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9 Reasons to Use Minecraft to Level Up Elementary STEM Education

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Session description

Jump into a platform students already love... and discover the world of Minecraft! In this session, an award-winning educator and inspirational 9-year-old Minecrafter will demonstrate the incredible learning opportunities this gaming platform provides. From science to math to engineering, there is something for all our elementary learners!

Outline

1. Overview of Minecraft app and its use in education, integrating audience polling. (8 min)
2. 9 Reasons to Use Minecraft to Level Up Elementary STEM Education. Through live demonstrations, student work samples, storytelling, and audience participation, this section will explore 9 powerful ways that Minecraft can empower students' STEM learning. Lesson examples will exemplify the use of an iterative design process and computational thinking, as well as clear integrations with cross-curricular subject area standards related to topics such as coordinates in math or rhythms and melodic patterns in music. (45 min)
3. Wrap up, Q&A, and Additional Resources (7 min).

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Supporting research

There are many, many publications that emphasize the importance of STEM education in elementary classrooms and beyond. Here are 4 examples of recent articles with research that supports the use of engineering lessons like those we propose in Minecraft to accomplish the purpose and outcomes of this specific session.

Stereotypes in STEM Fields Start by Age Six (2021), https://uh.edu/news-events/stories/2021/november-2021/11222021-stem-stereotypes-study.php.
A Framework for Incorporating the “Learning How to Learn” Approach in Teaching STEM Education (2023), https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/1/1.
Rethinking the Ideology of Using Digital Games to Increase Individual Interest in STEM (2022), https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/8/4519.
The effects of digital game-based STEM activities on students’ interests in STEM fields and scientific creativity: Minecraft case (2021), https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1297836.pdf.

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Presenters

Corvin Black

Nancye Blair Black

CEO / Educational Consultant

The Block Uncarved

Session specifications

Topic:

Early Childhood/Elementary

TLP:

Yes

Grade level:

PK-5

Audience:

Teacher, Technology Coach/Trainer

Attendee devices:

Devices required

Attendee device specification:

Smartphone: Android, iOS, Windows
Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC
Tablet: Android, iOS, Windows

Participant accounts, software and other materials:

Audience participation activities do not require any pre-loaded applications; however, if educators would like to try out Minecraft activities during the session, they should have Minecraft and/or Minecraft Education Edition loaded on their devices.
Minecraft: https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/about-minecraft
Minecraft Education: https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/get-started/download

Subject area:

Elementary/Multiple Subjects, Interdisciplinary (STEM/STEAM)

ISTE Standards:

For Students:
Computational Thinker

Understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.

Digital Citizen

Demonstrate empathetic, inclusive interactions online and use technology to responsibly contribute to their communities.

Innovative Designer

Know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.

TLPs:

Connect learning to learner, Spark Curiosity

Influencer Disclosure:

This session includes a presenter that indicated a “material connection” to a brand that includes a personal, family or employment relationship, or a financial relationship. See individual speaker menu for disclosure information.