Notes

Minecraft To Launch Education Edition

Minecraft to launch an education edition By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor



19 January 2016



Microsoft will launch an "education edition" Minecraft.



Teachers will discover new ways to utilize this game that builds worlds in a variety of subjects.



In 2014, Microsoft paid $2.5bn (PS1.8bn) for Mojang Minecraft, Minecraft's Swedish creator. It also bought the four-year-old MinecraftEdu game from TeacherGaming, a Finnish independent developer.



It's possible to add features in the near future however, schools may face additional costs.



It is estimated that Minecraft is used in more than 7,000 classrooms around the world.



"Teachers are using Minecraft for a variety of reasons," Anthony Salcito (Microsoft's vice president of worldwide education) told the BBC.



"Once we make it easier for schools to access and use the tools, I believe you'll see that the number of classrooms] increases quite quickly."



In-game camera



MinecraftEdu already allows teachers the possibility of editing content and access a shared library with education-themed assets.



Microsoft promises to improve the experience by:



Allowing characters created by children to retain their character traits between sessions



Allowing pupils to take "photos" of themselves using an in-game camera, and then storing them in an online book with their notes. These can then act as instructional materials for other children, or be used by teachers to assess their progress.



Children can download software that lets them continue playing Minecraft in a classroom setting outside of school. They don't have to buy the game.



To access the service, teachers and children require their own Office 365 ID, which can be used to give access to Microsoft's cloud-based productivity software.



Microsoft claims this will allow teachers to manage fewer online accounts they need to manage.



It may also help the company to promote its word processing, file sharing, and email apps over other platforms like Google and others.



Microsoft will charge a fee of $5 per year (PS3.50) per teacher and child.



That could prove more expensive than the current setup, where schools pay a one-time cost of $14 multiplied by the maximum number of users they wish to be able to log in at once in addition to an additional $41 for server software.



Deirdre Qarnstrom is the director of Minecraft education, said "we believe that we have added value".
Wikimedia


"In addition to having a permanent identity they will also be able access the most recent version of the game.



"MinecraftEdu was, along with other Minecraft mods. This was due to the nature of the development process.



"We are also replacing the need for schools to maintain separate servers."



Virtual Shakespeare



The new features were well-loved by Leigh Wolmarans, the head teacher of Lings Primary School in Northampton.



His school already utilizes MinecraftEdu to teach children about A Midsummer Night's Dream by asking students to create a version of Shakespeare's play in the game.



He added that other teachers should be aware of the limitations of the software.



"Technology can result in exceptional learning, but it needs to be utilized in conjunction with other tools," the professor said.



"If all you are doing is sitting them down and allowing them to experience Shakespeare through Minecraft, you would be doing something wrong.



"Dance, art, and drama are the best ways to educate children.



"But technology can be added to it as an additional tool."



Microsoft announced that it will allow teachers to "beta-test" Minecraft's education edition at no cost at some point during the summer months, prior to its official rollout.



Minecraft used to teach Chemistry



5 November 2015



Minecraft lessons in schools



20 June 2014



Minecraft



MinecraftEdu



Lings Primary School


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