A Museum's Approach to Gamified Learning
"Water Keepers," developed by Exhibitry, is a digital journey into water management's past, present, and future. A central feature of the Ontario Museum's "Built on Water" exhibit, this app transforms visitors into guardians of history's most crucial resource. Available as an interactive museum experience and on app stores worldwide.
What does a Water Keeper keep?
Great question! The 'Water Keepers' experience immerses players in the world of water conservation, traversing historic and future scenarios. As they journey through time, players engage with characters from different eras, tackle challenging puzzles, devise innovative strategies, and get hands-on with tasks like fixing leaks.
![A young museum guest engages with 'Water Keepers' at the Ontario Museum, discovering water management through interactive play.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7054e6961e5c3779933377/1702870753553-H1H8XP5KSIX4S8NERGZ6/Ontario-Museum-Game-by-Exhibitry-6.jpg)
![Choose your hero in 'Water Keepers'—each character offers a unique challenge.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7054e6961e5c3779933377/1702573276177-JQ90ACAOT2VOMGUIDJ2D/Ontario-Museum-Game-by-Exhibitry-1.jpg)
![The interactive wall at the Ontario Museum expands 'Water Keepers' gameplay into a tangible experience, inviting hands-on exploration of our ecosystem](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7054e6961e5c3779933377/1702575964970-Z53M8MF0AFW4F60Z0TKD/Ontario-Museum-Game-by-Exhibitry-7.jpeg)
![Mastering the flow—'Water Keepers' players adjust controls to manage the water supply efficiently.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7054e6961e5c3779933377/1702573277202-MN1JQFADZ3MIUJZ6XSA9/Ontario-Museum-Game-by-Exhibitry-5.jpg)
![Journey to the future to meet a water conservationist shaping tomorrow's approach to sustainability.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7054e6961e5c3779933377/1702573277516-6YO7TYXP08HAZXLVILAG/Ontario-Museum-Game-by-Exhibitry-4.jpg)
![Analyzing water samples to ensure purity—a snapshot of 'Water Keepers' in action.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7054e6961e5c3779933377/1702573278112-L2H24GI23Z52LUIPD4HQ/Ontario-Museum-Game-by-Exhibitry-3.jpg)
![Racing against the clock to solve water pathways in 'Water Keepers'—every second counts!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e7054e6961e5c3779933377/1702573278503-XB80KMLQ06ATGEPPRR96/Ontario-Museum-Game-by-Exhibitry-2.jpg)
Educational Goals
Designed to meet Common Core and Next Gen Science standards, "Water Keepers" caters to a broad student audience, from elementary to high school. It enhances learning by merging interactive storytelling with practical problem-solving, effectively engaging young minds in the complexities of water management.
Impact and Reception
"Water Keepers" has become a pivotal educational tool for the Ontario Museum, now integral to classroom activities and public school outreach. Its success inspired the exhibit's expansion, including an innovative magnetic interactive wall. This underscores the game's impact as both an educational resource and an inspiration for interactive learning within the museum and the wider community.