Graduate Research - NSF Funded - University of Illinois
Learning in Minecraft
Two research projects that turned Minecraft into a science lab for kids.
Research Assistant and Co-Author · User Research · Data Collection · Instructional Design
What-If Hypothetical Implementations in Minecraft (WHIMC)
What if the earth had no moon?
GOAL
Sparking interest in astronomy and STEM
HOW
Kids explore alternate Earths and other planets, making observations with in-game science tool
Built the first planet worlds kids explored
Ran think-aloud pilot sessions with about 15 families at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Co-developed summer camp curriculum with subject matter expert Neil Comins
Facilitated and taught at summer camp for several years
Set up data collection, ran interviews and transcribed them across 3 summer camps
Role Research Assistant
Publications
Lane, H. C., Yi, S., Guerrero, B., & Comins, N. (2017). Minecraft as a Sandbox for STEM Interest Development: Preliminary Results. In Y. Hayashi et al. (Eds.), Workshop Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Computers in Education (pp. 387–397). New Zealand: Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education. [PDF]
Lane, H. C., Yi, S., Guerrero, B., & Comins, N. (2017). A Taxonomy of Minecraft Activities for STEM. In J. C. Yang et al. (Eds.), Extended Summary Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Computers in Education (pp. 1–3). New Zealand: Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education. [PDF]
Cultivating Creativity to Integrate Computation and Science Problem Solving in Informal Learning (STEM+C)
Can kids use code to solve future science problems?
GOAL
Learning science and computational thinking together
HOW
Middle schoolers program solutions in Minecraft scenarios on farming, ecology and engineering
Role Research Assistant
Designed the original curriculum and revised it after every run to fit each site
Designed additional pilots using Minecraft Education Edition
Co-taught with Chad Lane: programs, variables, conditionals, loops and parallel programs in LUA
Designed data collecting tools including surveys and interviews
Analyzed preliminary data using R
Utilized Rapidminer to evaluate relationships within our log database connecting in game student activity to collaboration
Publications
Guerrero, B., Lane, H.C., Ginger, J., Lawson, W., Mattson, E. (2021) “Integrating computational thinking and science learning in Minecraft.” Technology, Mind and Society Conference, online, 11.2021.