Minecraft: Education Edition is not the Minecraft that most people know and love. While it’s very similar, Minecraft Education was designed specifically for educational environments. It has features that are made specifically for the classroom and has learning tools to create interactive learning experiences for students of all ages.
In this article, I’m going to share the features and benefits that set Minecraft: Education Edition apart from the regular version. I remember when this version of Minecraft was first announced in November of 2016, and wished my school would integrate it into the curriculum. Unfortunately, they never did.
Objectives and Standards Alignment
Minecraft: Education Edition has educational objectives seamlessly built into its gameplay. Educators have access to over 600 standard curriculum lessons that include a range of subjects, including math, science, history, and language arts.
For example, Minecraft: Education Edition has a geometry world. Students will have to complete a variety of objectives like building rectangles within specific perimeters or areas. The game’s design encourages active learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving, making complicated concepts easier to understand.
Benefits for Students
The immersive-ness this version of Minecraft offers captivates students, transforming learning into a fun and engaging activity. Since this concept is so interactive, it keeps students motivated to participate and explore.
Additionally, this edition, like the original, has Multiplayer mode. This allows up to 30 students and teachers to interact in the same world. I love that Multiplayer was incorporated because it encourages collaboration and teamwork where students can work together on projects, developing their communication skills.
Minecraft: Education Edition presents in-game challenges and projects as well that require students to strategize, plan, and execute their ideas to complete tasks.
Benefits for Teachers and Classroom Integration
Minecraft: Education Edition has a variety of already-made lesson plans, making it easy for teachers to integrate them into their curriculum. There are lessons for science, art, history, and culture, and even climate and sustainability.
While this is great for teachers looking for a simple way to add some fun to their lessons, I think it’s also important to note that teachers can also create their own lessons! For example, if a teacher finds that their students are specifically struggling in science with eukaryotic cells, they can create a Minecraft world that focuses on this topic with builds and other information.
Comparing Minecraft: Education Edition to Regular Minecraft
Minecraft: Education Edition includes educational tools and resources that the regular version of the game lacks. These tools are designed to support learning objectives and classroom management.
The Education Edition’s features, such as Classroom Mode and Code Builder, make it more suitable for educational environments and the inclusion of assessment tools, special blocks, and NPCs specifically cater to learning objectives, providing structured and supportive learning experiences that the regular version cannot offer.
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