The Investigators

‘The Investigators’ - is a new Minecraft Education world that takes students on a journalistic quest to evaluate the information they receive critically. Our game has been designed to help young people build the skills they need to navigate challenging information environments.

Our partnership with Minecraft Education, Microsoft’s Technology for Fundamental Rights team, and leading media and information literacy experts from the Digital Inquiry Group has enabled us to create a game that immerses learners in scenarios where discernment and analytical thinking are paramount. By playing the role of investigative journalists, learners deepen their information literacy skills as they uncover mysteries, spot untrustworthy information, and learn when to share trustworthy information or not share information they cannot trust or validate.

Our game has been designed to include learning objectives in both the gameplay and lesson plans developed by Drs. Sam Wineberg and Joel Breakstone, global experts in teaching information literacy from the Digital Inquiry Group, a nonprofit organization. It can be taught across multiple class sessions or as a singular classroom lesson plan. It can be integrated into your existing curriculum, as well as, in media centers and out-of-school learning environments.

According to Oluwasola Samuel Oni, a PhD Candidate at Washington State University’s College of Education, our game is effective in improving information literacy skills, which is the ability to critically evaluate the information one consumes. 

Through three scenarios, players will play the role of investigative journalists and deepen their information literacy skills. The game addresses the following information literacy standards:

• Accesses information efficiently and effectively

• Evaluates information critically and competently

• Uses information effectively and creatively

• Pursues information related to personal interests

• Strives for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation

We believe that Minecraft Education can serve as a scaffold for self-regulated learning aimed at countering misinformation. Join us in our quest to help young people build the skills they need to navigate challenging information environments.