Abstract
The paper examines how the game Minecraft can be used as a new digital learning environment in the context of second language teaching and learning. It explores how the concepts of digital space and digital place within the new 3D digital environment can contribute to reshaping the language learners’ experience and promote greater engagement in the target language. The study involved one language teacher and his grade 6 (upper elementary) students in a French immersion program in Canada. Digital artifacts created by the students in Minecraft were collected and qualitative analysis was carried out. The findings reveal that the use of a new digital environment allows for the emergence of a sense of digital place (emotional connection), greater engagement, and a sense of agency and control on the part of learners. Higher levels of collaboration, creativity, and imagination were also observed in the language tasks.
Highlights
Emergent technologies offer new digital and virtual environments, as well as multiple modalities and multisensory affordances that contribute to the evolution of the concept of traditional literacy (Pellerin, 2017)
Studies in the field of mobile assisted language learning have examined the role related to the benefits of using game-based learning, supporting the idea that games can improve social skills and discourage negative behavior, contributing to the development of ‘soft skills’ such as collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking, which are crucial literacy skills for a new digital era
These results add new knowledge regarding to the use of 3D interactive environments for second language learning at k-12
Summary
Digital technologies have become ubiquitous, affecting all spheres of our daily activities and providing new ways to interact with the world and communicate with others in formal and informal ways. Emergent technologies offer new digital and virtual environments, as well as multiple modalities and multisensory affordances that contribute to the evolution of the concept of traditional literacy (Pellerin, 2017). The exponential development of digital 3D interactive environments is. Multimodal and sensory affordances: reshaping the second language experience for a new era. Thouësny (Eds), CALL for widening participation: short papers from EUROCALL 2020
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