As in-depth as video games can be and the lessons they may teach through story driven content, most people tend not to think of them as vessels for education. However, it is possible to leave a positive message about the environment or other world issues, such as Forever Skies which teaches players about climate change. It's not wholly common, but it shows that it is possible to get an idea across in this multibillion-dollar industry. Speaking of climate change, a new map for Minecraft has just been launched which is teaching UK school children about flooding.
Rivercraft is more than just a fun world built in Minecraft. It's designed as a teaching aid for kids in Preston in northwest England. Designed in conjunction with the UK's Environment Agency, it comes with three features to impart a lesson about environmental issues in the local area. One such is about managing floods, in which players build defenses similar to the actual ones in Preston. There are also opportunities to learn about flood prevention and alleviating climate change. It also gives children the chance to conduct ecological surveys using an in-game workbook and camera.
As one of the biggest video game releases of the last decade, it's not surprising that Minecraft is being deployed as a tool for learning, especially given that much of its player base are of a young age. Director of Learning Programs for the game, Justin Edwards, has seen the children "engage in the topic" and increase their knowledge of "the community they live in." The general gist of Rivercraft is to encourage children to think about the environment while learning about flood defenses, teamwork, communication, and project management, Edwards adds.
There seems to be a growing interest in climate change awareness these days. In 2020, the mobile gaming industry expressed an interest in helping the environment by opening up discussions around global warming, especially among younger players. Many game studios have already donated to worthy causes related to world issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and many other topics that concern the planet.
With a study showing that streaming leaves a large carbon footprint, there is ever more pressing need to educate people about how they can have a positive impact on the environment. Being able to take one of the biggest games in the world and turn it into an educational program aimed at teaching children about how they can be mindful of their local area is just one way the industry can collaborate to increase this awareness. Rivercraft is available in the Education Edition of Minecraft.
Minecraft is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Source: Microsoft