; Ngurah Rangga Wiwesa, M.I.Kom.; and Mareta Maulidiyanti, S.Sos., M.M.
(Photo: Participants practice urban planning through the Roblox game)
According to Dr. Poeti as Head of Community Service, it is hoped that the use of games as a learning medium can open the eyes of the public that games do not always have a bad influence on the younger generation. For the Alpha generation who are very familiar with digital technology, the use of games as a form of learning and creative arena is fun. Therefore, it is not surprising that children’s exploration of the perception of the ideal city through the use of the Roblox game medium can be explored in depth.
“Children’s perception of the ideal city, especially related to the development of the Nusantara Capital City Authority, is important because they will be the ones who will occupy and develop the city. To find out, in this community service, the participants carry out several stages. First, the participants were asked to make city plans in their homes for a week. Then, during the activity, they were directed to build a city plan. From the plan, the participants were interviewed to obtain information about their perceptions of urban development planning,” said Dr. Poeti.
(Photo: Community service team with participants who are elementary school students in Greater Jakarta)
Based on the city plan that was made, several children’s perceptions about the ideal city were explored. The Alpha generation on average wants cities with low pollution levels; have easy access to public services and public facilities (police station, hospital, and park/green open space) around the settlement; as well as offices and schools within walking distance. This perception is in line with their desire to live in a low-pollution city.
At the end of the session, the lecturers provided material related to the ideal city according to urban planning, the use of games as an educational tool, and city branding. From this presentation, Annisa Kurnia Dewi, the parent of one of the participants, said that this community service activity provided many benefits for her child. He said, “Education using the medium of games provided by UI Vocational lecturers turned out to be a new lesson for children. They can learn while doing their hobbies and pleasures.”
