I was cruising the ICT conference today for new articles and ideas to use with my IT and Innovative Learning students, when I came across a fascinating article about a lego-style network multiplayer game called Minecraft. A teacher by the name of Joel Levin has effectively used the game environment as a teaching tool with Grade 1 and 2 students. I applaud his courage in implementing this, especially with such young children.
You can read the Ars Technica article here.
Levin has his own blog as well, The Minecraft Teacher.
Finally, I checked out the minecraft website, to see that there is a free version of their older software, along with server software to allow you to host your own games in a controlled environment (essential for education).
Following Levin’s own advice, I am not about to try to adopt this in any haste – I’ll take a look at it over the summer to become comfortable and confident before leaping into a classroom application of the software.
Exciting things are afoot in game-based education.
Pedagogicus Rex 