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Roblox: Educational Point of View
Article · December 2019
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Roblox: Educational Point of View
Introduction
The engagement a toddler had given over a mobile app had perked this researcher’s
curiosity. How Roblox had influenced a 4-year old to play and perform the obstacle game was
enthralling. As parents, safety is a mandated concern when it comes to online games wherein a
player represented by an avatar could interact with other players in the game. Roblox
Corporation aimed to keep every player safe by filtering inappropriate languages and the ability
to report players who harass or bully others. These rules are published for the public to see
including parents on their site. The player who finds the need to report other players while in the
game can do so by clicking the report button and specifying the offense. This curiosity had led
other parents to create their account to closely monitor their children’s Roblox activity (Discord,
2019).
The number of time players under the age of 13 had spent playing the game, which
according to the poll in December 2017 had reached the average up to 51.5 million hours in
comparison to other top online entertainment such as YouTube and Netflix (Knapp, 2018). As an
educator, it was necessary to see this as an opportunity for education. Can Roblox be used as a
learning tool? How and in what ways it can be used safely? These are a few of the questions that
led to this study.
Roblox is a social gaming platform has the ability to create games and share it with the
community and eventually to make money in the process. For example, the creator of Work at
the Pizza Place, Michael “Dued1” Sligh was only 15 when he created the game. He invited other
kids to pretend to work at a pizza place (Johnson, 2014). Engadget predicted that Roblox
developer will make $30 million via the year 2017 since the extension of the wider platform in
Xbox One, Windows 10, and Oculus Rift on top of traditional platforms like PC, Mac, IOS and
Android (Conditt, 2017). In September 2018, there are 400 million games have been created via
Roblox platforms and about 30,000 new games are uploaded every day (Hacket, 2018).
According to Bell (2018) the author of Game On! Gamification, Gameful Design, and Rise
of Gamer Educator, the changing demographics due to the increase of enrolment in the higher
education had created a coming perfect storm in higher education which had affected the
following incongruities:
1. The rising cost of doing business in higher education is coming into obvious conflict
with the need to tailor to increased numbers of poorer or less well subsidized
students.
2. The admittedly disproportionately weighted, not so very common but perceived as
significant, investment in luxurious peripheral facilities while learners want for
effective academic/social support and mentoring.
3. An increasing lack of student engagement and growing disenchantment, manifesting
itself in lower rates of course completion and persistence to graduation
Regardless of these warning signs, most institutions continued to use the same tools,
technologies, and forms of instructions that can be considered antithetical to student interests
and preferences. Bell further emphasized Jane McGonigal’s (as cited Bell, 2018, p. 9) text
Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World how
gaming tends to make people more optimistic and helps them develop a mindset that results in
their being less likely to give up when, initially, failing at a challenge. He also quoted James
Paul Gee’s (as cited Bell, 2018, p. 9) advocacy on What Video Games Have to Teach Us about
Learning Literacy by focusing on his statement. “Better theories of learning are embedded in
the video games children in elementary and particularly in high school play than the school
they attend.” Bell (2018) concluded,
Gamification very possibly has a role to play in moving the needle on student engagement,
the clearest measurable associate to success that we have. It may be a minor role or a major
one. It could be the Holy Grail or akin to one Sokolow wedge in a save the planet challenge,
(Bell, 2018, p. 188).
Why Roblox?
Roblox can be used to teach students on computer literacy, designing and building using
Roblox Studio, and master fundamentals of programming by custom 3D worlds to life. It also
offers free resources to teach students of all ages of real coding, game design, digital civility, and
entrepreneurial skills. (Roblox, 2019). Roblox Education has been successfully tested in 500
coding countries including the EU, US, Canada, and Asia involving 50,000 students (Wilson,
2019).
Roblox is not only a free platform for students to create games and the opportunity to
share it with a larger community, but it also a gaming platform where students can learn real-life
experiences in a virtual world setting. BSD Education advertised how Roblox can professionally
help students build games, plan and think computationally, develop storytelling, improve selfdirection and creativity, problem-solving, coding, do test and gather feedback, and understand
digital citizenship (Qureshi, 2019).
The popularity of Roblox has affected other platforms of social media. On Twitter,
Roblox has 1.25 million followers, Facebook has 717, 443 followers, and Instagram has 770
followers. The number increases as it becomes more and more popular not only as a usergenerated gaming platform but also as an educational tool. As new gaming emerges, Roblox
aimed to upgrade the game using the platforms in Nintendo Switch and virtual reality helmets.
How Can Teachers Use Roblox Safely
One of the purposes of this study is to see how Roblox can be used in the classroom
safely. The fact that it is an online multiplayer and a user-generated game, there is the tendency
to be hesitant when involving students in the classroom. What’s the difference of letting them
play at homely which most likely be left unsupervised? Roblox as a gaming platform must be
taken with precautions. Some parents have expressed concerns over incidents they’ve personally
have encountered as they explore Roblox (Ivins, 2018). The teacher must consider these
concerns as he chose to implement Roblox in the classroom. Roblox had currently added a safety
feature called Avatar Clothing Detection where it automatically detects appropriate attire within
the avatar editor and avatar thumbnails (Roblox Parents, 2019).
Privacy Settings
Students under the age of 13 are advised to set their privacy settings in full protection
such as deactivating chatting options when playing the game. The student can play the game
without chatting with anybody online. Roblox had provided changing the privacy settings to
players under 12 to select Friend or No one although players over 13 have more additional
options for privacy settings (Roblox Support, 2019). Especially if Roblox is utilized in the
classroom as an educational tool. Students can communicate in the room as opposed to chatting.
The teacher must actively be supervising everyone throughout the game.
Private Server
To control the player who will be joining in the game, it is preferable to set up a private
server where the teacher can directly invite players in the game. Most games allow a maximum
of 12 players. If one game does not allow to accommodate the entire students in the classroom, it
is necessary to set up different games with a private server. However, setting up a private server
requires Robux (the currency used to pay for the fee). For example, 400 Robux will cost $4.99.
A private server can cause 100 Robux a month.
Education Roblox
Roblox Education is the back end of part of Roblox. It is where students and teachers can
use free tools to create limitless opportunities for creativity and imagination. Roblox offers free
software and curriculum to teach students of all age computer science, digital citizenship,
entrepreneurship, and more. It provides a free, development tool that allows students to build 3D
worlds, script games, and publish their work online. There are no subscription fees or licenses
required. For starters, they provide free curriculum in a variety of topics and age group ranges to
help new users. Roblox specified that their lessons are built to meet specific learning outcomes in
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) classrooms and curriculum
standards, such as ISTE. (Roblox Corporation, 2019).
Roblox Lesson Plans
Roblox has automatically provided different lesson plans for educators to utilize on their
website. These lessons can be taught for 2 hours or semester-long learning programs. Examples
of these are:
1. Intro to Gaming & Coding
2. Creator Challenge: Create and Destroy
3. Creator Challenge: Story Games
4. Roblox Developer 101
5. Building a Historical Landmark
6. Intro to Studio
7. Code Fundamentals
8. Coding Project: Adventure Games
9. Coding Project- Battle Royale
10. Coding Projects: Arcade Game
11. Intro to World Building
Stand Alone Modules
These are specialized lesson plans that help students practice individual project as
part of the larger projects series related to gaming, scripts, coding, etc., such as Digital
Citizenship, Roblox Account Creation, Publish & Play Test, Create a Script, and more
(Roblox Corporation, 2019).
Most Roblox games are intended for children and families. Mostly, every single
Roblox game is safe for young children. Roblox is also part of the Family Online Safety
Institute (FOSI) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Roblox
provided a link for parents to read to know more about Roblox. Teachers must be familiar
with the game as well before utilizing it in the classroom. In short, Roblox advertised that
it is safe (Tyagi, 2019).
Video Gaming: Objective Play
Roblox can be used solely as entertainment but it can also be used objectively. It can be
accessed from different gaming platforms including PCs, Xbox One, Mac, IOS, Android, and
more. Effective utilization is when the games are objective and intentional. Teachers must set
objectives supportive by learning standards to help students understand the purpose of the game.
Below are 5 out 15 best of Roblox games to play for 2019 according to Techworm.com:
Work at a Pizza Place
Students will perform the role of a cashier, cook, pizza boxer, pizza delivery, supplier, or
as a manager in the pizzeria. They can also upgrade their house and customize designs including
adding rooms’ division. Players can also set up their house to different themes they prefer such
as a hotel, a funhouse, a club, a school or more. At the end of the game, the students will share
the experience by retelling stories.
Theme Park Tycoon 2
Students will construct their theme park using the drag and drop tool. They can also build
and design their roller coasters and customize colors of each ride. Tutorials are provided for new
players. Players can also set price for each ride. The game teaches students to find ways to attract
visitors to visit the park and make money to further expand the park. Students can visit other
friend’s theme park and constructively critique it or share opinions.
Bloxburg
Students can build and design their own house, customize vehicles, and, earn in-games
money in the virtual world. Player can choose to work or stay jobless but must pay the electric
bill which is automatically debited from their money. The game teach students to be creative
with their house building skills by creatively designing functional homes. At the end of the game
students can showcase their virtual house and share their building experience to the class.
Natural Disaster Survival
Students’ primary goal of this game is to survive natural disasters. Players are restricted
to an island and just a way to survive the different disasters such as a tornado, tsunami, volcano
eruption, frost, and more. At the end of the game, students can journal or share which natural
disaster was the hardest to survive.
Jailbreak
This is role-playing where a game where the player can choose to play as the police or
the criminal. The criminal goal is to escape from prison while the police will catch them back.
Students can flip flop roles as they play the game and explore its virtual world. Players can
collaborate with other players to accomplish different tasks from the game. In the end, students
can share the experience as a police officer or as an escaping criminal, and which role was harder
to play.
Summon: Game Developers and Creators
Roblox has currently has published that it has 2 million game creators and billions of
created games. Therefore this does not only summon those developers that have already
developed the game in Roblox but also to challenge them to build games that are classroom
related. Games that help students learn their multiplication tables, memorize scientific tables,
reading, or language structures. This also challenges the next generation of game creators to
foster learned historical facts for others to familiarize as well.
Teachers who utilized this game must be given special access for education and not just
the back end of Roblox. A special access must be allowed to them for games that are considered
educational. Roblox must find a way to identify these different games that can be safely used in
the classroom for students of all ages. This does not give Roblox permission to collect student’s
information but by allowing an adult to be registered as a teacher to be granted with a special
access.
Summary
Challenging this generation of learners does not only stop in the classroom anymore. This
can be expressed in different platforms from gaming, YouTube, Google, online class, blended
classrooms and more. Bell (2018) criticized how traditional online teaching can be monotonous
at times or scripted. His challenge is developing what is more operational in real life. How
technology such as Fitbit can be used as a tool that helps individuals monitor their physical
activities (Bell, 2018).
As educators we can choose the traditional ways of teaching this generation or we can
incorporate what is also available to use that are familiar to the very students we are teaching.
Why not use something that familiar but also challenging? A study conducted from a private
institution showed almost 50% of elementary students are aware or played Roblox. How much
more of these students are exposed to in public schools? With the available use of Chrome Books
in the public school, we have already exposed them to other coding and innovation tools such as
Tynker, BrainPOP, or Minecraft. Roblox’s back end is more elaborate because students can
automatically see what they are creating and test it immediately. Students can envision what they
wanting to create in a virtual world.
Both teachers and students can also utilize the games that are already available such as
exploring the different historical places or wonders of the world. If a game can teach someone a
basic step on making pizza, such as placing dough, sauce, cheese, and meat, it is also training
them on how the real pizza is being made in real life. The nature of understanding economic by
finding work to pay bills is being instilled in the gamers’ minds. Also, Roblox exposes student
the awareness of morals by understanding police has the authority to capture criminals.
As more teachers and schools are aware of Roblox's endless possibilities for learning,
Roblox may eventually challenge other creators or game builders to create games that are geared
to classroom friendly environment. With the hope that not only for monetary gain but for the
sake of education this generation.
References
Bell, K. (n.d.). Game on!: Gamification, gameful design, and the rise of the gamer educator.
Conditt, J. (n.d.). Hobbyist developers will make $30 million via “Roblox” this year. Retrieved
November 18, 2019, from Engadget website:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/22/roblox-30-million-pay-out-developers-2017-how/
Discord. (n.d.). Join the Roblox discord server! Retrieved November 18, 2019, from Discord
website: https://discordapp.com/invite/roblox
Hackett, J. (n.d.). The rise of Roblox. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from
https://math.scholastic.com/issues/2018-19/090318/the-rise-of-roblox.html
Ivins, J. (2018, July 11). The hidden dangers of “Roblox” every parent should know about.
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Knapp, A. (n.d.). Young developers earned over $30m on Roblox in 2017, the gaming site kids
visit more than Youtube. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from Forbes website:
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