In what seems like every kid’s dream, teachers across the world are starting to incorporate Minecraft into their curriculum. The smash-hit game has sold over 70 million copies and is already available on home computers, consoles and mobile devices. However parent company Microsoft, who purchased the game’s developer Mojang for $2.5 billion last year, have launched a new education site that aims to integrate Minecraft into the classroom as well.
The site is titled Minecraft in education and looks to bring schools, and especially their teachers, up to speed about the possibilities that Minecraft can offer to students. By making learning far more fun and interactive, the game is said to enhance knowledge and interest in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), as well as basic problem-solving skills. With the world moving towards such a digital era, STEM fields are likely to be some of the most important skills for young children to learn. That said, even history and mythology can be taught, with the ability to recreate ancient civilizations being a further beneficial factor of Minecraft. The official site proclaims:
“Minecraft in education is a way to teach, learn and inspire. It’s students visiting ancient civilizations to create and play out their own stories. It’s exploring mathematical concepts like perimeter, area, and volume by breaking and placing Minecraft blocks. It’s practising collaboration, problem solving, digital citizenship, and leadership skills through creative thinking and innovative design. Minecraft in education is teachers and students inspiring each other to change the way we learn.”
In addition to the knowledge and entertainment that Minecraft offers, the game additionally helps to build a sense of teamwork and community. Along with users being able to use their own servers to host co-op Minecraft games with their friends, the gaming phenomenon has held its own convention every year since 2010. The event, MineCon takes place in a different location each time, with last year’s convention taking place in London, England.
However, a recent study has been conducted by Cambridge University in the UK that shines light on the amount of screen time teenagers are engaging in nowadays. The study showed that those who spent more hours in front of a computer or T.V, would attain two grades lower in exams than those who had less screen time. Kirsten Corder from Cambridge’s Centre for Diet and Activity said, “[The research] is likely to be a reliable snapshot of participants’ usual behavior, so we can reasonably suggest that screen time may be damaging to a teenager’s grades.”
Minecraft is already being trialed in some schools, but whether added screen time will actually benefit children in their formative years still remains to be seen. Nevertheless, this innovative approach has the potential to impact how people view teaching methods – an effect Microsoft themselves will certainly hope to elicit with their new educational site.
Watch a video that outlines Microsoft’s vision for Minecraft in schools.
