My last post seemed to spark some discussion regarding what games can teach us outwardly and subversively about society and many other aspects of life. I had made the statement that the primary lesson I received from Minecraft is how to mine for resources and destroy natural resources with no apparent consequences in the game. This type of lesson could transfer to real world experience and influence the way youth may perceive utilization of natural resources in reality. Furthermore, mining for resources with impunity in a game with no environmental consequences is a dangerous message to be sending impressionable students.
I am happy to say that I have found some redemption for Minecraft. After some responses from fellow classmates and instructors alike, we were able to uncover exactly how Minecraft can be used to teach students about responsible and sustainable use of our resources. This experience has hit so many areas we have been discussing over the last couple weeks. For instance, John Paul Gee's theories about how learning through games must be directed through an experienced guide, like a teacher, in order for real learning to take place. I experienced this first hand. After being rather disappointed with the message I was receiving from the game, I was able to find many ways Minecraft can promote sustainability and responsible use of resources through guidance of my instructors giving me examples of how responsible practices can be taught. Additionally, I was shown how other teachers were using Minecraft to teach responsible use of resources in the game. For example, students have lessons where they have to replant the trees they are taking from the earth. Also, harvesting crops and managing red stone to conduct electricity responsibly because it does run out. In fact, I tried it out myself and planted a small garden you can see here:
I got some wheat I think, and some melons and some pumpkins just starting out.
Here they are all grown up.
So this is great. There are some very important lessons to be said for sustainability and environmental responsibility that Minecraft teachers, WITH guided teaching and learning for students. But what about all the millions of players that are just playing for fun and not in a classroom nor playing for educational purposes? There still seems to be millions of people playing that are not learning the lessons to be offered in sustainability or environmental responsibility. They are playing strictly for entertainment purposes. There is some redemption to be had. However, is enough being done?
