Why Minecraft Shouldn’t Be the Only Game in Classrooms!

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For more than a decade, the pixelated universe of Minecraft has captivated players from all corners of the globe and continued to thrive as a global sensation. From books, comics, extensions, to the core Minecraft game itself, this digital world has provided endless entertainment for people of various backgrounds. The upcoming movie adaptation, A Minecraft Movie, is another exciting addition to this franchise. Additionally, Minecraft has found a unique place in classrooms as an educational tool, teaching children about computer science, internet safety, mathematics, environmental science, biodiversity, art, and much more through Minecraft: Education Edition. This particular version of Minecraft has reached over 40,000 schools across 140 countries, yet it’s essential to consider other educational games as well for a well-rounded curriculum in schools.

The Return of The Oregon Trail to Schools

Video games have always had a close association with educational institutions, dating back to their inception in the 1950s. Games like “OXO” and “Tennis for Two,” initially developed at the University of Cambridge and Brookhaven National Laboratory, respectively, marked the beginning of this relationship. One notable example is “The Oregon Trail,” which was first created by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger at Minnesota’s Carleton College in 1971 to educate eighth graders about the lifestyle of 19th-century pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Over time, “The Oregon Trail” grew in popularity and became one of the most widely used educational games during the late 20th century.

In the 21st century, with the emergence of intricate games, affordable consoles, and sophisticated computers, many school systems have moved away from using “The Oregon Trail.” Despite being pushed aside in some places, this classic game has persisted and transformed far beyond its initial, pixelated historical context. For instance, Gameloft introduced a modernized version of “The Oregon Trail” on Apple Arcade in 2021, followed by releases for PC and home consoles from 2022 to 2024. This updated version maintains the original game’s core concept of organizing a caravan to journey west while incorporating additional historical facts, new destinations, and more realistic settings. It also offers a revised portrayal of Native Americans. By playing this updated version of “The Oregon Trail,” students could gain not only insight into 19th-century history but also an appreciation for gaming’s evolutionary journey.

For approximately five decades, the globally popular “Oregon Trail” game franchise has achieved sales exceeding 65 million units worldwide and was enshrined in the World Video Game Hall of Fame back in 2016.

Portal and Other Puzzling Games in School

Schools frequently employ puzzles to assess and enhance the problem-solving skills of young learners beyond traditional math or language arts exercises. This is one reason why Minecraft has gained popularity in educational settings – it provides a platform for creating challenging puzzles for students while also serving as a tool for teaching various subjects. A series that could be utilized to educate older students about problem-solving and game development is Portal, first released in 2007. This first-person puzzle-platformer, titled Portal 1, follows the story of a test subject named Chell, who’s compelled to complete various tests involving portals under the watchful eye of the unstable AI GLaDOS. The sequel, Portal 2 (released in 2011), builds upon the first game’s narrative, mechanics, and even includes a cooperative mode.

The Portal duology, specifically Portal 2, can help students enhance their awareness of their environment and problem-solving skills, whether working independently or in a team. However, it’s important to note that these aren’t the only games set within the Portal universe. Valve Corporation has also developed spin-offs focusing on different aspects of Aperture Laboratories, offering unique and thought-provoking gameplay experiences. For example, The Lab and Aperture Hand Lab are virtual reality (VR) games where players engage in various mini-games and tests. Although VR is a relatively new medium in video gaming, it has the potential to educate students about real-life problem-solving using VR technology and inspire future developers to explore further the possibilities of VR simulations for gaming and beyond.

Teaching History Through Assassin’s Creed

For enthusiasts of history, Assassin’s Creed is often hailed as one of the top video game series that offers players a chance to explore some of the most significant periods in human history, such as the Italian Renaissance, Ptolemaic Egypt, American colonization, and beyond. However, it should be noted that Assassin’s Creed is not a strict historical account, largely because it features supernatural elements like the ancient Isu, powerful artifacts known as Pieces of Eden, and even integrates mythological creatures into historical events, as seen in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla.

Despite these departures from historical accuracy, Assassin’s Creed has consistently aimed to authentically portray historical settings, costumes, wildlife, and languages. This dedication culminated in the creation of the Discovery Tour mode, which was introduced in 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins.

Instead of the consistently blocky reconstructions of historical sites in Minecraft, Assassin’s Creed’s Discovery Tour offers an opportunity for players to join guided tours, meticulously crafted by historians and scholars, through almost authentic representations of Ptolemaic Egypt, Greece during the Peloponnesian War, and the Viking Age England and Norway. This non-combat mode provides a platform for learning not only about these ancient architectures but also their philosophies, politics, religions, and daily practices. Players are free to wander and climb around in this mode to explore erased epochs at their leisure. They can even assume the roles of various fictional Assassin’s Creed characters or real historical figures within Discovery mode.

Assassin’s Creed Historical Education in Mirage, Shadows, and Beyond

Although Discovery Mode was not featured in Assassin’s Creed Mirage or Shadows, these games instead provided historically inclined players with the chance to delve deeper into bygone eras via resources called History of Baghdad and Cultural Discovery. These databases, filled with encyclopedic entries on various aspects of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad and the Azuchi-Momoyama period in Japan, were unveiled as players journeyed through the games and advanced their narratives. The Discovery mode and these databases could serve as effective tools for teaching students less familiar historical facts about various countries and societies worldwide, potentially sparking a greater interest in history than any textbook or movie could. At the very least, learning history through Assassin’s Creed’s more realistic depictions might keep students engaged longer than Minecraft’s more cartoonish visuals.

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2025-03-19 21:34