Minecraft as a sandbox for STEM interest development: Preliminary results

H. Chad Lane, Sherry Yi, Brian Guerrero, Neil Comins

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

After a brief review of the science of interest and the game of Minecraft, we present a taxonomy of common Minecraft actions and activities and propose that they represent links to specific STEM disciplines. We then discuss the development of a Minecraft survey intended to identify STEM-related interests, and present the results of a pilot study using the survey in three Minecraft camps held in the summer of 2017. We describe the most and least popular Minecraft activities, and report initial analyses of the surveys, revealing potential connections in the earth, biological, and environmental areas of STEM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationICCE 2017 - 25th International Conference on Computers in Education
Subtitle of host publicationTechnology and Innovation: Computer-Based Educational Systems for the 21st Century, Workshop Proceedings
EditorsYusuke Hayashi, Thepchai Supnithi, Moffat Mathews, Su Luan Wong, Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Ayub, Antonija Mitrovic, Wenli Chen, Jie-Chi Yang
PublisherAsia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education
Pages387-397
Number of pages11
ISBN (Print)9789869401227
StatePublished - 2017
Event25th International Conference on Computers in Education: Technology and Innovation: Computer-Based Educational Systems for the 21st Century, ICCE 2017 - Christchurch, New Zealand
Duration: Dec 4 2017Dec 8 2017

Publication series

NameICCE 2017 - 25th International Conference on Computers in Education: Technology and Innovation: Computer-Based Educational Systems for the 21st Century, Workshop Proceedings

Other

Other25th International Conference on Computers in Education: Technology and Innovation: Computer-Based Educational Systems for the 21st Century, ICCE 2017
Country/TerritoryNew Zealand
CityChristchurch
Period12/4/1712/8/17

Keywords

  • Educational games
  • Informal learning
  • Interest
  • Minecraft
  • STEM education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science Applications
  • Education
  • Computer Science (miscellaneous)

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