Today we had visitors from Colquitz Middle School to teach us how to play Minecraft and ways to use it in the classroom.  

Here is what I learned about Minecraft: 

You can build entire worlds in the game. 

Colquitz has elementary and high school kids coming to the school to use the Minecraft server at the school 

Minecraft operates on Microsoft server, school does not have Microsoft permission though so the students are unable to use the newer version (I think?) 

Build sense of community using Minecraft. Groups must work together to finish tasks. In order to skip to the next day, all people must be asleep. Needs cooperation.  

Learn agriculture, in order to survive you must grow food, need water, fences, livestock, tools to grow food. Solving real life problems in the game.  

Has environmental systems built into it. If you harvest a tree correctly, it drops leaves that grow into saplings. The foliage will respawn naturally, creating new resources. The different ways you plant trees have different impacts. The newer versions may have more environmental considerations built in or the ability to take them into consideration. 

Allows different sides of students to show, leadership skills can be developed through group tasks. 

Way that Minecraft is being used directly in the classroom: 

Social Studies 

Developed civilizations in Minecraft. Class was divided up by leaders that were chosen by the students. Spawn to same spot, travel as a group to spot and build their civilizations within their space. Had to build it based off of a real civilization that they had learned about in Social Studies. Gave each other jobs and built over weeks of time.  

Math 

Teach x,y coordinate graph. Go into Minecraft and use 3 point graph to map and move around game. Also engaging core competencies as well as curricular competency.  

Assessment: 

Formative observations- listening and taking anecdotal notes while students are working 

Stop and listen to what the students are saying 

Ask deep core competencies questions in self-reflection form