Game over to classical education
Video games are no longer simply a form of entertainment but have become a powerful tool for learning and skills development.
The combination of technology, interactivity and narrative that they offer can be harnessed in education. Minecraft, a sandbox video game with more than 140 million active users, provides a representative example of the potential of video games in this field.
Minecraft is based on exploring and building a dynamic world through cubic metre blocks and completing a series of missions (obtaining resources, fighting hostile creatures, exploring paths or worlds, etc.), in an environment with vegetation, creatures and objects. What educational skills are put into practice in Minecraft?
In this video game, players are immersed in an open virtual world, where they are free to build, experiment and discover. Players can build structures, cities, create landscapes and even replicate historical monuments with a high degree of detail. In doing so, they encourage the player's artistic expression and creativity.
Moreover, by the very nature of video games, the experience is enriched by building projects together and solving challenges as a group. This collaboration promotes effective communication, decision-making and learning to work as a team.
Also, throughout the game, players use critical thinking and logical reasoning to solve problems, design efficient structures or overcome threats or obstacles.
Its potential as an educational tool was recognised with the launch in 2016 of its own educational version, Minecraft: Education Edition. This version of the game works through modules and lessons that teachers create, through which areas such as History, Geography, Programming or Mathematics, among others, can be addressed. It has proven to be a multidisciplinary and versatile tool that has been very well received by the educational community.
Therefore, gamification, the learning technique that transfers the mechanics of games to the educational-professional field, is becoming increasingly popular. Video games are one of the most accessible and powerful tools, as they manage to combine fun and learning in attractive and playful experiences, teaching students key concepts and skills in an original way.
