Peter is here
Students are buzzing with excitement because their lesson is a little different today. They’re about to embark on an extraordinary quest within Minecraft Education. As Vatican Conservators in the Peter is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage game, their task is to preserve the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. But before they begin, their teacher introduces them to stewardship, community, and respect for cultural heritage—concepts that are essential to preserving valued spaces. They’ll also learn key vocabulary and how to answer the game’s essential question:
How can we use technology to explore, protect, and celebrate cultural heritage sites, and why is it important to work together in this effort?
For the next 45 to 60 minutes, the students will be using Minecraft tools and AI-enhanced devices to complete restoration tasks at various points in St. Peter’s Basilica. And they’ll learn how to navigate the game by using these tools effectively through guided tutorials. When they complete the tasks, they’ll be free to explore. Eager to dive into this immersive experience, the students launch Minecraft Education.
Once the students are in the open-world style game, they’re guided by the Sanpietrini, a group of highly-skilled workers responsible for the reception, surveillance, cleaning, and maintenance of the Basilica. Together, they encounter points like the Vatican Obelisk, St. Peter’s Tomb, the Baldachin, and the Column in the Main Nave they’ll restore as tasks. Each task requires them to apply their understanding of preservation and restoration to bring these sacred sites back to their original beauty. And as they move forward, they can document their progress and reflect on the importance of teamwork and cultural heritage.
Explore St. Peter’s Basilica and learn more about this iconic church
Find everything you need to know, including the official lesson plan, teaching materials, and how to launch the game.
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Building it with AI
The project started with the creation of an AI-enhanced digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica for the Vatican. Microsoft collaborated with Iconem, a French company that creates digital replicas of global historic landmarks with advanced photogrammetry techniques and AI. Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab supplies the tech needed to process and analyze the photogrammetry data they collect.
The Minecraft version of the Basilica features details like its beautiful marble tile.
When the AI-enhanced digital twin of St. Peter’s Basilica for the Vatican was underway, the team realized there was an opportunity to create a special version for students as well. The collaboration with Iconem and the use of their data meant that it was possible to create an accurate world for a Minecraft. The Minecraft Education team developed the Peter is Here game to give students a way to explore history, engage in restoration challenges, and learn about the intersection of cultural heritage and modern innovation while introducing them to STEM education and ethical AI.
One of the main challenges when designing the Peter is Here game was creating symmetrical patterns in the marble flooring within the blocky world of Minecraft. The developers had to ensure the mosaics were accurately represented while maintaining the spirit of Minecraft. And since St. Peter’s Basilica is such a huge, expansive space, reflecting the true scale of the church added another challenge. The digital twin helped with these challenges by integrating the structure into the game, allowing the Minecraft team to work from a detailed, realistic model.
From here, the developers used AI to build an awesome gaming experience. They used Copilot to research historic experiences for the game, Microsoft Designer to conceptualize game assets, and Visual Studio along with GitHub Copilot to support game mechanics. Copilot and Azure OpenAI GPT4.0 support text age suitability and accessibility.
The game is designed for learners ages 8 to 18, and is called Peter is Here because it includes a narrative about the discovery of Peter’s tomb within the gameplay. Students learn about the finding of a stone in the 1950s that confirmed St. Peter’s tomb rested within St. Peter’s Basilica, important because St. Peter was the first pope of the Catholic church. This archaeological find enhances the educational experience and encourages curiosity through discovery.
My goal is that students will want to go with their parents to St. Peter’s Basilica and be able to be the tour guide because they already know their way around.
A time for reflection
When everyone finishes the game, each student receives a certificate of completion, giving them a sense of accomplishment and pride. Then the students gather with their teacher to reflect on their experience. They share their thoughts on how they used technology to preserve cultural heritage, and can also create journal entries, make digital presentations, and posters that showcase their knowledge. Throughout their journey today, they learned about the significance of St. Peter’s Basilica, the value of historic preservation, and how tech helps protect heritage sites important to communities around the world.
Peter is Here is only the first large scale project Minecraft Education has taken on and the plan is to add many more places, including historic and modern landmarks. Global heritage sites will be used to tell a story that will give all students a better understanding of other people’s cultures and why they’re significant. And since Minecraft is for everyone, older kids and adults can always play the game, too.
