Title:
Source:
U.S.News.com
Author:
Xuanyan
Iris Ouyang
Date:
10-28-16
URL: http://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2016-10-28/microsoft-aims-to-build-on-minecraft-success-with-education-edition
Key
Points: This article maps out the benefits that come with using the
new educational version of minecraft in the classroom. It presents
different scenarios that will allow students of different sized
groups to work together, design three dimensional models on the
computer, and receive direct and immediate feedback from their
teacher.
Intended
Audience: School districts, parents.
Honestly,
I am so excited for this to take off. Essentially, this is beginners
CAD, or Computer Aided Drafting, and it has the ability to get most
any kid excited about working together as a team, learning about
values such as volume and units of space, and accessing their
creative side. I firmly believe that playing games like this is one
of the best ways for students to learn.
The students in both 2nd and 5th grade are obsessed with mine craft, this includes playing the game on the computer as well as reading the books that have come out in the last few years. I believe this game would be awesome in a classroom and I was also thinking it could fit in with the digital citizenship. This is where students are learning how to be appropriate online. Do students post these and play against other students? The teacher can monitor their progress but can also see how they are working together in a team aspect. I can't wait for this to take out and to be able to use it in the classroom. Thank you for finding this and sharing it!
ReplyDeleteI think this is marketing genius! Creating something that spreads in popularity as quickly as this did and then later "sneaking" STEM education into it is great. I wish it would encourage kids to want to grow up and do more than design video games though. I think this just reinforces that dream instead of encouraging them to want grow up and be builder or engineers.
ReplyDeleteThis is very cool. I know how kids are very into designing and building worlds in Minecraft. I think when education and games come together, some very powerful learning can take place. But at the same time there has to be limits, so that it is just not playing the game. I hope that this can get going in a very positive and educational way.
ReplyDeleteI think this is really cool, and honestly a great idea and selling point for microsoft. Minecraft is seemingly something that so many children love to play and now to make it educational...! Students will be able to relate to mind craft and will want to play while they are actually learning because they think they are really just only playing mind craft. I hope this really takes off on a really educational foot so that children can play an educational game that are really into across the board.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to engage learners! Minecraft certainly has created a phenomenon among young and old students alike. As long as they learning about building, design, and teamwork this will be a positive endeavor. If we can get some of our struggling learners to make some sort of effort at learning through the power of video games, I am all for it.
ReplyDeleteEven at the high school level, I have students that love the game Minecraft”. During science class, we have used Minecraft videos explaining the rock cycle. Our students loved it! Teachers also enjoyed it because this avenue grabbed and maintained the students’ attention. With the ever-growing industry of video games, I see a huge benefit to incorporating these games in teaching. While I see students loving it, I also understand it may be more difficult for teachers as they would then be required to learn and understand how to work the programs. I hope that if companies continue to explore using their games as educational tools they make the programs extremely user friendly for all the potentially inexperienced teachers out there.
ReplyDelete