An Exploration of Teaching Hawaiian Concepts of Kaikua?ana and Kaikaina through Minecraft

Video games, such as the popularized game Minecraft, have been used in a variety of educational settings and learning contexts. Though academic findings of video game usage are mixed, increases in learning competencies, skills and engagement were apparent. While faced with creating an alternative learning plan for teaching kaikua?ana and kaikaina Hawaiian governance concepts during the COVID-19 pandemic, a college course instructor had chosen to use Minecraft as a platform for student learning. This blended narrative inquiry case study examined how an instructor's choices in utilizing Minecraft might have affected the learning of kaikua?ana and kaikaina concepts in a college Hawaiian governance course. This qualitative study portrayed the instructor's story and journey of using Minecraft. From synthesis of emerging themes came the Model for Utilizing Minecraft to Teach Kaikua?ana and Kaikaina Principles that included the following five components: informed decision making, deliberate instructional choices, meaningful Minecraft experiences, awareness based pivoting, and instructor's reflection and learnings. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]