Introduction
For over 10 years, the wildly popular game "Minecraft" has been a cultural juggernaut. Despite other major games sweeping up millions of players, like "Fortnite" and "Roblox," "Minecraft" continues to quietly dominate. As of this week, the game now has over 112 million players every month. Business Insider - Sep 14, 2019
Can we use games to teach (Science)?
Top Tips
Game Mode
Survival (s): In this mode, players have to gather all their materials to build, craft, and gain experience points.
Creative (c): Creative mode removes the survival elements and allows players to easily create and destroy structures and mechanisms. Unlimited building materials are provided
/immutableworld (value) The immutable world works just like Adventure mode in other editions of Minecraft but is exclusive to Education Edition. It must be set by an operator of the world, and cannot be set per player. Adventure mode lets you interact with blocks but not destroy them.
Classroom Management
To collaborate or not to collaborate
Explain task fully before starting
Use management tools with screen lock ability (Impero, Apple Classroom)
Minecraft Classroom Mode - Tool
Age ranges and Devices
FS / KS1 - iPads - Touch
KS2 / KS3 - Keyboard and Mouse - Probably better
Student Agency
Children will surprise you!
As much as possible leave tasks open-ended, with plenty of scope for students to shape their learning and choose their path and targets.
- What can you discover about elements?
- What is Nitrogen made of?
Use plenaries and game pauses to refocus if needed - away from the screen.
One dimensional tasks do not usually work as well with older players!
NPCs -Non-player Characters
Add links, events and support into the game using NPCs. These characters can give resources, share links and explain tasks to help scaffold the learning. Encouraging more independent learning and support for EAL / LS and other needs.
Playtime!
Please use this Padlet to share ideas, lesson concepts and first impressions of this tool. Click plus to comment and share
How can this tool amplify your science curriculum?
What are your next steps?
Why Minecraft?
As a recent Canadian study has shown, leveraging students’ passions by giving them an opportunity to learn through the supported educational use of Minecraft, has many educational benefits, including:
- Higher motivation
- Better communication and information technology skills
- Increased feelings of academic self-efficacy
- Development of autonomy
Our brains are hard-wired to enjoy learning, exploring, and finding new ways to do things. When students use Minecraft: Education Edition, they learn to solve puzzles; troubleshoot problems; seek help from peers, experts, and the Minecraft Wiki; and apply creative thinking skills as they design and build. In short, they utilize communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity skills.
Learning Theorist, Seymour Papert's research illustrates that students often learn better when they engage in all of the following:
- Use tech-empowered learning tools and computational environments
- Take active roles of designers and builders
- Learn in a social setting, with helpful mentors and coaches, or over networks
Sessionn Plan
Short introduction
Investigate worlds and settings
Explore the Science Tools
(playtime! 20mins)
Share and reflect on the tool for teaching purposes
(Discussion)
Collaborate with others and plan next steps
(Padlet)