The Engagement of Young Children with Nanotechnology Concepts through Digital Games: The Case of Water Purification with Nanomaterials

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Published: Apr 19, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/codiste.9897
Keywords:
digital games nano-literacy nanotechnology water purification
Pandora Dorouka
University of Crete
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2267-7592
Christothea Papadaki
Primary Education
Abstract

Given the increasing availability of nanotechnology products, there is an increasing need for students to develop a level of nano-literacy. Digital games in English and in Greek were designed to encourage children to interact with concepts of nanotechnology in the context of water purification. The research in three stages aimed to measure the effectiveness of games in the understanding of elements of nanotechnology concepts. 53 students of 4th grade of primary school constituted the experimental group of the research. The data were collected through a questionnaire that contained open-ended questions and the answers were analyzed with approaches of qualitative content analysis. The findings showed that the intervention had a positive impact on nano-literacy.


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