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?

Comments

In my experience with my son...

[garcia]

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.

Re:An even better idea

[chispito]

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...

Yeah but I never stepped on a Minecraft block barefoot in the middle of the night.