Minecraft in the ClassroomMegan Rademeyer Victor NgobeniKeshma Patel

Minecraft in the Classroom

Learning through playing the game kids love

‘Minecraft in the Classroom’ webinar covers:•What is Minecraft?•How can Minecraft be used in the classroom?•Getting started•How a South African teacher is using Minecraft in her classroom•Getting the best out of Minecraft

What is Minecraft?• Minecraft is a

game where you dig (mine) and build (craft) things out of 3D blocks within a virtual world.• It is a sandbox

game – a toy that can be used or played in many different ways.

Chose your Minecraft Game Mode: Survival Mode• Start by finding and creating resources to survive • As time goes on secure food, make weapons and build better shelter• Eventually explore more, have adventures, gain experience

Creative Mode• You have an unlimited supply of blocks and items to build with• You can’t die!

What is Survival Mode good for?• Illustrate basic needs, where resources come from, how towns and cities get started, supply and demand, direction.• Encourage cooperation and sharing knowledge.• Use experience as stimulus for a diary entry or how-to guide.

http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Minecraft

What is Creative Mode good for? • Get learners to build or explore a real or imaginary world.

• Use Minecraft as a place to try out engineering principles.

• Use Minecraft to try out pixel art. http://education.minecraft.net/resources/

Chose the number of playersSingle Player• You play by yourself • Your Minecraft world exists only on your device • You can play offline

Multiplayer• Game played on a server• Many people access the same Minecraft world at the same time• Play with a few friends on your own server or join someone else’s

Select the game difficultyPeaceful• You don’t get hungry• There are no bad guys (hostile mobs)• It is more difficult to die

Easy / Normal / Hard• More and more bad guys• The bad guys are more difficult to kill• They do more damage

Consider Minecraft – Education Edition• Secure student login IDs with individual avatars • Camera and Student Portfolio • Classroom management features including Peaceful world settings • Specialized blocks to enhance teaching and learning• Enhanced multi-player, where up to 30 students can collaborate and work together

http://education.minecraft.net/

“If you think about it, it’s the one game parents want their kids to play.”

Satya Nadella – Microsoft CEO

Keshma Patel – Using Minecraft at Micklefield

• Have some rules• Consider using Minecraft –

Education Edition or their resources• Chose the most appropriate

mode/ settings• Have a sound educational

objective• Get good ideas from others

Getting the best out of Minecraft

education.minecraft.net