Minecraft is an imagination stimulant and has been a playground for thousands ever since Mojang launched it years ago. Since then its been scooped up by Microsoft (for a pretty penny too), and so far the software giant has been trying to find new ways of using Minecraft to reach different audiences. Those plans took a step in the right direction yesterday with the announcement of Minecraft: Education.
MinecraftEdu, a private company that has been repurposing Minecraft for educational purpose, has now been added to the inventory of Microsoft. The acquisition has been months in the making it seems, with MinecraftEdu working with the new game owners ever since the purchase of Mojang. Since then their collaboration has been strictly private, but that all changed yesterday with the announcement of the new Minecraft version.
Minecraft: Education Edition alters the digital building game to make it easier for educators to set tasks for pupils. Features such as co-ordinates for pinpoint navigational skills and collaborative building exercises are available at the touch of a button, allowing multiple learners to log into a single world and collectively tackle tasks as a team. There’s also a custom-built tool for snapshots, allowing any learner to add their progress to their portfolio.
It’s a product that Microsoft hopes to launch in the next few months with an annual fee of $5, although there is also a free version planned for launch too. It’s a clever way to engage children in learning too, with most already familiar with Minecraft and its systems. Being able to teach valuable skills through playing engage children more to the active learning process, so I’d say Microsoft is really on to something here.
And if it becomes a hit with frequent updates and new additions who knows? Instead of dusty white chalkboards our children might grow up with a far more colourful, blocky introduction to some of life’s most important principles.
What a time to be alive.
Last Updated: January 20, 2016
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 20, 2016 at 09:48
I think this is a brilliant idea.
I also believe that games should be used to teach kids and develop the thought process.
Look at the physics based puzzles (HL2 and Portals), I mean those were wonderful!
HairyEwok
January 20, 2016 at 10:13
Plus Portal taught us the value of sarcasm as well.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 20, 2016 at 10:25
And disappointment, THE CAKE WAS A LIE
Hammersteyn
January 20, 2016 at 09:50
Youtube will become the new Wikipedia
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 20, 2016 at 09:59
Youtube is awesome for little instructional videos. When I put my PC together the other day I couldn’t for the life of me figure out the heat sink installation from the Chinglish instructions. Took all of 5 seconds to find a step-by-step video on Youtube.
VampyreSquirrel
January 20, 2016 at 10:15
lol you got stumped by a heat sink?
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 20, 2016 at 10:26
Shhhhh, I want to see where he goes with this
VampyreSquirrel
January 20, 2016 at 10:31
“Manufacturer’s fault” 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 20, 2016 at 10:29
It’s the small things in life heh.
It was easy until I had to figure out how to fit the fan to the heat sink properly. Whoever decided to include a fan with mounting holes that are slightly too wide-spread to actually fit the heat sink perfectly should be shot. You’re given 90 degree anti-vibration mounts, but if you fit it perfectly on one side, the other mounts can’t even touch the heat sink.
VampyreSquirrel
January 20, 2016 at 10:31
XD LOL! What heat sink did you get?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 20, 2016 at 10:34
This one:
http://www.wootware.co.za/raijintek-ereboss-black-edition-140mm-pwm-fan-cpu-cooler.html
Works like a boss, but what a bitch to install.
VampyreSquirrel
January 20, 2016 at 10:40
Similar idea to the one I bought for my old AMD processor
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-212-plus-with-fan-bracket/
Mine was easy to install 😛
VampyreSquirrel
January 20, 2016 at 09:51
It’s a cool idea for a learning tool… but I got Minecraft at $5 (I think it was) and can mod it to be exactly like this version.
Original Heretic
January 20, 2016 at 09:54
Wow, so you mean that people will now be able to learn things from a game? What a novel concept.
Loftus
January 20, 2016 at 10:11
If the Zombie outbreak happens we’ll be sorted!
HairyEwok
January 20, 2016 at 10:13
Oh wow, who taught you to be a Mechanical Engineer….. Minecraft.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 20, 2016 at 12:57
Dear heavens…. 😮
Pieter Kruger
January 20, 2016 at 10:15
MS printing money……..????????????
Gardos
January 20, 2016 at 16:02
I think this is fantastic but the problem with this working in SA is a general lack of understanding from many of SA’s teachers as well as (sometimes) a lack of drive to innovate. I’m speaking from the many teachers and principals I know but I would love to be proven wrong and see this implemented into SA schools (and not just the private or old model C schools).