Teachers have long used a wide variety of tools to teach students, even games. Now, Minecraft joins the ranks of titles which are both fun and educational, and you can see it in action right now! MinecraftEdu is a collaborative team of educators and programmers who seek to bring Minecraft to the classroom in affordable ways, so it can be accessible to as many schools as possible. They offer onsite workshops and in-service training to help educators use this incredible game to its fullest potential in a learning environment. In the near future, they will also be offering custom game versions, easy-to-use servers for classroom-driven SMP, a library of worlds, levels and activities to assist in activities, and more!
While still in the private beta stage, this remarkable project sets itself up to take the learning world by storm, merging learning and gaming in amazing new ways. Keep an eye out for MinecraftEdu, coming out soon!
I kind of see how this can work. Teamwork. Redstone logic for basic scripting, architecture maybe. Possibly basic geometry.
But humanities / algebra / science / geography/ french / german / chinese/ PE? No way that would work out.. it's too impractical. There's more effective methods. I mean, sure, you can make structures of civilizations, but that would take too long, and you can learn the same amount in a more efficient way.
Minecraft can be a useful educational tool. But not so dramatic as what the site says. Not enough to overhaul the entire curriculum of a school.
This makes me mad. At least how they offer their minecraft mod for sale. Yeah sure, you probably worked hard to do it. But they actually set limits to how many players can be on the server? And do they really think that the teachers who purchase this are so stupid that they couldnt modify the personal version for classroom use? I'd find this extremely insulting if I were a teacher.
Ok, I see that this could possibly be used on RARE occasions in classes that have abundant computers. I don't think that minecraft could be used for extensive learning at all. But maybe if the teacher has some time, they could use this. An example would be: if they're learning about a civilization, they could have a pre-built map of that kind of civilization and have signs around that have facts on them that the students roam around and find. Maybe it could be used as a way to exercise the mind with puzzle maps. These activities would be more useful for lower grades though. I think people at high schools or higher wouldn't gain much benefit from this. This is a good idea though and I want to see if it can come out successful.
The website is new, and doesn't have many examples yet for how to use Minecraft for teaching, but the desertification/tropification exercise sounds interesting, and the platform has potential. I can see Minecraft being used to teach math, build puzzles for problem solving, serve as an alternate artistic medium, or provide the setting for a role play to bring a history lesson to life. I'm sure there are a lot of other possibilities I haven't thought of yet. I definitely want to follow these guys and see what the MinecraftEdu developers and users come up with.
We don't need anymore noobs in minecraft,
burn the bridge that allow the trucks to deliver it!
"Whats that it comes off the internet?"
Than cut the wires and burn the schools!If you live in America, don't be expecting to see minecraft anytime soon in the classroom.
god knows that would take 10 years of paper work and bullshiting
By that time notch will have released minecraft and scrolls, ontop of the never going to happen expansion for minecraft.
Well, it theorerically isn't illeagal to do this, seeing that they actually have permission to do such.There's probably /detention (aka temp ban) or some reduction in score.
I've got a message for you people who doubt this idea: This idea is incredible!! It's a fun way for kids to learn in class, and as for classes it could teach in, here are some:
G/T(Gifted and Talented)
Math (for teaching area, perimeter, and even physics with redstone!)
Science (again, physics, and also biomes)
Social Studies (for recreating history or monuments for a class project)
IT (teaching Java, scripting, and again, physics and technology with redstone wiring)
A regular school project (maybe a cool map made as a gift at the end of the year for teachers or principals, and like I've seen posted, making a replica of the entire school or something related))
You just cant deny that it's a good idea.
Anyway. My actual post:
I MUST suggest this to my principal.
I can see it now.
"Okay class, we'll be studying area and perimeter. Use the book mod to take notes and then measure using the figures I've laid out f-"
"SSSssssssss... BOOM!!!"
A creeper goes offf behind her in the game and she dies.
But humanities / algebra / science / geography/ french / german / chinese/ PE? No way that would work out.. it's too impractical. There's more effective methods. I mean, sure, you can make structures of civilizations, but that would take too long, and you can learn the same amount in a more efficient way.
Minecraft can be a useful educational tool. But not so dramatic as what the site says. Not enough to overhaul the entire curriculum of a school.
burn the bridge that allow the trucks to deliver it!
"Whats that it comes off the internet?"
Than cut the wires and burn the schools!If you live in America, don't be expecting to see minecraft anytime soon in the classroom.
god knows that would take 10 years of paper work and bullshiting
By that time notch will have released minecraft and scrolls, ontop of the never going to happen expansion for minecraft.
i don't have anything to say but AWSOME
You just cant deny that it's a good idea.
Anyway. My actual post:
I MUST suggest this to my principal.
I can see it now.
"Okay class, we'll be studying area and perimeter. Use the book mod to take notes and then measure using the figures I've laid out f-"
"SSSssssssss... BOOM!!!"
A creeper goes offf behind her in the game and she dies.
EPIC!!!