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.



The product will provide teachers with new ways to use the world-building video game in a range of subjects.



In 2014, Microsoft paid $2.5bn (PS1.8bn) for Mojang, Minecraft’s Swedish creator. In the last quarter of 2014, it bought the four-year-old MinecraftEdu version of the game from Finnish-based independent developer TeacherGaming.



It's now promising to add features however schools could face additional costs.



It is believed that Minecraft is used in more than 7,000 classrooms across the globe.



"Teachers are using Minecraft to do a myriad of things, such as teaching science, math poetry, religion and even poetry," Anthony Salcito, Microsoft's vice-president for education around the world said to the BBC.



"Once we make the tools more accessible for schools to gain access to and utilize, I think you'll see that number [of classrooms] grow quite quickly."



In-game camera



MinecraftEdu already allows teachers to modify the content of the game and access an education-related library that is shared assets.



Microsoft promises to improve user experience by:



Children's characters to retain their character traits between sessions



The students can let students take "photos" of their progress via an in-game camera, and later save the images in an online book along with their own notes. They can then serve as instructional materials for other children, or be used by teachers to score their progress



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


Teachers and children should have their own Office 365 ID to access the service. This ID can also be used for access to the cloud-based productivity software offered by Microsoft.



Microsoft claims this will allow teachers to cut down on the number of online accounts they need to manage.



It may also help the company in promoting its file-sharing, word processing and email applications over other services like Google and others.



Microsoft intends to charge an annual fee of $5 (PS3.50) for each teacher and child.



That could prove more expensive than the current set-up which requires schools to pay a one-off fee of $14 multiplied by the maximum number of users they wish to allow to log in at once and an additional fee of $41 for server software.



Deirdre Qarnstrom, director for Minecraft education, stated that "we believe that we have added value".



"On top of having a persistent identity, they will also have access to the most current version of the game.



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



"We are also replacing the requirement for schools to purchase and maintain separate server hardware."



Virtual Shakespeare



The new features were greeted by Leigh Wolmarans, the head teacher at Lings Primary School in Northampton.



His school uses MinecraftEdu to teach its students about A Midsummer Night's Dream. He asked them to create a Shakespeare-inspired performance within MinecraftEdu.



However, he said teachers should be aware the software had its limitations.



"Technology can lead to exceptional learning, but it has to be used in conjunction with other tools" he said.



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



"Dance art and drama are among the best ways to teach children.



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



Microsoft announced that it will allow teachers to "beta-test" Minecraft's education edition for free at some point during the summer, prior to its official rollout.



Minecraft was used to teach the science of chemistry



5 November 2015



The schools are using Minecraft in lessons



20 June 2014



Minecraft



MinecraftEdu



Lings Primary School


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