‘Minecraft: A Shift in Learning’– Dundee Arts Cafe on December 6th.
Published On Thu 1 Dec 2016 by Cara Longmuir
This month’s Dundee Arts Café will delve into the 3D world of Minecraft.
Derek Robertson from the University of Dundee will explore the wondrous simplicity and complexity of the extremely popular game, and discuss the challenges of introducing games like Minecraft into the formal world of the classroom.
Derek will talk about his findings at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum on December 6th.
Minecraft is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular computer games and Derek has already been testing out the game in Dundee schools.
“When I saw Minecraft back in 2011, I knew I wanted to use it in the classroom,” said Derek. “Players need to mine for materials to help them survive. Something you need in the game is iron. So you have to create a smelting stove, and the next thing you know you’ve built the Taj Mahal.”
In 2015 he started a project with local primary schools. The children were tasked with designing the city’s Waterfront using Minecraft. The pupils worked to reimagine, design and build whatever they wanted. They were asked to consider a number of factors including the aesthetic of their design, how their design would bring in tourists and how their new development would bring in jobs.
Dundee Arts Café is a programme of talks showcasing arts research and developments taking place locally. The series is organised by the University of Dundee in partnership with Abertay University and Leisure & Culture Dundee.
These events enable members of the public to relax and discuss the arts, from English to History, Philosophy to Architecture, and Fine Art to Product Design, with some of the leading names carrying out work in these areas in Dundee. The events last one hour, and speakers talk passionately about their work for 30 minutes before the floor is opened up to an informal discussion with the audience.
‘Minecraft: A Shift in Learning’takes place at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum at 6pm on Tuesday, 6th December. The event is free and open to all, but limited seating means visitors are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.
For more information about the event and Dundee Arts Cafe please visit www.dundeeartscafe.co.uk.
For media enquiries contact:
Cara Longmuir
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385243
Email: c.z.longmuir@dundee.ac.uk