User Interface Design of a Web Application to Foster Environmental Consciousness for Generation Alpha: A Case Study of “Waedlom”

Abstract

 Environmental issues necessitate early education that fosters sustainable awareness among children, particularly Generation Alpha who are native to digital technologies. This study aimed (1) to design and develop the user interface (UI) of “Waedlom,” a web application that fosters environmental consciousness in children using a human-centered design approach, and (2) to evaluate users’ satisfaction, suitability, and engagement with the UI. A two-iteration process was employed: Cycle 1 involved 50 general users at the TCDC Exhibition to gather usability problems and suggestions and to assess satisfaction and System Usability Scale (SUS); Cycle 2 involved ten IRB-approved participants aged 7–9 to evaluate engagement, content suitability, ownership, confidence, emotional connection, and internalization.
Results showed an average satisfaction of 4.8/5 and an average SUS score of 59.0 (marginal). Children demonstrated 100% engagement, 100% suitability, 62.5% ownership, 50% confidence, 25% emotional connection, and 37.5% internalization. Key UI mechanisms, QR hunting game, child-friendly illustrations and characters, appropriately sized high-contrast buttons, and a virtual garden, align with play-based learning and gamified learning, enhancing intrinsic motivation and meaningful participation. The findings indicate that a human-centered UI enriched with childappropriate gamification effectively promotes environmental learning and awareness, with design recommendations to further improve usability in school and community contexts.