At the time of this writing, Minecraft had sold over 16.2 Million copies of the desktop PC/Mac edition. The “Pocket Edition” (for tablets and smartphones) had sold over 30 million copies. With such a large player base, Minecraft has become a popular tool for educators to engage students in learning through gameplay.
For years, the phenomenally popular world-building game Minecraft has quietly been making inroads into schools – teachers have been using it as a tool to teach a variety of subjects, from history to mathematics. The game's open-world nature allows for endless possibilities, making it a versatile platform for educational purposes.
Kids in BC can learn how to build and live in a traditional Indigenous village, with a mouse and keyboard. Microsoft has published a special edition of Minecraft tailored to educational settings, known as Minecraft Education Edition. This version includes features specifically designed for teachers and students, such as classroom management tools and lesson plans.
Nine-year-old Stanley is one of many players taking the game a step further by building entirely new features into the game. Through mods, players can add new content, mechanics, and functionalities to Minecraft Education Edition, further expanding its potential for educational use.
With myriad adaptations for use in the classroom, MinecraftEdu brings Common Core–enhanced gaming to students. Teachers can use mods like True Backpacks, Dracomalum, and JurassiCraft to create immersive learning experiences that align with educational standards.
Minecraft Education Edition mods to use right now include True Backpacks, Dracomalum, JurassiCraft, and more. These mods offer unique opportunities for students to explore different subjects in a virtual world, making learning fun and engaging.
The gaming industry is huge and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Even children are increasingly interested in gaming careers, and Minecraft Education Edition provides a platform for students to develop skills in areas such as coding, design, and problem-solving.
In an effort to teach children about disaster awareness and preparedness, Minecraft's new mod, ShakerMod, allows players to fix and fasten structures in a simulated earthquake scenario. This hands-on approach to learning about natural disasters can help students understand the importance of being prepared for emergencies.
Where there was once a derelict market in the Sunny Hill neighborhood of Pristina, Kosovo's capital, now sits a skate park. Minecraft Education Edition can be used to teach students about urban planning, design, and community development, allowing them to create and visualize their own sustainable projects.
The possibilities for using Minecraft Education Edition mods in the classroom are endless. From creating historical reenactments to designing sustainable cities, educators can leverage the game's versatile platform to engage students in a wide range of subjects. By incorporating innovative mods into their lessons, teachers can make learning more interactive, collaborative, and fun.
