Crafting a New Way of Teaching: Could MEE Change the Way Schools Teach Students?

With the passing of Minecon 2016, held in Anaheim California, many new features were introduced to the popular game Minecraft, including another version of the game that may be appearing soon in grade schools across the country. Minecraft Education Edition will be launching on November 1 for the PC. The purpose of this project is to use the game of Minecraft to invoke creativity and thoughtful thinking in schools, and it seems to be working.

The difference between MEE and vanilla Minecraft is quite significant. There are no mobs (or “bad guys” for all of you non-crafters), which takes the discouraging aspect out of the game. Classroom servers can currently hold up to 30 players, plus an additional one to two non-player-characters, usually played by the teachers. The class is given a task, and students then have to work together to complete it. The task is usually based around building something they have learned, or learning how to craft different things.

Minecraft Education Edition is doing four things, the first being student engagement. Most students are constantly around electronics whether it be the TV or their cellphones, and when you introduce that into a learning environment, kids become more passionate and engaged as to what the instructor is teaching. Secondly, Minecraft Education Edition is designed in a way that requires students to collaborate. This includes solving a challenging problem by working together as a class. Thirdly, students are getting a chance to use their creative minds. Minecraft is a game based off creativity and imagination; thus, students are able to playfully express themselves in the classroom. Lastly, this game will provide satisfying learning outcomes. When a child finishes a task in the game, they feel more confident with him or herself, and they learn to be more independent.

In a video on Youtube, Lydia Winters, Brand Director for Minecraft, said, “Minecraft Education Edition will prepare students for their future education, and how they work together with others.”  

By: John Erickson, Editor