Relationship Between Students’ Minecraft Re-engagement Metrics and STEM Interest

Abstract

We determine the relationship between student STEM interest and four re- engagement metrics within a set of Minecraft worlds: number of concurrent players playing outside of class hours, number of observations made, number of worlds visited, and number of science tools used. With the exception of number of observations made, there were no significant relationships found between STEM interest and these re- engagement metrics. Therefore, the data so far does not provide much evidence that these behaviors are indicative of interest in STEM. Ways forward include later administration of the STEM interest questionnaire, hypothesizing other in-game behaviors, and identifying a more sensitive STEM interest instrument.