This document discusses the educational benefits of the game Minecraft. It provides an overview of Minecraft including its history, gameplay modes, use of redstone for circuitry, and examples of user-created worlds. Minecraft allows players to take on new roles, problem solve, and learn in interactive virtual worlds. The document also mentions Minecraft EDU, a program that aims to expand game-based learning into classrooms using Minecraft. Computational thinking skills can be developed by programming mods within Minecraft.
3. “Yes, they are fun, but [games] also allow players a
chance to take on new roles and experience worlds in
which they learn and problem solve. [The best] games
offer something new to students -- entire worlds in
which learners are central, important participants -
worlds where what they know is directly related to what
they are able to do and, ultimately, ”
-Barab et al, 2009
4. CONSTRUCTIONISM:
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Constructionism shares constructivism’s
connotation of learning as ‘building
knowledge structures’ It then adds the
idea that this happens especially
felicitously in a context where the learner
is engaged in constructing a public entity.
-Seymour Papert, Mindstorms
6. HISTORY OF MINECRAFT
• First created in 2009 by Markus “Notch” Persson
• Published by the Swedish company Mojang
• Purchased by Microsoft for $2.5 billion on
November 6, 2014
• Over 54 million copies sold across platforms to date
23. How big is Minecraft?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v2_WiQH7Tc
24. MINECRAFT EDU
• “We are an independent game development
company started by three teachers and
programmers from the United States and Finland.
Our mission is to expand game-based learning into
classrooms worldwide.”
• Online community with resources and support for
educators
