Developing a Model of Collaborative Learning with Minecraft for Social Studies Classrooms Using Role-play Theory and Practice

Abstract

Minecraft is a multi-user block-building game and 3D virtual world for creating visual structures. We report on two three-week collaborative teaching experiences in a teacher education program in social studies where we experimented with different ways of intertwining block building and role-playing in Minecraft. We created a model for integrating collaborative learning and virtual worlds in social studies classrooms, referred to as collaborative knowledge adaptation. The model consists of three levels: 1) introduction (teacher introducing topic for learning), 2) reconstruction (building in Minecraft and creating a script for role-play), and 3) transformation (acting out role-play and producing a video). Data were collected through interviews, an open-ended questionnaire, and product (video) analysis. We focus our analysis on generic skills interwoven with domain-specific skills and three levels of intersubjectivity toward a shared knowledge object.