91AV

Atomic Rescue grew out of a need to teach basic chemistry concepts in an engaging and intuitive manner. Minecraft Education uses the principles of discovery learning and lets students explore and create on their own. The design team wanted to take full advantage of this and create a world where the students need minimal direction from inside the world and be allowed to 'learn by doing'.

Atomic Rescue simulates scenarios students could previously only dream of while allowing them to put newfound chemistry knowledge and skills to the test in a fun, safe and controlled environment. OR, to highlight the prize: At the core of the education community are teachers/educators who share their work with others. The Horizon Prize is a great way to get ideas for your own classrooms and programs and help grow the field of chemistry education.

Stride, Inc.

Q&A with Stride, Inc.

How would you describe the nature of the team in a single sentence?
Stride, Inc. works with insight2execution to develop an exciting Minecraft Education adventure for the US KS-12 physical science curriculum.

What would be your advice to educators who are working with colleagues going above and beyond, but are yet to nominate them for an RSC Education prize?
At the core of the education community are teachers/educators who share their work with others. The Horizon Prize is a great way to get ideas for your own classrooms and programs and help grow the field of chemistry education.

What were the biggest challenges in this project?
The biggest challenge was figuring out how to make it work in Minecraft and keep it fun and engaging for the students. I didn't want a virtual lab that mimicked what the students did in person. Those types of games already exist, and students have done plenty of them. I collaborated with a great programmer from insight2education, and we came up with the idea of sending students to a 'space lab' on a rescue mission. They learn the chemistry content through helping the trapped scientists finish their research. Minecraft Education has a set of chemistry components, such as the element constructor and lab table, which allow students to create elements and do simple experiments. These integrated nicely into our game.

What different strengths did different people bring to the team?
At Stride, we specialize in developing hands-on and online curriculum for K-12 students. On the Atomic Rescue team, we had former and current science educators, game designers and enthusiasts, alignment specialists, and more. Our team members from insight2execution brought expertise, Minecraft Education, coding and implementation. This was a creative, passionate group who challenged each other to create a unique and pedagogically sound product.

Why is this work so important and exciting?
Minecraft is inherently engaging and captures the learner's attention. This engagement can lead to increased motivation to learn and better retention of information. Learning about chemistry through gaming is enjoyable, making the learning process more fun while reducing the stress associated with traditional education. Atomic Rescue simulates scenarios students could previously only dream of while allowing them to put newfound chemistry knowledge and skills to the test in a fun, safe and controlled environment.

How do you see this work developing over the next few years, and what is next for this initiative/project?
Over the next few years, Stride will continue to expand and finetune its game-based learning offerings and integration, including its use of Minecraft Education. Students are already encountering Atomic Rescue in Physical Science courses this school year (2023-2024), and we're excitedly gathering feedback. Atomic Rescue and Stride's other Minecraft Education worlds are also available in the Learning Hub. https://learninghub.com/

How can this project benefit the wider education community?
As a kid, I learned more about geography from 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego' than I did in geography class. Quality game-based education is a great way for students to learn by doing it in a safe and accessible environment. I hope this project shows more educators how to use games in their own curriculum and gives them ideas of how to develop their own.

What is the importance of collaboration in the chemical sciences?
Collaboration is essential to creating innovative solutions to global issues and developing technology that enhances the quality of life for all.

Why is chemistry important?
91AV bridges the gap between the observable world and the atomic-molecular scale. It allows us to understand things like the rusting of iron, by revealing the invisible atomic and molecular interactions that make it happen.