If you had any doubts, Minecraft is here to stay.
In my time as a SysAdmin for a private K-12 in Texas, I was able to get first hand experience in seeing the adoption of Minecraft as a learning tool for the High School programming class. Beyond the class, students campus wide were talking about their latest builds, hacks, mods and griefing adventures; they had found a new community and were learning to explore it together.
Speaking to the teachers (and subbing myself a few times), I was able to here of and see the excitement from the kids when they were given an assignment. This wasn’t just school anymore, this was striking a chord with them. Fast forward 2 years and Microsoft begins releasing details of what they plan to do to take it a step further, “Minecraft: Education Edition.”
[Video via YouTube]
Microsoft is helping to develop in-class curriculum for teachers to use as a tool for studies including History, Engineering, Art, Mathematics, and many more. The teacher will be able to guide a classroom full of students through activities that will not only reinforce the per-established curriculum for the class but allow the students to do so in a way that is natural for them while allowing them to develop their creative minds. I for one am incredibly excited for this to be more commonly available in the classroom. I know if I had something like this to work with as a student I would likely have had a much easier time through school.
Eric J says
In the minecraft documentary I think this already existed. I think Microsoft just bought it. It has cool features like being able to freeze all players, restrict combat, etc.
Sean Leacy says
A lot of these tools DID already exist but this geared around how they were able to take something that was already there and engage students with it. Server-side there are plenty of mods and tools that can make this happen (combat is an easy one) I just love that there are some schools (especially locally here in Seattle) that are taking this and running with it.
Eric Dye says
Seriously cool. As Eric J mentioned, this was touched on in the Minecraft documentary and it’s super cool.
Sean Leacy says
I love it! Makes me miss working in K-12 IT!