Abstract:

The paper gives a detailed analysis of game-based learning through the video game Minecraft: Education Edition as an educational version of the favourite game Minecraft. It is used widely beyond borders of Slovakia not only as a part of computer science classes when teaching programming but also for science subjects (biology, technology, chemistry) and humanities (history, language teaching, civics). Our research is providing profound insights to a question why to use the software in classrooms and what are the possibilities for Slovak teachers using the software in their classes.

In the first part we analyze the most crucial aspects the game implies, such as student-centered learning and game-based learning and describe additions which are included only in educational version of the game. In the second part we describe the methodology of the research and the process of answering research questions. The last section is the most profound part of the research as we employed two data collection units. First one are learners from the extracurricular activity we organize in 2019/2020 as we describe outcomes of the selected programming lessons and our experience using official materials and its necessary changes because of the English language barrier, mistakes/flows in codes provided as a solution of activities or differences in curriculum expectations (incompatibility in meeting curricular requirements) for the desired group of Slovak lower-secondary learners. Other aspects were talks and interviews with learners from the research sample. We implement their comments and our observation from the lessons. Second unit are answers of teachers and lecturers who are trained in using the software and use it in their classes.

Keywords:

Minecraft, Education Edition, game-based learning, extracurricular activity, Slovakia.