In 2012 and 2019 I keynote presented Minecraft Education at the TENZ 'Technology Education New Zealand' conferences and discussed how we used Minecraft for computer programming and other STEM learning in the Digital Technology curriculum at Alfriston College.

We were the only school in New Zealand to offer a computer programming curriculum using Minecraft for NZQA assessment.  

Minecraft is a block-based game where players explore, build, and survive in an open-ended, 3D world limited only by their creativity.

There are two versions of Minecraft, the Java Edition and Bedrock Edition. Minecraft Education is played on the Java Edition.  

Java Edition is exclusive to PC and Mac's, it offers extensive modding support, customizable servers and a more traditional experience, while Bedrock Edition is designed for cross-platform play (PC, consoles, and mobile), provides smoother performance, and includes marketplace content but has more limited modding and server customization options than the Education Version. 

This TENZ page is information about the Minecraft Education version.

Minecraft Education (Java Edition) is tailored for learning environments, incorporating educational tools such as lesson plans, coding tutorials, in-game challenges, and collaboration features optimized for classrooms. It includes a secure multiplayer environment and features like the Code Builder and a portfolio for students to document their work, making it ideal for teaching subjects like STEM, history, and art. Get your school IT department to install Minecraft Education onto your school computers.

PLAY DIFFERENT MODES 

There are five different modes of playing Minecraft. Minecraft Education is mostly played in Creative mode. 

Creative mode where you can place unlimited blocks and cant die in the game. 

Survival mode where you collect resources and build structures during the day and survive the night from zombie and skeleton attacks.

Hardcore mode where you die once and lose your world and everything you collected and created.

Adventure mode is a player created unique experience world for guests to adventure but not build unless they hold special items.

Spectator mode lets you fly over and watch a world but have no interaction with it.

The New Zealand Ministry of Education Digital Technology Hangarau Matihiko curriculum focuses on "Computer Science principles, Computational Thinking, Algorithms, designing & developing Digital Outcomes". Minecraft Education is a compelling STEM platform for learning Computer Science principles for the Digital Technologies Hangarau Matihiko curriculum

At Alfriston College we created a custom designed Computer Programming curriculum using Minecraft for the NZQA Level 1 Computer Programming assessment AS91883 'Develop a computer program'. All curriculum documentation was moderated and passed by NZQA for assessment. We were the onlty school in New Zealand offering Computer Programming using Minecraft for NZQA assessment.

This student created project video is an AS91883 Excellence grade assessment exemplar of a agent building a skytower, student coded using Javascript Microsoft MakeCode and Code Connection in Minecraft. 

This video shows five student created projects for the AS91883 exemplar assessments, student coded using Javascript Microsoft MakeCode and Code Connection in Minecraft. 

MINECRAFT TE REO LANGUAGE

education.minecraft.net/lessons/nga-motu-the-islands

education.minecraft.net/user/whetu-paitai

pikistudios.com

Students should use the Minecraft Camera to take photos of their work-in-progress to create a historical image portfolio to document what their doing in Minecraft. These images can be used in assessment to justify design or other related learning.   

There are thousands of user created Minecraft worlds for playing and learning. If you have never played Minecraft before, play the Tutorial World. These are some examples of coding, chemistry and space Minecraft worlds.

MINECRAFT ACADEMIC RESEARCH

​"Video games like Minecraft provide vital benefits to youth, helping them to express and control their emotions, build strong social ties, and spark creativity, imagination, peer engagement, and teamwork. These skills are beneficial in the classroom, especially as education moves toward using co-operative and collaborative learning models which focus on knowledge as a social construct" (Pappas, 2014)

"Incorporation of Minecraft into the school curriculum, students were found to be more engaged, motivated and likely to problem solve" (Schifter & Cipollone, 2015)

"There appears to be a disconnect between some teachers & parents understandings about the Minecraft world's mechanisms, uses and benefits" (Ellison, 2016)

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"Skepticism regarding the efficacy of Minecraft as a valuable tool for learning" (Kruger, 2016) 

RECOMMENDED MINECRAFT RESEARCH

minecraft-as-a-creative-tool_-a-case-study_cipollone2014.pdf 

minecraft-teachers-parents-learning-what_they_need_to_know_and_understand-ellison2016.pdf