There’s probably no other words students would rather hear than “play video games for homework tonight”. Quite honestly, I don’t think that’s been said before these recent years. While looking for interesting topics and uses of collaboration, nothing stuck out to me like the use of Minecraft in the classroom. It had been mentioned previously to me, but the idea of my childhood’s favorite past time being used in the classroom struck me with jealousy. Educators are integrating Minecraft: Education Edition into their lesson plans.

So what’s the difference between this and regular Minecraft? What’s stopping students from disengaging and wasting time just playing games? Minecraft: Education Edition has barriers (literally and figuratively) put in place to limit the gaming aspect without stripping the creativity of it. This video explained the additions to the game that can regulate some game mechanics while making the game more classroom acceptable. These additions to the game aren’t the primary functions of teaching via Minecraft, although they are helpful. Teachers create lesson plans using the STEM aspects of Minecraft and engagement factor of multitasking, design, and challenge.

If you have logged any hours in Minecraft, which seems likely being that Minecraft has up to 130 million monthly users, you’d know how the collaboration aspect comes into play. The most popular video game ever taught me and my friends how to establish order, divide tasks, and share resources before the age of 13. Replicate that in the classroom and the students begin to succeed. The students will divide tasks given and share information and resources to complete the given tasks. For example, a history teacher could create a lesson plan integrating communication and leadership aspects by asking their students to build a historical moment but with only limited resources. This challenges the students to talk amongst themselves and create a plan of action. The possibilities are endless, just as the building limits in Minecraft are limitless.

I love the idea of incorporating Minecraft into the classroom for more than the childhood memories I have attached to it. Minecraft opens a new door to communication and collaboration between students, whether that be during school hours or after hours at home. Minecraft could become a more engaging medium between students to help each other do assignments, study, or share information. The representation of lessons can reach out to the students’ creative minds and help them develop visual connections with the information they are given. Minecraft enables the ability for students to collaborate with students beyond their classes, even beyond their school district. This format of learning is great for the students now, but I believe this format will open more doors to ‘video game based learning’, a format more relatable to students.

https://www.edsurge.com/research/guides/game-based-learning-preparing-students-for-the-future