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Microsoft Sending Minecraft To Summer School
Reader theodp writes: Four months after its one hour Minecraft "infomercial" ran in schools around the world as part of the Hour of Code, Microsoft announced the release of Minecraft: Education Edition. From the announcement: "Minecraft: Education Edition early access will be available in 11 languages and 41 countries. During the summer months, we are also going to be focused on working with educators on building out lesson plans, sharing learning activity ideas, and creating re-usable projects." Microsoft bought Minecraft for $2.5 billion back in 2014. "What many may not realize," said Microsoft last November as it announced a Minecraft-themed tutorial that it would inspire students to learn computer science skills, and "that Minecraft has the power to transform learning on a global scale. By creating a virtual world and then advancing in it, students can learn digital citizenship, empathy, social skills and even improve their literacy "while getting real-time feedback on their problem-solving skills from the teacher." At the time, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told teachers that Minecraft is key to getting girls involved in computer science. So is Minecraft really all that?
You may only play Minecraft after installing Gentoo, configuring it, using the NVIDIA proprietary drivers and configuring dual monitors, then installing Minecraft, I said. After that, the kid didn't want to play Minecraft any more, he was too interested in the software. -A (mostly) true story
"Are your minecraft belongs to us!"
Basically take all the historical hype for "Second Life is going to transform the Internet by giving us all a virtual space to explore real-world issues!" and transplant it into a game where dicks cannot rain from the sky.
Why does Minecraft requires Java? Seriously? You need to install that security hole on your computer to play a game?
Here's an even better idea: why not start kids as early as possible on this idea of making complex objects out of simple components? For example, I could create a system of interchangeable plastic blocks that very small children could put together, either free-form, using their own imaginations, or in specially designed kits that are intended to be assembled (with instructions) into an exciting macro-toy. Even better, after they get tired of the macro toy, they could tear it down and go free-form with the pieces!
I could envision such plastic blocks becoming popular world-wide, and could see them making their way into homes, daycare centers, preschools, and even elementary schools. Heck, I might even play with those myself. Imagine the educational possibilities for kids of all ages!
If my idea succeeds, I wonder how many billions Microsoft would pay me for it?
So is Minecraft really all that?
I was always into computers, writing programs in BASIC on my Commodore Vic20 when I was barely old enough to read/write. When my son showed little to no interest in computers, I was disappointed but supportive in endeavors he did seem to enjoy which had corollaries to my obsession w/computers such as lego, puzzles, engineering, science, etc.
When he expressed interest in Minecraft, I was admittedly skeptical as I see most kids just playing it as a game. However, my son uses it like computer Legos, building shit over and over again and exploring the virtual world of a 6 year old.
Starting with this, I hope he continues to learn about items which interest him through his directly manipulatable world just like I did through my own when I was his age. While like any tool may not be the best for every child to learn, it has begun to pay off and allow him to grow and develop educationally w/o him wanting to play it only as a mindless game.
So no, it's not "all that" but it's certainly better than him watching TV or only playing games on a tablet or game system.
I'm very confused about 'how' they are using Minecraft for learning to program. My kids play Miinecraft all the time and it's like using Legos, but in a virtual world. This on it's own is a creative computer game, not an educational game. A person can play Minecraft forever and not use a lick of code. Even installing modules on the client and plugins on the server I would call administration and not actual programming. So how are they teaching kids to program with minecraft? Have they designed modules in the game where there are blocks for common programming constructs? Are they having kids actually program modules or using server scripting? The way is not clear. My kids have expressed a desire to program client modules and things which I have supported but they much prefer to just play the game which is fine with me as well but it's not teaching them anything.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
There should be a factorio: education edition. It would certainly teach kids more about logic and processes than good ole minecraft, also it's more fun.
http://www.minetest.net/
Still not as complete as the original, but giving the giant amount of Minecraft users, Minetest project is not likely to fail even is only a very small fraction of Minecraft users actually make contribution to Minetest.
"tailor-made for teaching kids things such as collaboration, navigation, social skills, and empathy"
We should focus on basic reasoning skills. Students should be able to decompose problems into simpler sub-tasks and abstract away details when appropriate. These types of skills are valid in everyday life and a myriad of professions.
Thinking that little Susie is going to be a software engineer because she has played Minecraft for an hour a year is silly. You'd have more luck teaching a palsy-afflicted gorilla how to pick up a turd by the clean end while wearing mittens.
Another thing that bothers me is that MS is planning on giving $75M+ to organizations to push the use of their product onto schools. After which, they are planning to introduce a $5 per student annual fee. There's a decent amount of political push for the "Hour of Code" type programs lately. Seems like some sort of racket to me.
My son's language arts teacher wanted the kids to draw a map of the town the story occurs in. They were allowed to also build it in minecraft. I thought that was a great way to build engagement for the kids between doing something that love as a way to visualize a story that when taught in english class isn't terribly fun.
I also had great success in introducing my kids to python using the Adventures in Minecraft on a Raspberry Pi. It's a really fun introduction. They had it so when steve walked near certain flowers it would hurl him across the land. It's too bad the API for it doesn't let you do everything you might want to do. But it's a cool way to get kids really interested quickly in the raspberry pi and python. Perhaps most significantly to get them to learn to read documentations and APIs. That is to say, learning to teach yourself what you need to know to reach an objective.
I also set up a server for them but felt that was a bust. They just used it to play but never got into the whole maintaining a Linux serve thing.
So minecraft is great for sugar coating a lot of things and turning it into play while doing real learning skills.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Hello, i'm here to inform you that minecraft porn is not only a thing, but a very popular thing for some goddamned reason.
My 7yr old daughter and all her friends say Yes!
If it is determined that there will be help in learning and will assist in the cognitive growth ... so let it
http://www.hpgmusical.com.br
There is a creative mode with no monsters where you have access to use every single element of the game in a creative non-hostile setting. I would recommend installing world guard and plotsquared. It will allow each student to have their own completely protected plot of land to build and express creativity. Electrical circuits are only one small aspect of a cube building-block style game. Minecraft electrical (redstone) has very specific game/world rules that severely hinder building large working circuits or moving parts. There are no real wires, you cannot run electricity where ever you want. For example you are forced to wire everything on the top face of any single cube block, and thus you must build large contraptions to complete even the most basic of a logic circuit. An unwanted caveat is that some redstone components can change behavior depending on the cardinal direction they are facing. I'd put it a notch below Lego Technics. It has merit but could be so much better, so much more.
It has been shown that girls want to know how science applies to making the world a better place. Minecraft is not going to accomplish this and will probably even be counter productive since it has nothing to do with reality. Our teachers are so poor that they fail at making this simple connection between the material to be taught and the application to the world that motivates girls. You want to motivate a girl in materials science, you tell her how lighter stronger materials make cars safer and save thousands of lives. For biology you tell her how fundamental research leads to life saving drugs. You give real examples of real women who have done these things. This is what is needed in the classroom, not a game.
The promises of second life all over again.
I'm not convinced.
"...students can learn digital citizenship, empathy, social skills and ..." I just don't think handing over our children's education to government/corporations is a great idea...
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law he tore his robes.2Kings22:11