LONDON, UK — Video gaming brand Xbox and creative agency McCann London have launched a category-changing product innovation, Beyond Xbox: Field Trips. The duo has introduced seven audio-learning layers and visual guides designed to support learning through play.
The popular games in audio learning journeys are available on Xbox Game Pass. These include Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, PowerWash Simulator, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Age of Empires IV, Grounded, and Cities: Skylines.
Beyond Xbox: Field Trips provides young players with educational content that is seamlessly woven into their gaming experience. Research shows that children who play video games are 1.88 times more likely to have “high overall school competence” than those who don’t play video games, so this project has been created as a facilitator of learning. The audio learning journeys teach valuable life skills such as problem-solving, team building, communication, analytical thinking, and curriculum-related topics like the history of piracy and tidal systems. For example, in PowerWash Simulator, players jet-wash a Mars Rover while learning about its history and our solar system, a unique approach to engaging young minds.
Michael Flatt, Xbox EMEA Marketing Director, said, “At Xbox, we believe in the power of gaming to inspire and educate. Beyond Xbox: Field Trips is a testament to this belief, showcasing the innovation that comes when we merge entertainment with education. McCann London’s idea to integrate insightful audio lessons into popular gaming titles gives players a truly unique and enriching learning experience. This initiative highlights the positive impact of video games and underscores our commitment to leveraging technology for educational purposes.”
Xbox has partnered with Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse, the trade body for the UK games and interactive entertainment industry specializing in play-based learning, to bring the learning experiences to its network of over 200,000 young people in 67 schools across the UK. It uses play-based learning to support over 14,000 teachers to inspire the next generation of pupils with the computing curriculum.
Shahneila Saeed, Director of Digital Schoolhouse and Head of Education at Ukie, said, “We’re very excited to be supporting such an original and unique program, using games to develop the soft skills of young people. I can’t wait to see how these audio and visual learning experiences are implemented in our Digital Schoolhouse network over the coming months, and the impact that they will have.”
Ollie Bray, a prominent figure in the ed-tech field, was involved in the development of the lesson plans. Ollie is passionate about improving the lives of children and young people through the development of engaging learning experiences, playful approaches to teaching and learning, quality system leadership and innovative learning spaces (physical and digital).
Ollie, Co-author of the European Games in Schools Handbook, said,“There is increasing evidence to suggest that play is one of the most powerful ways to learn. These interactive “Field Trips” allow young people to immerse themselves in both popular and culturally relevant video games while developing important skills and exploring a variety of learning outcomes. The project provides a unique take on experimental learning.”
Rob Doubal, Joint-Chief Creative Officer at McCann London, said, “We are very proud of the team for this idea, which could have a huge impact on gaming and education. This level of innovation is only possible because of a strong and fantastic partnership with the team at Xbox and a shared ambition to go beyond. We imagine that we will start to see similar ‘learning layers’ in all forms of tech.”
The campaign launched with a hero five-minute documentary-style film, going live on Xbox channels across social and YouTube. The film features experts across psychology, education, and innovative learning who talk about the benefits of gaming. It also includes first-hand testimony from the children themselves.
Available on Spotify, players are encouraged to listen to the audio lessons while gaming. They will be promoted across Spotify’s social channels and also in-app. The audio-learning journeys are complemented by visual guides available on Xbox.com.
You can visit the Beyond Xbox: Field Trips website here, created by Xbox and McCann London to house related research, expert profiles, the documentary film, visual guides and information on the learning journeys.
