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Andy Adams's List: Game Based Learning
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Mar 25, 14
"Why Use Minecraft to Teach Students?
So many teachers are using Minecraft in their curriculum because it is a fun way to learn, and students learn best when they are having fun. Everyone has had the student in math class who comments offhandedly, “When will I ever use this in real life, anyway?”. I’ll admit that I have fallen asleep in a class or two during an intense note-taking lecture. However, you do use educational skills in Minecraft. Even better, these skills get utilized when doing activities you enjoy doing, such as using symmetry to build a home or smelting ores to make advanced types of armor.
While some teachers have tried using simulation games like Second Life in the classroom, they have to tailor their lessons to fit the game. With Minecraft, you can change the game to fit your curriculum. You can download mods and create worlds to alter the game experience. You can set parameters for students with different game modes and objectives. The world is an open sandbox with endless possibilities.
It’s the endless possibilities that really make Minecraft enjoyable for all ages. While I love farming both food and animals in Minecraft, my playtime isn’t limited to collecting wheat and building animal pens. I can experiment with methods to make my farms more compact and productive. I can decorate them to make them look more modern and futuristic. Mods like Natura expand on what I can farm and how I can farm it. The customization in Minecraft makes it easy to play how I want and have fun learning new things. It’s great that educators are starting to realize the game’s potential." -
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Think about the compounding way in which Angry Birds teaches the rules, one baby step at a time, one superpower after another. Video games teach players the skills needed to overcome particular kinds of challenges; then they require a demonstration of mastery in order to move onto the next level. Players may get three or four chances to show their ability to execute the new skill. If they fail, it’s back to the prior level. If they succeed, it’s on to the next.
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Across the country, teachers are using gamification in their classrooms every day. They gamify learning by replacing grades with levels and merit badges.
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