As a creative tool,Minecraftis one of the most incredible things ever made. Players can create almost anything in it. For example, one player turned aflock of sheep into a screen to playDoomin the game.
Of course, many creations inMinecraftare smaller in scale. It’s often used to create smaller versions of other games, or entirely new games. Sometimes the things made inMinecraftstem entirely from a player’s imagination. Other times massive structures are made built on historical or fictional examples. This is the direction that one group has takenMinecraft, and that group is teachers. In a trend likely to become more common, teachers have been usingMinecraftas an educational tool.
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Many players' idea of whatMinecraftis comes from players who stream it, or from group activities in the game. However, it’s important to remember that video games, like television and the internet, have immense educational value. Teachers and public institutions like museums have been utilizing this inMinecraftto create educational worlds for children to explore. On top of that,Minecraftitself recently hosted aglobal build championship to promote learning. Schools like the Exeter Junior School are taking advantage of this by exploring things like Roman cities throughMinecraft, as built by professionalMinecraftworld builders and historians working together.
The exploration began in school before the COVID-19 pandemic. AMinecraftclub was established that helped students literally get into whatever they were studying. From there, the transition to remote participation was natural.Minecraft’s player count skyrocketed at the start of the pandemic, indicating a growth in every form of use. Using it to study helps means engagement and entertainment. But exploring accurate recreations of ancient cities is only one possibility.
More fantastic worlds have been built as well. During a Shakespeare study, students got to explore the magic island setting ofTheTempest. While readingFantastic Mr. Fox, they could explore the book’s world as they read about it. Thanks to programs teaching teacherslittle known tricks inMinecraft, it’s easy to guide the students as they explore.
All of this only scratches the surface ofMinecraft’s use as an educational tool of course. With projects like an enormous, working calculator, students can learn about anything from the very big to the very small. Perhaps it will be a student who rises toXbox’s challenge to build a next gen console inMinecraft.
Minecraftis available on PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and mobile devices.
