Implementing Minecraft in Education
Learning Module
- Creator(s):
Target Audience: EDUCATORS* who are interested in using Minecraft with students.
Learning Goal: for teachers to feel comfortable implementing Minecraft: Education Edition in their classrooms as a component of their educational "toolbox".
Learning Design: This module was designed using the Learning by Design framework. Each session was guided by one of the eight principles of Learning by Design:
*Please note, this module is not designed to be used to directly teach students about using Minecraft, it is designed to support teachers who want to implement Minecraft in their classroom.
Minecraft is the second best-selling video game of all time, with more than 106,000,000 copies sold in the 5 years after it's release. Minecraft is an incredibly popular game with middle and high school age students (even upper elementary age students might be in on the action!). While parents are required to set up accounts for users under the age of 13, PEGI rates Minecraft as appropriate for 7+, and ESRB rates it as approrpiate for ages 10+.
With the popularity of Minecraft, it is a resource that offers the possibility of a highly motivating educational tool. Our learning goal through this module is to look at first the traditional mode of Minecraft, and then the Education Edition of Minecraft and consider how it could add to your educational toolbox.
The video above is an amusing overview of the development of Minecraft. However, if you only have enough time for one, watch the video below.
Weekly Action Items:
*Make a copy of this knowledge survey and have your students fill it out to learn more about their understanding of and experience with Minecraft
We are looking at our "Get to Know Minecraft" section through the Learning by Design principle of Experiencing the Known.
Experience the Known by being in the student’s world.
Drawing on learner prior knowledge and experience, community background, personal interests, concrete experience, individual motivation, students’ own lives, and the everyday and familiar. (L-by-D.com)
Learners will be asked to consider their own understanding and preconceptions of Minecraft, as well as learn more about their students understanding and experience with the tool.
Learners will also be tasked with polling their students on their experiences with Minecraft.
Note: The admin descriptions in this work use the same structure as my previous work: UDL Professional Development Module.
This week it's time to get your hands on Minecraft! Download a free trial and try it out.
This video might be helpful to review again as you start, especiall if you get stuck.
Weekly Action Items:
If you have experience playing Minecraft, go ahead and comment and update about that experience without downloading the trial. If you have experience watching others play Minecraft, download the trial (or use the existing account of a family member). Use this opportunity to get some first-hand experience!
This week we are considering "Minecraft in Action" through the Learning by Design idea of Experiencing the New.
Experiencing the New by being in new worlds.
Introducing learners to new experiences – real (excursions, guest speakers) or virtual (texts, images, information). New is from learner’s perspective - to make sense it may have familiar elements. (L-by-D.com)
Learners are asked to gain some first-hand knowledge of playing Minecraft and report back on the experience.
Now that you have some background knowledge of the traditional version of Minecraft, it's time to look at the Education Edition of Minecraft. Check out the Minecraft: Education Edition website and review the resources that are available. The Starter Kit even includes resources and ideas broken down by age groups.
Weekly Action Items:
This section will consider Minecraft: Education Edition through the idea of Applying Appropriately.
Applying Appropriately by doing things the right way.
Acting upon knowledge in an expected, predictable or typical way based on what has been taught. It involves transformation of the learner and requires that they have opportunities to demonstrate their understanding and learning. (L-by-D.com)
Learners will be asked to consider Minecraft: Education Edition within their classroom and how one of the features might be useful for their students.
This session is another hands-on opportunity. This week you are going to download Minecraft: Education Edition and try it out. I recommend starting with the "Tutorial World".
This video may be helpful to refer back to as you try out Minecraft: Education Edition.
Weekly Action Items:
Multiple Means of Expression in Action will be considered through the lens of Applying Creatively.
Applying Creatively by doing things in interesting ways.
Doing things in interesting ways by taking knowledge and capabilities from one setting and adapting them to a different setting – taking something out of its familiar context and making it work somewhere else. (L-by-D.com)
Learners will be asked to experiment with the Education Edition of Minecraft, as well as consider how Minecraft: Education Edition could replace a current practice they are using to teach a concept.
Students will start their project this week. They will be provided with a rubric for the project.
The goal of this section is to connect Minecraft to your current educational practices. To begin, let's look at how Minecraft fits into other classrooms.
Some of you may have spent time trying to keep Minecraft (when applied inappropriately) out of your classroom, or wished that students would spend more time on school work and less time on games like Minecraft. Challenge yourself to flip your perceptions, and think about how Minecraft could enhance your students' education.
Weekly Action Items:
Conceptualizing by Naming is the Learning by Design framework for this week.
Conceptualizing by Naming by connecting the same type of thing
Identifying new concepts/ideas/themes, including abstract, generalizing terms, conventions, features, structures, definitions and rules. Naming is the first step toward understanding. (L-by-D.com)
Learners will be asked to connect Minecraft to their current classroom practice and to identify future classroom practice.
Learners will also submit their first project for peer review this week.
Now that you have learned about Minecraft: Education Edition and had some hands on experience, consider how Minecraft fits into your own educational pedagogy. Below educators share their experiences on Minecraft in terms of collaboration, creative exploration, student engagement, and learning outcomes.
As an example, let's consider Minecraft: Education Edition through some of the Affordances of Reflexive Pedagogy:
Weekly Action Items:
Conceptualizing with Theory is the guiding idea to this week's discussion of Minecraft and Educational Pedagogy.
Conceptualizing with Theory by connecting different types of things.
Generalising and synthesising concepts by linking them together, making sense of how they contribute to the whole, generalising cause and effect relationships. What if...? (L-by-D.com)
Learners will be asked to link Minecraft to their own beliefs and practices and consider how it would work with and challenge their pedagogy.
As educators, we know it is important to align practices with our pedagogy. We also know it is important to engage in research based practice. This week, review one of the four resources below:
Weekly Action Steps:
We are examining the research on Minecraft through the lens of Analyzing Functionally, as defined by Learning by Design.
Analyzing Functionally by thinking about what something does.
Examines the function or rationale of knowledge, action, an object or represented meaning. What is it for? What does it do? How does it work? What is its structure, function or connections? What are its causes/effects? (L-by-D.com)
Learners are asked to review research relevant to Minecraft: Education Edition and share how it impacts their perceptions of Minecraft.
It is suggested that students submit their final project this week.
You made it to the last week of "Implementing Minecraft in Education"! Let's wrap it up by critically considering how Minecraft: Education Edition can impact your students. Below, let's hear some student perceptions.
Weekly Action Items:
This update is framed through the Learning by Design idea of Analyzing Critically.
Analyzing Critically by thinking about who benefits.
Interrogates human purposes, intentions and interests of knowledge, an action, an object or represented meaning. What are its individual, social, and environmental consequences? Who gains? Who loses? (l-by-d.com)
Learners will be asked to consider who in their students might benefit from Minecraft as an educational tool and who would be impacted negatively.
References
C. (2010, August 28). Minecraft Tutorial for Beginners! Part 1 - Your First Day, Shelter, and Tools. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK3rGb2a4jk
Engineering Minecraft Through Student Voice. (2017, January 23). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKVQwdosMMk
Homepage. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://education.minecraft.net/
How To Download & Play Minecraft Demo FOR FREE 2015 - Minecraft Demo Download Installation guide. (2015, May 18). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://youtu.be/6A5gcmKb0iA?t=14s
Kervin, L., Verenikina, L. & Rivera, M. C. (2015). Collaborative onscreen and offscreen play: examining meaning-making complexities. Digital Culture & Education, 7(2), 228-239.
Learning by Design | New Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from http://newlearningonline.com/learning-by-design/
Marcon, N. (2013). Minecraft as a Powerful Literacy Prompt in the Secondary English Classroom. Australian Curriculum English Lessons & Resources,49(2), 49th ser., 35-36. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
McGonigal, J. (2011). Reality is broken: Why games make us better and how they can change the world. New York: Penguin Press.
Minecraft. (2017, February 17). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minecraft
Minecraft: Education Edition. (2016, January 19). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl9ZQiektJE&t=2s
Minecraft: Education Edition - Collaboration. (2016, June 08). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJzriaJvvLw
Minecraft: Education Edition - Creative Exploration. (2016, June 08). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVyBhYcrRo
Minecraft: Education Edition - Student Engagement. (2016, June 08). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9WtVIHCFc8
Minecraft: Education Edition - Tangible Learning Outcomes. (2016, June 08). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9enOFHWzdCQ
O. (2017, January 28). A Look at Minecraft Education Edition. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6f-2Wlsxg
Store. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://minecraft.net/en-us/store/
T. (1969, December 31). Official Minecraft Trailer - YouTube Gaming. Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://gaming.youtube.com/watch?v=MmB9b5njVbA
Takeuchi, L. M., & Vaala, S. (2014). Level up learning: A national survey on teaching with digital games. New York: The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.
Turner USD Embraces Minecraft: Education Edition. (2016, June 24). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMpLMXnFzXU
Welcome to Minecraft Hour of Code Designer. (2016, November 15). Retrieved February 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJZxmI-45Dg