TY - CONF

T1 - Science Hunters – using Minecraft as an engagement tool

AU - Hobbs, Laura Kate

PY - 2017/11/23

Y1 - 2017/11/23

N2 - Science Hunters is an outreach project based in Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, which uses Minecraft to engage children in science learning and environmental science research. We offer opportunities across all year groups in schools, at public events such as community days and festivals, and at a regular Minecraft Club held on campus in association with the National Autistic Society. The project targets children from Widening Participation backgrounds (those who may face a barrier to accessing Higher Education) and has a particular focus on children with Special Educational Needs. We find that children who come to us at events outside school are predominantly of primary school age, and for several years we have been funded to deliver activities in primary as well as secondary schools. Alongside other regions, we deliver sessions in Bristol primary schools from Reception age up, and receive overwhelmingly positive feedback. Minecraft is an extremely useful tool for engaging children with science learning as it is interactive, can be used to demonstrate real-world processes which can’t otherwise be replicated in a classroom, and appeals to and engages children as it is a hugely popular game in which they often feel they have expertise.

AB - Science Hunters is an outreach project based in Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, which uses Minecraft to engage children in science learning and environmental science research. We offer opportunities across all year groups in schools, at public events such as community days and festivals, and at a regular Minecraft Club held on campus in association with the National Autistic Society. The project targets children from Widening Participation backgrounds (those who may face a barrier to accessing Higher Education) and has a particular focus on children with Special Educational Needs. We find that children who come to us at events outside school are predominantly of primary school age, and for several years we have been funded to deliver activities in primary as well as secondary schools. Alongside other regions, we deliver sessions in Bristol primary schools from Reception age up, and receive overwhelmingly positive feedback. Minecraft is an extremely useful tool for engaging children with science learning as it is interactive, can be used to demonstrate real-world processes which can’t otherwise be replicated in a classroom, and appeals to and engages children as it is a hugely popular game in which they often feel they have expertise.

M3 - Speech

T2 - Curiosity Connections 2017

Y2 - 23 November 2017 through 23 November 2017

ER -