I Love Going to School... Because We Play Minecraft!

If you’re someone who loves to play video games, you have definitely heard of Minecraft. You have probably spent countless hours playing Minecraft instead of doing the homework that you have been procrastinating to complete. But what if playing Minecraft was your homework? According to an article from emergingedtech.com, integrating games, or “gamification of education,” into the classroom induces student engagement. Students will be surprised at what they can learn through playing Minecraft in the classroom because there are many different avenues available through this game that can aid in learning a skill. The flexible, customizable gameplay alongside Minecraft’s rising popularity brings students an open mind and interest in seeing how this game could enhance their educational experience. Giving lessons about math, history, and English, is simple through one of many games available through Minecraft called "the sandbox video game." To explain further, the ability to create a civilization, construct buildings, interact with other students’ civilizations, and develop an economy gains a student’s sense of leadership and cooperation within the study of history. As a future English teacher, I was particularly interested in the use of Minecraft as an incentive to learn a language, as displayed through their incorporation of coding, influencing the practice of English verbs and tenses. The endless amount of creative and unique ways to teach through this video game is beneficial because, first and foremost, if the students are having fun while they learn they will stay engaged, but it also sneaks in lessons that may be unintended, like using symmetry to create buildings. The different modifications available to this game allows the teacher to fit the game to their curriculum, ultimately having the potential to change the way students learn.

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