Minecraft used To Teach Children Molecular Chemistry

3 min read
25 September 2022


Minecraft used to teach children molecular chemical



5 November 2015



Virtual world-building game Minecraft is played by tens of millions of kids around the world, 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 to understand the chemistry behind them.



The goal is to engage young scientists in a fun and engaging way.



Minecraft players build with blocks for landscapes and structure.



They are encouraged to find treasures and other things.



'Fiendishly difficult'



Joel Mills, a Minecraft expert at the university and Dr Mark Lorch, a senior lecturer in the field of biological chemical chemistry, helped the students develop the project.



Dr Lorch said: "Minecraft is a fabulous tool to explore the structures of landscapes, buildings and even anatomy.



"So why not molecules?" It was demonstrated to a class of children yesterday, and there were lots of gasps and wows.



"This draws their attention. It's an innovative method of engaging them and providing information to them."



In addition to structures and molecules to explore The students have also created numerous other fun things for kids to explore and discover.



Dr. Lorch said: "You can just explore and read about the molecules. There's also many treasure chests scattered around, filled with goodies, puzzles and quiz books.



Some are easy to locate and others are more difficult to find. You'll likely have learned quite a bit of chemistry if it's possible to locate them all.



Outreach



Dr. Lorch is also involved in engaging young people in science. She stated: "If they see this information in a Minecraft environment and are given the means to access it, then 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 initiatives.



It can also be used in primary schools to teaching basic scienceconcepts, like how atoms are formed to make molecules.



It can also be found on Minecraft's educational library, which contains versions for students and teachers.
minecraftservers.website



This is not the first time Minecraft has been used to engage children with topics of science.



A new world has been created to teach quantum physics, and many schools in Northern Ireland are using an adapted version to inspire creative writing and engage students in city planning.



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University of Hull

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