Science Hunters: Teaching science concepts in schools using Minecraft

Hobbs, Laura; Stevens, Carly; Hartley, Jackie; Ashby, Mark; Jackson, Benjamin; Bowden, Lauren; Bibby, Jordan; Bentley, Sophie

Abstract

Background
Science Hunters is an outreach project based at Lancaster University, UK. It uses the computer game Minecraft, alongside interactive discussion and hands-on demonstrations, to engage children with scientific research topics and science learning.

Material and methods
As part of ongoing evaluation, the efficacy of this approach as an educational intervention was tested via pre- and post-activity questionnaires for two session topics,with 492 children participating through schools in 2017 and 2018.

Results
Statistically significant mprovement in subject knowledge was seen in post-intervention scores for both topics. There was some variation in both absolute and improvement score results between boys and girls, and primary and secondary school students.

Conclusions
Participation leads to improved subject knowledge and understanding, regardless of prior existing knowledge.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 9, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 21, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 21, 2019
• Deposit Date: Nov 25, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 25, 2019
• Journal: Action Research and Innovation in Science Education
• Print ISSN: 2626-9902
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 13-21
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/2976984
• Publisher URL: http://www.arisejournal.com/Science-Hunters-teaching-science-concepts-in-schools-using-Minecraft,112219,0,2.html