What’s the big deal about Minecraft?

Kassey Downard@Kasseylee11

http://missdownard.blogspot.co.nz/

What makes Minecraft Unique?

Why do kids love it?

Why should teachers love it?

Key Competencies

ThinkingUsing Language, Symbols and Texts

Managing SelfRelating to others

Participating and contributing

Imagination

Collaboration

Team work

Leadership

Planning

Rich Discussion

Reflection

Taking risks

Trial and error

Sharing creations

Receiving feedback

An example of one students reflection:

Minecraft: what is the learning?

The class has been using Minecraft to build ‘The City of Ember”. We have been doing this as a practice. What I mean by practice is that we are going to build one on the wall of our classroom in 3D, but we are doing it in Minecraft first.

My job was to build Lina's Grandma's shop, which was the yarn shop. I have made my building out of: stone bricks, spruce wood stairs, spruce wood, iron bars, raw wood, signs, different coloured wools, door, red stone lamps and red stone power. We got out job by rolling 2 dice (each job had a number by it) and if it had already been taken you would have to roll a dice again.I made my building they way I did because I pictured it in my mind. In the book it said all the buildings were green. I thought I could make shelves along the walls but then I thought it would take up too much space, so I went with iron bars around the wool instead.

In Minecraft I have learnt how to share, (not that I didn’t already know :P) by letting people have space to build and not breaking other peoples stuff to make more space for myself. I think Minecraft can teach people to be creative, share and be nice to others. In our school sever people grief, but in P3's ‘City of Ember’ ( in the school sever) nobody griefs anybody's building. Our class works together in Minecraft. Nobody says negative comments about each others buildings and it is nice that way.

- Kayleigh (P3)

Values Minecraft Instils in Students

Respect

Digital Etiquette

Responsibility

Building relationships

Thirst for knowledge

Passion

Purpose

A sense of wonder

Patience

Hardwork

Co-operation

Leadership

Fun

They don’t even realize they are learning!

How can you use it in your classroom?

Literacy

Maths

Digital Citizenship

Language

History

Fine motor skills

Visual and Spatial Reasoning Skills

Abstract Thinking

Motivation for learning

Problem Solving Critical Thinking

Geography

Social Skills

Science

Gamification is taking over the classroom

“Minecraft is different than other video games because the object is to construct, not to tear down. It's a video game, but it can also be

classified as a building toy.”

- Rey Junco

Sources

Pictures taken from

- Screenshots for P3’s class projects

- http://mashable.com/2013/02/13/amazing-minecraft-creations/#gallery/25-minecraft-creations-that-will-blow-your-mind/537dffe9b05f9d5c6b002e6c