The aim was to develop new kinds of immersive game-based approaches for CLIL and CLIL LOTE learning in STEM context using originally informal game environments in international project- based learning cooperation in the formal context. We aimed at enabling participation and engagement through virtual cooperation and collaboration in 3D sandbox game worlds, in order to fight against climate change and for our planet, and at the same time learning critical information retrieval and thinking, creative problem solving, intercultural cooperation and communication in international and / or multilingual project and phenomenon-based settings. In addition we aimed at preparing support materials based on our project experiences for interested teachers in whole Europe and creating a cooperation network for exchange and further development.
Our team member, teacher (Clasu) and researcher Laura Pihkala-Posti had already been working with almost 10 years with the 3D game world Minecraft with interesting and promising results. We wished to continue and expand the design based development work initiated by her and supported by the Company TeacherGaming. We especially wanted to expand the work from language and intercultural learning even to STEM subjects because cross-curricular approaches are focused in our schools and universities, what even the language teaching needs to take into consideration. The national and local curricula wish new combinations and cross-disciplinary approaches and focus on intercultural communication skills and sustainability, as well as cooperation with universities. All these aspects were possible to be strengthened through a participation in this kind of an EU project. Development demands time and resources, and external additional funding was needed to be able to manage this kind of big changes. An EU project opened precisely those possibilities that we had wished. The goal was to create new ways of cooperation with schools, universities and other institutions in Europe with new learning spaces and CLIL experience.