Smart Learning and Climate Change Awareness: A Simulation-Based Case Study in Morocco

Abstract

Prior research has highlighted the importance of smart learning in raising awareness and engagement about sustainable development. Nevertheless, few papers have focused on the impact of climate change simulation environments. In this paper, a systematic literature review has helped to shed the light on the research gaps and to propose a conceptual framework. Then, we have adopted a mixed method based on semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire carried out for second year business students through different academic years. This case study aims both to compare the simulation-based experience for two classes and to test our proposed framework's hypotheses through partial least-squares method. The results have allowed us to explore the impact of using EN-ROADS climate change simulator and to assess the relationship between climate change awareness, level of engagement and policy priorities. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first case studies exploring the potential impact of using climate change simulation tools. The study can help either practitioners like policy makers and university managers in adapting their curriculum, or researchers to test or extend our proposed framework.