„Minecraft vs. Reality – Rocks, Minerals, Ores and the Use of Natural Resources“: Design, implementation and evaluation of an interactive tour at the Mineralogical Museum Würzburg

This project presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of an educational museum tour titled “Minecraft vs. Reality – Rocks, Minerals, Ores, and the Use of Natural Resources”, developed for fifth-grade students at Bavarian secondary schools.

Geoscientific topics such as rocks, minerals, and natural resources are essential for understanding sustainability but are only briefly covered in early secondary education. This tour addresses that curricular gap through science communication in an informal learning environment. By drawing on the pop culture phenomenon Minecraft, it connects digital experiences with real-world geoscience, using the game’s popularity to spark curiosity and engagement.

The tour follows a learning-at-stations format, consisting of four hands-on stations where students explore minerals, rocks, ores, and their uses through original specimens, interactive tasks, and guided comparisons with the game's representations. Gamification elements support motivation and long-term learning.

To evaluate the program’s educational effectiveness, pre- and post-questionnaires were conducted with participating school classes. The study investigates students’ prior knowledge, misconceptions, and learning gains, while addressing research questions around motivation, conceptual understanding, and the corrective potential of informal learning experiences linked to digital media.

Although originally designed for school groups, the tour is adaptable for broader audiences during public events such as a family activity day. With minor adjustments, the format holds strong potential for outreach beyond the classroom and across different age groups, positioning the museum as an accessible and engaging site of geoscience education.