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Original poster

Minecraft in the classroom

88 replies

Hulababy · 26/02/2015 19:16

We are looking at getting the Minecraft Pocket Edition app for our school iPads.

However, in addition to just using it as part of the children's free choice/iPad games club time I want to explore ideas of how to use Minecraft in the classroom.

I have started some online research and putting together some ideas.

However I did wonder if anyone here uses Minecraft in their classrooms, or their children use Minecraft at school. And if so, could you share ideas of how you/they use it?

We are an infant school - so EYFS to Year 2 - though I am initially invisaging this being more a year 2 thing.

TIA

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Plippy · 26/02/2015 21:38

Sorry, I just picked one of the first on youtube, didn't look at the content. Minecraft isn't there for the graphics at all, that's sort of the point of it - it is clunky, like lego.

LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 21:40

And sorry if you're relying on Elsa and Frozen to engage children in a science lesson frankly your teaching skills need looking at.

BertieBotts · 26/02/2015 21:42

Hilarious. I bet 100 years ago they said things like "Books with pictures in schools?! How ridiculous! Why would you introduce such a thing! Mind rotting!"

Minecraft is less of a game and more of a toy. You can't "win" and it's creative.

LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 21:44

But choosing an educational tool just because it's Minecraft is bonkers.

BertieBotts · 26/02/2015 21:48

Hmm, yes, somewhat. But I'm not reading the thread that way. The OP's school is looking into buying it, she's obviously heard it's popular and that it has educational possibilities so she's looking into exploring these options as one direction she could take her class in. It might be that after seeing what Minecraft has to offer she thinks "Actually that looks a bit shit" and chooses something else. But if the school is paying for it as a resource, it seems a bit silly to turn your nose up and say "Nope, not even going to look at that, because it's a game." Singing and dancing are games but they are used in learning, as are stories, pretending, drawing, building with blocks, dressing up. Lots of things.

Plippy · 26/02/2015 21:48

I have seen children (teens) go from total refusal to speak in MFL to addiction to producing voice-over casts of their creations. It really can be wonderful.

LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 21:51

Yada yada Bertie every kid in the land plays it for hoooooooooours!We all know it's the best thing since sliced bread however sorry kids spending precious educational time playing it- seriously!

Plippy I didn't think the educational content was good which was only due partly due to the graphics.

LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 21:53

Plipps great,doesn't mean I'd want my kids having 30 Ipads with Minecraft on during their maths lesson.Confused

Original poster
Hulababy · 26/02/2015 21:56

Most educators use a vast range of educational tools.
I'm not considering Minecraft just because it's minecraft. I've been
Considering it because it is appearing in several educational journals, blogs and magazines I've read. It appears to be a different type of 'game' which has many different uses; not just for 'playing a game' sake.

I already know the Computing curriculum uses and how it can address made of the aspects of that curriculum (obviously not all of it and it's never be used on its own but would be alongside a whole other range of learning tools) but I've been researching how - if we are having it for other reasons - it could also be used one enhance teaching and learning in Other areas.

We already make good effective use of ipads in the curriculum so this would be just an additional app available.
We don't have ipads and apps just for the sake of it. We use them to enhance teaching and learning, and they have very proved very useful tools,to use alongside other tools the teachers have access to.

OP posts:
Plippy · 26/02/2015 21:57

Try to think of it like Lego, and try to be a bit creative. Can you see how Lego can make mathematical concepts tangible and engaging? Can you see how the ability to create something can be stimulating?

Original poster
Hulababy · 26/02/2015 21:58

Let's face it scrabble is just a game, monopoly is just a game, bingo is just a game, lego are just toys ... Yet all, even planned for appropriately can be useful tools for the classroom and can enhance teaching and learning. Why would a computer based game be any different?

OP posts:
LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 22:02

I know how Minecraft works I just don't think it has much of a place in the primary classroom. Sorry.

Original poster
Hulababy · 26/02/2015 22:03

The graphics of minecraft are somewhat clunky and have an element of the 80s to them to me lol!

But yes very lego like in many ways. We do have a block building app but it's very limited - it's a freebie one and just isn't sufficient.

We have a proper Lego program on the computers which is useful for online building and other related learning activities - but our Computers are static and access to the ict suite is limited due to the number of classes et .

OP posts:
LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 22:06

All of those games could be used in a limited way now and again however frankly if my dc were playing Monopoly for the hours they do Minecraft out of school I wouldn't want them doing it during their free time in school when there are so many more non screen and worthier activities.

Also I don't there is much you could teach most kids on Minecraft, I think you underestimate what and how much they do on it already.

LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 22:08

Here's a random thought.How about buying a huge box of real Lego,Technic Lego,Meccano,Knex etc so their fine motor skills could be developed as opposed to their swiping?

Plippy · 26/02/2015 22:11

Variety

LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 22:13

How is spending more hours doing something most kids spend far too much time on already variety?

LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 22:25

Also you haven't mentioned anything they don't do ad nauseam already.The voice overs in the style of Stampy has been done to death and most parents I think would quite happily drop a huge pair of diamond boots onto said school if they encouraged their kids to do it even more.

Original poster
Hulababy · 26/02/2015 22:25

We have real Lego.
We use it for some lessons.

And not all children have minecraft. I asked one class today - less than half played it at home.

And I can't account t for what parents allow their children to do at home. If they don't limit their access that's not my issue really. I can only limit how Its used and what's it's used for In class.

And the whole point isn't to teach children how to play minecraft. It's to teach them other stuff through the medium of minecraft.

Just like we don't teach children how to play monopoly but might use it to teach mathematical concepts.

OP posts:
LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 22:31

Blimey where is your school- The Outer Hebrides? I've yet to come across a child not hooked on a Minecraft. The books and toys shift big time at Christmas.I'm still not getting the conviction of how Minecraft teaches mathematical concepts in a superior way to other packages.Going by the clip on here they clearly don't.

Plippy · 26/02/2015 22:32

Are you a teacher, Petit?

LePetitMarseillais · 26/02/2015 22:33

And saying "If they don't limit their access it isn't my issue" is a bit Hmm. Aren't schools supposed to pitch and teach to actual need.

Verbena37 · 26/02/2015 23:29

I would worry about some of the YouTube Minecraft stuff. Stampy and Dan are good but some use loads of swear words.

MaCosta · 26/02/2015 23:34

I can sort of see what you're trying to do, engage the kids by using something they're interested in, but I would not be pleased if my DCs were on minecraft during school time. I'd be less than impressed if there was iPad free time too. They spend enough time playing on computers outside of school.

neepsandtatties · 27/02/2015 09:08

I can totally see what you are trying to do, and don't have an issue with it per se, but I think you need to be aware that LOTS of parents will hit the roof when their children come home from school and said they played Minecraft on the ipads. As long as you are aware of the fallout and have prepared a newsletter or similar to explain the how and the why, then go for it.