Minecraft: Education Edition now available in public schools for free
ALL public school students in Victoria will build digital worlds of hospitals, schools and power stations in class. Here’s why the government struck a deal with Microsoft to make Minecraft part of your child’s curriculum.
Education
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ALL public school students will now be able to play Minecraft in class as the government foots the bill for the popular game.
Students and staff in primary and secondary schools across Victoria will get free access to Minecraft: Education Edition where they can build digital worlds with hospitals, schools and power stations.
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Education Minister James Merlino said a new government partnership with Microsoft was “about giving our schools and students access to the best digital technology and programs to prepare them for the jobs of the future”.
“We know our kids will need skills in science and in technology as well as critical thinking, and programs like this give them the opportunity to develop in these areas,” he said.
The education edition of Minecraft, and other Microsoft software, is currently being rolled out to schools as part of the government initiative.
Some schools have already been running classes with the game for years, but paid for it from their own budget.
The classroom version of the game gives the teacher total control — they chose the world students play in, can watch what they’re doing via a map and can teleport kids if they stray.
It also limits interaction to inside the school community, so student are unable to talk to strangers online.
Fitzroy North Primary School digital technologies coach Rebecca Martin said the game was “awesome”.
“Our kids have been looking at space this term and the game has taken them to a new galaxy,” she said.
“Each classroom has discovered a new planet and they have to colonise that planet.
“We use it to teach geography, mapping and location and things that affect us globally, like sustainability.”
Ms Martin said her students had been divided into teams responsible for issues including transport, energy and farming and spend up to five hours a week building communities in the digital worlds.
“The kids are able to explore concepts they couldn’t otherwise explore in real life,” she said.
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