Hellbender Havoc

Name: Hellbender Havoc
Author: Purdue University

Purdue University

VALIDATED

Initial evidence from research studies

For:General Public & EnthusiastsKids & Youth

Free

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App Summary

Hellbender Havoc is an educational game for the general public designed to teach players about the lifecycle and conservation of the North American Hellbender Salamander. The app's design is informed by an evaluation of a similar educational exhibit (N=409), which found that over 69% of adult participants reported positive changes in their attitude toward the salamanders and their habitats. The authors of the associated research conclude this is an effective engagement method, as 73% of participants also reported they would change their behavior to support conservation efforts.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

The system delivers pedagogical content through a game-based interface. Players navigate a digital avatar of an Eastern Hellbender salamander through a simulated riverine environment. Core gameplay mechanics involve consuming appropriate food sources (e.g., crawfish) while avoiding natural predators and anthropogenic hazards. This interactive simulation is designed to communicate key concepts related to the species' lifecycle, habitat requirements, and conservation threats. The entire experience is self-contained within the application and requires no external hardware.

Evidence & Research Context

The app's educational content aligns with principles evaluated in research on a related physical exhibit.

An evaluation of the related exhibit (N=409 adults) indicated that the educational methods effectively prompted positive changes in attitude toward hellbenders and their habitats in over 69% of respondents.
The same study found that 73% of participants reported an intention to change their behavior to support conservation, and 70% intended to share the information with others.
The pedagogical framework leverages cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning components to facilitate conservation-oriented knowledge transfer and attitude change.

Intended Use & Scope

This application is intended for the general public, students, and educators as a tool for science communication and informal environmental education. Its primary scope is to increase awareness of Hellbender salamander ecology and conservation issues. The system does not constitute a formal academic curriculum or a data collection tool for scientific research.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Effectiveness/Outcome Study

A Salamander Tale: Effective Exhibits and Attitude Change

Rollins et al. (2017) · Journal of Extension

69% reported positive attitude changes about salamander conservation and 73% intended to change their behavior.

Little information exists regarding intention behind the design and development of Extension outreach and educational exhibits. An evaluation of response to the exhibit A Salamander Tale indicates that the methods used to develop the exhibit resulted in an effective way to present information to an adult audience. Survey questions were based on research literature on attitudinal learning, especially literature discussing cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning components. Of 409 survey respondents, 69% or more reported positive changes in attitude about eastern hellbender salamanders and their habitats. Perhaps most important to hellbender conservation efforts, 73% of survey respondents claimed they would change their behavior and 70% claimed they would tell others what they learned from the exhibit.

In the Media

Help the Hellbender Lab Honored for Conservation Efforts

Dr. Rod Williams and the Help the Hellbender lab at Purdue University developed conservation efforts to save the endangered eastern hellbender salamander, spearheading regional conservation and advancing captive propagation techniques. The Indiana Hellbender Partnership represents "the largest and most comprehensive group working to recover an imperiled amphibian in Indiana," collaborating with multiple organizations including the DNR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The team earned three major conservation honors in 2023 after 17 years of researching and working to rear these ancient aquatic salamanders in captivity for eventual return to the wild.

PurdueRead article

Help the Hellbender

The Help the Hellbender Project, a joint initiative involving partners from across the country, developed Hellbender Havoc to support conservation of the endangered eastern hellbender through education and engagement. The project secured nearly $2.7 million in RCCP funding to improve hellbender habitat in south central Indiana's four-county region, the only remaining habitat for hellbenders in the state. The research program is based in Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources under Dr. Rod Williams' leadership.

HelpthehellbenderRead article