Minecraft used To Teach Children Molecular Chemistry

Minecraft was used to teach children molecular chemical

5 November 2015

Virtual world-building game Minecraft that is played by millions of children worldwide, could be used in schools to teach children the basics of chemistry.

A group of Hull University students created an educational version of the game that lets players investigate specially designed molecular structures and learn about the science behind.

The goal is to involve young scientists in a fun, interactive way.

Minecraft players use building blocks to create landscapes and structures.

They are encouraged to look for treasures and other items.

'Fiendishly difficult'

The students developed the project with the assistance of the university's Minecraft expert, Joel Mills, and senior lecturer in biological chemistry Dr. Mark Lorch.

Dr. Lorch declared that "Minecraft is an incredible tool for examining the structure of landscapes and buildings and also anatomy."

"So why not molecules? It was shown to a group of children yesterday and there were many gasps and wonders.

"This really grabs their attention. It's a novel method to engage them and give information to them.

Students have also created a myriad of fun things for children to discover and explore, in addition to molecules and structures.

Dr Lorch has stated that you can simply explore the molecules and read the details. There are also a lot of treasure chests scattered around with books, puzzles and other treasures.

"Some are easy to locate but others are extremely difficult to find. If you locate them all then you'll probably have learned a bit of chemistry on the way."

Outreach

Dr. Lorch is also involved in engaging young people in science. She stated: "If they see this information in the Minecraft environment and are taught how to access it, they will be more likely to visit the website to find it."

The Hull team is currently playing the game, MolCraft, in secondary schools in London as part of a variety of university outreach projects.
MINECRAFT JAVA

It can be utilized in primary schools to teach basic science such as how atoms form together to create molecules.

It can also be found on Minecraft's educational library, which includes versions for teachers and pupils.

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

A new world has been created to teach quantum Physics. Many schools in Northern Ireland have adapted it to encourage creative writing and encourage young people to be involved in city planning.

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University of Hull