actually... just the other day when looking at my little castle I thought "this isn't a bad tool to teach art kids how to use perspective!" so I guess it can be pretty educational after all!
Personally, I feel that there are a ton of learning opportunities within the world(s) of Minecraft. I am a mother of two teens, who are self taught people. They have learned to read, write, research, explore life and enjoy the ways that they learn from doing Distance Ed at home. We went onto Minecraft because my 15 year old son said "Mom you are going to love this!" He was right.. we do love it. Much more than that, we are helping other young people within the Distance Ed program we support to also learn through using Minecraft as well.
So far, we have spent time on Social Studies, using research to build Mayan Temples, the Kilkenny Castle from Ireland, and ships from different time periods. We are in the process of learning about our home country, Canada, and making buildings and areas of life from different eras as well in terms of social history. We discussed 3D math problems, and even more importantly, helped our kids to find out how they learn.. not just what they learn. They are responsible for driving their own learning motivations.. if you like something, you will learn from it. If you hate it, most likely you will remember the info for as long as you need it (ie till the test) and then happily forget the whole thing at the end. I'm glad that the information my own kids are learning is done with a great game that actually makes them laugh and want to learn.
We use Minecraft in all sorts of areas including discussing ores (geology), how plants really grow (plant biology), the N S E W factor (following the sun and finding your way back without torches at night) (geography and mapping techniques). There were discussions around "How would I get back home if i was lost in the woods after biking up a trail that no one really knew about?" (Wilderness survival skills) You name it.. we can find ways to talk about it, and then research online how to make those things worthwhile to them. These are things they DON'T forget, because the questions were real questions that made sense to them... not just a bunch of pieces of non important facts that slip by after the C+ is given.
One of the biggest things we talked about with the Mayan temple was how the slaves who created the temple must have ripped apart the landscape to find the materials in order to create that huge of a building. What a great discussion about slavery, as well as the human footprint (impact) on the Earth, and how long it must have taken to create such a big temple, which meant it must have meant alot to the Mayan society at the time.. the reasons for making a temple, and how the Mayan society felt about worship. Tons to learn.. tons to explore..
At the moment, we are trying to get our own server set up for other youth that we are involved with in our D Ed program to help promote active motivation towards learning creatively with MInecraft.. there will be no end to what they can do!
Notch.. incredible, truly just incredible. Thanks for the time you put into this.
Lori from Canada
I find this to be fascinating, what a great way to teach your kids while having fun! Learning shouldn't be all drab and no play, you can make it more exciting so students can grasp the concept by replicating works such the Great Pyramids etc. I'm actually really interested in this topic, would love to have you check out our community Lori :smile.gif:
This topic has been quite an argument, and discussion. Reaching over 700 views... This is an ongoing topic in other threads, or even general arguments [or discussions]. It will never be fixated, not everyone will agree on one thing. Just like, which is better, the Call of Duty, or the Halo Series. Or the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. There are people have Call of Duty, and Halo games, or even an Xbox 360, and a Playstation 3, there are some who think that Minecraft is educational in some ways, and not in others. Though I wish to have a Minecraft club, at my school, or even to have the site not blocked at my school. Even if I did make one, or something of sorts, we most likely could not use it unless the School District unblocked it. Once again, thanks to all you guys, who supported to my topic here. I have a feeling this thread will eventually die. But the topic, in conversations, or on forums, will never die.
This topic has been quite an argument, and discussion. Reaching over 700 views... This is an ongoing topic in other threads, or even general arguments [or discussions]. It will never be fixated, not everyone will agree on one thing. Just like, which is better, the Call of Duty, or the Halo Series. Or the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. There are people have Call of Duty, and Halo games, or even an Xbox 360, and a Playstation 3
But I hate all of them.....
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
'Squids are evil. I will eat them all. I WILL EAT THEM ALL'
- Cookies to whomever gets the reference
I really wish this topic never dies, it will always live, as long as Minecraft does. Hopefully Minecraft will live forever, I know darn well, it wont live FOREVER. But iot will live a long time, I can be sure of that! Just 2 days ago I wrote that this topic is growing fast, and it has reached over 700 views. 2 Days have gone by. Now we are at over 900 views. This is causing quite a stir in the Minecraft community. I would like it if more teachers, parents, or even kids who play it themselves, and state there opinion.
(Some of the thorough replies in here are really good, far more than I had expected from this forum!)
Being a teacher student, I've thought about this too. I don't think it measures up to other available software enough to justify using it in the classroom, but I do think it's a beneficial game to play for young children upwards, at least if they use the game to build stuff. It gives plenty of planning / thinking exercise.
I got my school to allow this, I'm in High School and use some of the techie stuff at school to host a server for my school. Right now I think the Geography class is using it right now. And I get paid to keep it up and stuff. :3 I also get an entire hour of just being on Minecraft.
I have actually done an essay in class, about what would you do to change your school... I wrote it about Minecraft, about putting it in Geography (or any social studies classes, such as civics, or history) and IT (Informational Technology). I wrote all I could think of, it was just a warm-up that we were supposed to write just the intro. But I wrote a full paper, front and back... epicness. I was thinking about sharing it with my princibal, or administrators at my middle school. I may or may not upload this essay.
True, True... BUT you are right, so it is somewhat educational.... in some ways. But then again, go back and read Lori's post, its good, it shows what you are proving and a little of what I am proving.
I am a high school senior, and I started a Minecraft club in my school, a group with an excessively high concentration of autism. Though it's still under review by the student union, I pointed out how Minecraft could really be used as a tool and an educational supplement: digital electronics (redstone), architecture (buildings), geometry (blocky nature allows for precise shapes), economics (survival multiplayer systems of bartering or currency), politics (survival multiplayer governments eg city councils), management (managing players and resources to be efficient), civil engineering (roads, canals, railroads), and human nature (survival multiplayer as a whole).
I am a high school senior, and I started a Minecraft club in my school, a group with an excessively high concentration of autism. Though it's still under review by the student union, I pointed out how Minecraft could really be used as a tool and an educational supplement: digital electronics (redstone), architecture (buildings), geometry (blocky nature allows for precise shapes), economics (survival multiplayer systems of bartering or currency), politics (survival multiplayer governments eg city councils), management (managing players and resources to be efficient), civil engineering (roads, canals, railroads), and human nature (survival multiplayer as a whole).
I am a high school senior, and I started a Minecraft club in my school, a group with an excessively high concentration of autism. Though it's still under review by the student union, I pointed out how Minecraft could really be used as a tool and an educational supplement: digital electronics (redstone), architecture (buildings), geometry (blocky nature allows for precise shapes), economics (survival multiplayer systems of bartering or currency), politics (survival multiplayer governments eg city councils), management (managing players and resources to be efficient), civil engineering (roads, canals, railroads), and human nature (survival multiplayer as a whole).[/quote]
Its been nearly a month since I have posted anything on this topic. In this month there have been plenty updates with Multiplayer. It is even more educational now, due to the health system in MineCraft Multiplayer, so you have to work together, to get crops. But I wish Notch would update the water flooding system. So it can fully flood caverns, and force you to make airlocks or search for the source block. It will also give you quite good adventures, trying to escape flooding caverns, and drowning monsters in a dungeon! =D
Just wanted to say that this is a very interesting subject.
Minecraft is a great way to explore and develop your creativity, while having fun at the same time. Although I don't believe that it, in its current state, could be used effectively in schools and such. There are many other games that focus more on economics and politics, if that's what you're looking for.
However, I believe Minecraft has a lot of potential in the educational area when it comes to geometry/architecture and electronics. Especially if the redstone system is developed even further, and if we get different shapes of blocks to work with.
And they won't even fall on you and crush you to death or anything!
I find this to be fascinating, what a great way to teach your kids while having fun! Learning shouldn't be all drab and no play, you can make it more exciting so students can grasp the concept by replicating works such the Great Pyramids etc. I'm actually really interested in this topic, would love to have you check out our community Lori :smile.gif:
But I hate all of them.....
- Cookies to whomever gets the reference
Being a teacher student, I've thought about this too. I don't think it measures up to other available software enough to justify using it in the classroom, but I do think it's a beneficial game to play for young children upwards, at least if they use the game to build stuff. It gives plenty of planning / thinking exercise.
I have Autism. :3
I do too.
I gotta start this at my school :3
I am a high school senior, and I started a Minecraft club in my school, a group with an excessively high concentration of autism. Though it's still under review by the student union, I pointed out how Minecraft could really be used as a tool and an educational supplement: digital electronics (redstone), architecture (buildings), geometry (blocky nature allows for precise shapes), economics (survival multiplayer systems of bartering or currency), politics (survival multiplayer governments eg city councils), management (managing players and resources to be efficient), civil engineering (roads, canals, railroads), and human nature (survival multiplayer as a whole).[/quote]
AUTISM FTW![/quote]
I have Autism. :3[/quote]
I gotta start this at my school :3[/quote]
YEH, MEH TOO!
Minecraft is a great way to explore and develop your creativity, while having fun at the same time. Although I don't believe that it, in its current state, could be used effectively in schools and such. There are many other games that focus more on economics and politics, if that's what you're looking for.
However, I believe Minecraft has a lot of potential in the educational area when it comes to geometry/architecture and electronics. Especially if the redstone system is developed even further, and if we get different shapes of blocks to work with.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMsExmLc4_w