Author Information
Thanapat Sripan, Kasetsart University, ThailandKomgrit Manyam, Kasetsart University, Thailand
Abstract
This study investigates how game-based learning (GBL) through Minecraft: Education Edition (M:EE) enhances coding and creative thinking among Thai primary school students. While prior research has often focused on quantitative outcomes or curriculum integration, this study emphasizes student voice by exploring learners’ reflections on their experiences within a GBL environment. Drawing on the qualitative component of a larger mixed-methods project, the research analyzes written reflections from 284 Grade 4 students at a public laboratory school in Bangkok, Thailand, after completing an 8-week M:EE-integrated curriculum. Using thematic analysis, the study identifies three overarching themes: (1) students experienced coding as both challenging and enjoyable, particularly when visual feedback and in-game interactivity helped demystify abstract programming concepts; (2) students expressed a high degree of creative freedom through open-ended design tasks, taking ownership of their learning by building personalized digital artifacts; and (3) collaborative learning within the game environment contributed to increased digital confidence, teamwork skills, and peer-to-peer support. The findings highlight the potential of sandbox-based GBL platforms like M:EE to create learner-centered environments that support both technical and imaginative competencies. They also underscore the importance of reflective practices in understanding how students perceive and internalize coding and creative thinking processes. Implications are discussed for instructional design, teacher professional development, and the localization of educational technologies in non-English-speaking contexts. This research contributes to the growing literature on educational games by offering qualitative insight into the lived experiences of young learners navigating coding, creativity, and collaboration in digital spaces.
Paper Information
Conference: ACEID2026Stream: Innovation & Technology
This paper is part of the ACEID2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Sripan T., & Manyam K. (2026) Enhancing Thai Students’ Coding and Creativity Through Minecraft-Based Game Learning: A Thematic Analysis of Student Reflections ISSN: 2189-101X – The Asian Conference on Education & International Development 2026 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 43-55) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-101X.2026.4
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-101X.2026.4
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