Minecraft in the classroom

[Hulababy]

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

Great to hear you are investigating these possibilities! I think a great teacher can use any engaging media to teach.

Have you explored other educational games at all? I make one called Night Zookeeper which is used in lots of primary schools to get kids writing stories and drawing.

Ive seen night zookeeper - sure I downloaded it recently to investigate.

In an educational context I dont see this as 'playing' any more than I would see doing puzzles in school as playing.

That's my thought too

Just to add I'm no technophobe. We are a v techy family(coder partner v good at his job and a G&T coding 10 year old) however I still think this idea is a waste of money and wouldn't be happy as a parent.Dp felt the same for several techy reasons that went over my head.He said it's a just a game,it's just like giving them Word and doesn't actually teach them much as regards coding skills.He's a bit meh over the whole Minecraft thing. Can't say my ds's Minecrafting hours contributed anything to his coding skills,IT ability and playing on IPads certainly haven't.

I just feel there just isn't enough time in the day as it is.Kids have masses to cover with the new curriculum and frankly if there is time left over I'd rather my dc were doing art,music,more science,out on trips of in the fresh air etc not engaging in yet more screen time. Many kids are getting there own smart phones at 7,toddlers are handed phones anywhere and everywhere,kids spend hours on tablets,IPods,phones,XBoxes,lap tops,white screens etc.Seriously don't get the need for yet more tablet time and time playing a game they already spend hours on.

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I'm in agreement with the posters that say it has no place in the class room - I think you should let parents know, I would also be a parent unhappy with hearing from my 6 year old using minecraft from them, I am one who goes in a gives my feedback on teachers showing DVDs (films not educational stuff) in school time and then sending home homework, unfortunently if I heard ds was playing minecraft I would put it in that camp and speak to teacher

Quite honestly I'd love to see more focus on practical science, engineering, music cooking and dance at that age (and I'm certainly not a technophobe as am an engineer who codes, scratch and coding is a welcome addition to curiculum but minecraft and over reliance on iPads isn't when other practical tasks that children don't get enough time to explore at home)

Great to hear thanks! The new website has some really education writing activities as well: www.nightzookeeper.com/

Hi Hulababy:

in Year 4 DD2 had a homework to construct a parking garage with 24 spaces in as many different layouts as she could design.

She used minecraft to build the parking lot. We screen captured images off the computer and put them into a powerpoint.

In fact the homework was find all the factors of 24 (1 x 24/ 2 x 12/ 3 x 8/ 4 x 6 and DD2 repeated backwards 6 x 4/ 8 x 3/ 12 x 2 and 24 x 1) - she built a lovely 8 story car park.

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I suspect that by using blocks you could explain quite a lot about adding/ subtracting with minecraft mad kids in 'creative' mode.

You could pre-prepare things - so concepts can be visualised as well as explained verbally.

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I will add please avoid sheep sheering - unexpectedly resulted in the death of sheep completely freaking DD2 and me out.

I asked DS & DD and they suggested the following:

Architecture
Landscaping
Design
Art
Build historical buildings & explore them (eg build a Roman fort)

The advantage of using computer based systems is that you arent limited by the students physical abilities.

Just thought of another positive: no need for parents to collect egg boxes/yoghurt pots/cereal boxes!

Hula would you be able to link to the site you found about using minecraft to teach children with autism? Thanks!