By Rebecca Davis ’15
A Rosetti Hall classroom is buzzing with activity and energy this week as children between the ages of 10 and 14 are learning how to navigate the virtual world of Minecraft. The best-selling computer game of all time, Minecraft allows players to build worlds and complex objects, such as houses and tools, out of blocks. Siena has taken the opportunity to use this popular game as a learning tool for pre-teens and early adolescents during Minecraft camp.
The children at the camp are having fun playing a game they already love and learning about math, science and technology in the process. The campers are creating their own additions to the game known as “mods” using the programming language Java.
“They make the game more interesting, more mine,” said 14-year-old David Hampton. The campers have so much fun altering the game to their liking that they often don’t realize they’re developing computer science skills along the way. “Learning how to code seems fun to do, it reveals more things to do in my free time,” said 14-year-old Alex Geyer.
Assistant Professor of Physics Michele McColgan, PhD. developed the camp’s curriculum and oversees it. She said that Minecraft camp allows students to feel like they have accomplished something positive each day. “They come here because they want to interact,” McColgan said. “They love to be playing together.”
The game is also used to teach the students physics, such as calculating speed and learning about dimensions. According to McColgan, Minecraft is a great way to encourage children to explore topics they may not be exposed to in school. The computer game teaches them how to find the joy in problem solving while overcoming frustration. She added that camps like this are not only good for the students, but for Siena as well.
“Kids go to our sports camp and say ‘I love Siena!’ and we want them to do the same thing with science,” McColgan said.
It’s working. The campers aren’t shy about explaining their love for the game and the experience. “It’s the best camp I’ve ever been to,” said 11-year-old Jack Goodman.
The campers love the freedom Minecraft gives them to explore their creative sides too. Rosie Somma, 11, who wants to be a marine biologist said, “I love this camp because there’s so much creativity. I can create anything.”
Mentors at the camp, who guide and teach the students each day, are also gaining valuable experience. “I like teaching them, it’s an acquired skill,” said 16-yearold Chris Pavelec. “Some kids are advanced and we have to adapt to them and create new challenges.”
Mentor Nick Giordano, 15, explained that concepts and challenges present while playing Minecraft can apply to jobs such as energy conservation and manufacturing. “These kids are learning about modern technology, how electricity works, what solar panels do,” said Girodano. Even though they’re learning how to build a virtual world, the skills the campers are developing will serve them in the real world as well.
Click here to read an article about Siena’s Minecraft camp by Albany Business Review reporter Megan Rogers.
