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This paper addresses the relationship between one of the most popular video games in history (Minecraft) and STEM education. It describes a taxonomy of STEM-relevant Minecraft activities (e.g., designing and building automated farms) and their relationship to a wide range of STEM disciplines as defined by Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP; a product of the US Department of Education). Based on interviews with expert Minecraft players, academic research that analyzes Minecraft's educational uses, existing game documentation, and feedback from STEM experts, the taxonomy provides the foundation for better understanding how playing the game may inform the development of STEM interest, and how educators may best leverage those connections.
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Minecraft as a Sandbox for STEM Interest Development: Preliminary Results
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.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1713609
- PAR ID:
- 10095750
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- 25th International Conference on Computers in Education Proceedings
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 387 - 397
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Conference Paper:
- The DOI is not currently available.
