ERIC Number: EJ1447705
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0332-3315
EISSN: EISSN-1747-4965
Teachers' Experiences of Using Minecraft Education in Primary School: An Irish Perspective
Irish Educational Studies, v43 n4 p965-984 2024
Minecraft Education is a popular digital game-based learning platform designed for use in educational settings. This study explores teachers' experiences of using Minecraft Education as an educational tool to foster the development of key competencies and skills in students. Semi-structured interviews with Irish primary school teachers (N = 11) were conducted during a national project-based initiative involving Minecraft Education in primary schools called Ireland's Future is MINE. Thematic analysis identified six major themes: "encourages student collaboration," "supports creativity," "students as active participants in their learning," "inclusive educational tool," "supports curricular content," and "barriers to use." Findings emphasise how the platform can be used in the classroom to support the development of skills and competencies students need to succeed in the future while simultaneously supporting curricular content. In addition, the platform can enable learning conditions that are more inclusive and equitable for all students. External technological barriers to use need to be addressed to realise the full potential of the platform in a classroom setting. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations and implications relating to the use of Minecraft Education in primary school classrooms.
Descriptors: Game Based Learning, Video Games, Technology Uses in Education, Teaching Experience, Elementary School Teachers, Teaching Methods, Competence, Skill Development, Cooperation, Creativity, Student Participation, Inclusion, Curriculum, Barriers, Equal Education, 21st Century Skills, Special Needs Students, Students with Disabilities, Active Learning, Student Projects, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A