Just starting out with minecraft
We were against minecraft as we saw it just as another distraction in school. However a couple of our students have brought us round. We have a student who sets up a temp server in the classroom at lunchtimes. They have since convinced us of it's educational worth and we have purchased minecraftedu and 25 licences. Our network manger is putting on the network for us so we can operate in our IT suites only. Will let you know how it goes but operating the way we are is not proving to be an issue. The two students have built a world for us which we will be trying out tomorrow with some year 9 students. (interestingly they are using this in their Achievment Standard as an HCI study)It is built to help teach digital citzenship. Again will fill you all in after tomorrow.
Replies
- Caroline Bush (View all users posts) 29 Aug 2013 2:22pm ()
Thanks Tessa
That's just where I was heading with my learners - they have developed some amazing builds and worlds and I was wondering how best to get them to share their learning with others
Blessings
Caro
- Tessa Gray (View all users posts) 29 Aug 2013 12:58pm ()
Anyone interested in capturing their Minecraft worlds miight give one of these Apps a go:
These apps allow you to record your drawing and narrate at the same time. Enabling you to explain a concept or give instructions. Also great for students to demonstrate their understanding of a concept. You can also upload images and diagrams in many of these apps.
Sago Mini Doodlecast
Explain Everything ™
ShowMe Interactive Whiteboard
Educreations Interactive Whiteboard
Doceri
This app allows you to record websites.
Explain a WebsiteTaken from Digital tools for teachers
- Annemarie Hyde (View all users posts) 22 Aug 2013 4:33pm ()
Kassey is going great guns, and you'll see from Kayleigh's blog that the students are being challenged to think about the learning. Yes, these students are engaged. We created an offline server that takes 60 players in a multiplayer environment. Students came to a lunchtime club where they were asked to sandbox in response to the question, "How could we use this to effect learning?"
Offered as one of our last electives, 81 out of 267 students wanted to be in the group. We now have two teachers facilitating a group of 60 students.
Kassey has taken it a step further, and integrated Minecraft as a means of bringing the novel, "City of Ember" in her literacy ptogramme. I visited them yesterday and I'm intrigued to see where she takes it.
Well done!
- Kassey Downard (View all users posts) 22 Aug 2013 2:24pm ()
I have only just started out using Minecraft and I am fast becomming an expert (thanks to my class full of experts), I am a year 7/8 digital teacher. I have been blogging the process of our Minecraft adventure and so have my class (http://mokoiaint-kayleighp.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/minecraft-what-is-learning.html). We are currently using it in our Novel study to build the 'City of Ember' and I am currently trying to find as many ways as I can integrate this into my classroom programme.
Check out our adventure so far - http://missdownard.blogspot.co.nz/
I would love some feedback and ideas!
- Heather Harper (View all users posts) 05 Aug 2013 12:02pm ()
I am starting out with having a Minecraft session during one of our breaks during the week. This has been driven by a group of students who have real expertise. Like Sharron I was initially againgst Minecraft (through my own ignorance of the programme), however having a couple of test sessions with interested students I can see the power of collaboration shared.
Looking at the interested students, most of whom are sort of loners or have very introverted personalities, not really into team events,, it was great to hear the conversations and see the skills and strategies shared amongst them. The room was buzzing...
I still don't know anything about the programme myself yet, but I am using the students to guide me.
- Tessa Gray (View all users posts) 05 Aug 2013 9:37am ()
Hi Carol, sorry I can't say too much more in relation to this example. I was the judge for this category last year and it blew me away. But Lyn Ross was involved in the Manawatu Digi Awards and she might know more - or who to connect with to get an answer.
- Carol Kendall (View all users posts) 02 Aug 2013 7:29pm ()
Wow, that is AMAZING! Thanks so much for sharing!
A technical question, if I may - how did they manage to hide the names of the Minecraft characters - is there some setting?
- Tessa Gray (View all users posts) 02 Aug 2013 11:10am ()
I've already cross-posted this video before, but look at the potential for Minecraft to be used in Literacy.
Here's the 2012 Manawatu Digi Awards Animation Award winner for Year 7-8, Charlie Johnson (Whakarongo School), with his digital version of the The Highwayman.
Absolutely stunning!
Thank you for sharing this Lyn Ross.
- Caroline Bush (View all users posts) 03 Jul 2013 7:17pm ()
Hi Sharron
I love the idea of using Minecraft to teach digital citizenship through a pre-made world - I think it's the perfect forum for it. Our learning around DC started with playing creative and not survival (a great tip from Annemarie Hyde). I'm also enjoying the DC conversations that my learners are having out loud while while they are engaged in the game - some have been laugh out loud funny, but most have been more around seeking solutions to challenges.
- Anne Sturgess (View all users posts) 20 Jun 2013 10:54pm ()
Sharron introduced me to the senior students during my visit to Cambridge High as their BeL facilitator and I had the pleasure of being guided through the Digital Citizenship Minecraft game they have created for the junior students. The high level of design thinking involved in creating this game was evident and was one outcome of a school-wide focus on Digital Citizenship following a presentation that Tessa Gray did for the staff earlier this year. I'm impressed by the way Sharron and her colleagues invite students into the process of constructing their own learning and then identify appropriate assessment opportunities for them.
