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Hobbs, L, Stevens, CJ, Hartley, J, Ashby, MA, Lea, I, Bowden, L, Bibby, J, Jackson, B, McLaughlin, R and Burke, TV (2019) Using Minecraft to engage children with science at public events. Research for All, 3 (2). 142 - 160. ISSN 2399-8121
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Abstract
<ns7:p>Engagement with science and scientific skills is an important aspect of children's ability to navigate the world around them, but engagement with science is low in comparison with other subjects. The Lancaster University outreach project Science Hunters takes a novel approach to engaging children with environmental science research through a constructivist pedagogical approach using the popular computer game Minecraft . While Minecraft is extensively used in formal education settings, few data are available on its use in public engagement with scientific research, and the relationship between children's and adults' attitudes to science and computer games are complex. Through motivational surveys conducted as part of the project evaluation, we analysed feedback from participants who attended sessions as part of a programme at public events, to explore the basic demographics of children attending our events, and whether it is the prospect of learning about science, or the opportunity to play Minecraft that leads them to choose our activity. We also present evaluation of general feedback from participants at public events over four years to give a broader view of participants' response to the activities.</ns7:p>
Item Type: | Article |
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Additional Information: | This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. |
Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences L Education > L Education (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1603 Secondary Education. High schools Q Science > Q Science (General) |
Divisions: | Faculty of Natural Sciences > School of Geography, Geology and the Environment |
Depositing User: | Symplectic |
Date Deposited: | 25 Apr 2023 08:42 |
Last Modified: | 25 Apr 2023 08:42 |
URI: | https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/12238 |