Minecraft Used To Teach Children Molecular Chemistry

Minecraft used to teach children molecular chemistry

Virtual world-building game Minecraft, played by tens of millions of children worldwide, could be used in schools to teach pupils chemistry.

A group of Hull University students created an educational version of the game that allows players to explore specially created molecular structures and understand chemistry.
minecraft packs

The aim is to engage young scientists in a fun and interactive way.

Minecraft players create landscapes and structures by using building blocks.

They are also encouraged and encouraged to collect treasures and other items.

'Fiendishly difficult'

Joel Mills (university Minecraft expert) and Dr Mark Lorch (senior lecturer in biological Chemistry), helped students develop the project.

Dr Lorch stated: "Minecraft can be used to explore structures in buildings, landscapes, and even anatomy."

"So why not molecules? We showed it to a class of children the other day and there were lots of wows and gasps.

"This just really grabs their attention. It is a really novel way of engaging them and delivering information to them."

As well as structures and molecules to explore, the students have created a host of other surprises for children to roam around and find.

Dr Lorch stated that you can simply explore the molecules and read the information. There are also tons of treasure chests filled with puzzles, books, and other goodies.

"Some are easy, some are fiendishly challenging." If you find them all, you will probably have learned a lot of chemistry along the journey.

Outreach

Dr Lorch, who also has a role to engage young people in science, added: "If I've given them this information in a Minecraft world and shown them how to access it, then they are much more likely to go and find out about it than if I have given it in a PowerPoint presentation."

The Hull team is currently testing MolCraft in a number secondary schools in London as part university outreach projects.

It can be used in primary school to teach basic science concepts such as how atoms combine to form molecules.

It is also available on Minecraft's educational library with versions for both pupils and teachers.

This isn't the first time Minecraft has been used for engaging children with scientific topics.

A world was created to teach quantum mechanics. Schools in Northern Ireland are using it to inspire creative writing and to engage young people in the field of city planning.

Unique Minecraft project for schools

25 March 2015

University of Hull