Escaping the Bondage of Bullying: A Game-based Learning Approach

School bullying is a phenomenon of great concern worldwide, with profound implications for the emotional development of those involved. Leveraging the interactive nature of game-based learning provides a unique opportunity for active student engagement that goes beyond traditional pedagogical methods. This article aims to explore students' perceptions of bullying and present a digital game as an alternative educational approach to raising students' awareness, empathy, and empowerment. Furthermore, it will be demonstrated how an art-based virtual museum game engages students in exploring and understanding the phenomenon. A needs assessment on bullying was conducted on a student population sample during the school year 2023 - 2024. Subsequently, a digital 3D escape room type game (named "e-BOB") was used, which was redesigned and reconstructed by the students from an initial project within the Panhellenic Students Competition of Onassis Foundation "Hack the Art: Yiannoulis Halepas". The game was developed using Unity, Blender, and Krita platforms and is set in an art museum. Players interact with the sculptor's exhibits through micro-scenarios and quizzes drawn from the sculptor's life and artwork that tackle the issue of bullying. Key game features include goal achievement within a time limit and discovery of hidden elements. The analysis of the needs assessment data found that all students had been involved in bullying behaviors either as victims, perpetrators or observers. The majority of students focused mainly on direct forms of bullying and less on indirect forms, and most were unable to distinguish bullying from 'simple teasing', demeaning bullying behavior. Those at greater risk are the ones who show some element of differentiation in relation to the stereotypes of the social context in which they live. Several students indicated that the school environment needs to address the issue sufficiently. Finally, the game contributed to students' empathy about bullying, enhancing their self-reflection and managing strategies. Raising awareness, mental empowerment, and empathy for bullying requires dynamic and innovative approaches. With its potential for self-awareness and student activation, game-based learning should be incorporated into educational programs for bullying prevention and management within schools.