Minecraft Education, A Report

17 March 2018

A one-day, Minecraft workshop was conducted by Ms. Astha Sharma from Technomentis, under the aegis of Microsoft Showcase School Program, on 16th March 2018, at Modi Science Block. Total 120 students from class 7th & 8th participated in 6 Hours duration workshop. Training was conducted in two groups. Minecraft: Education Edition promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive environment where the only limit is their imagination. Students learnt to enhance their creativity, problem-solving, self-direction, collaboration, and other life skills. In the classroom, Minecraft complements Reading, Writing, Math, and even History learnings. It also includes the principle of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education.
Following were the topics which has been covered during the training:
1. Exploration, Controls, Navigation: – Children learnt about different game modes like gameplay, Survival modes, about the Interface and how to explore the templates available in the Software. How to navigate characters or objects in the workspace.
2. Crafting New World: – Students learnt to create new world where they can add many blocks, tools, and materials that are made in Minecraft. To craft something in Minecraft, students need to move the required items from your inventory into the crafting grid and arrange them in the pattern representing the item which they wish to create. Explored Science using the Minecraft and using predefined functions.
3. Coding: – With the help of graphical based Code Connection App students can write coding which will help students in creating and building blocks quickly and easily.
4. Multiplayer: - Multiplayer gaming mode was explained where a user can use resources created by another user. Multiplayer games take place by connecting over IP. Games can only take place between users within the same Office 365 Education users. They also learnt, Teleporting of Agent to Multiplayers.
This Game is very unique where a child can create anything they imagine. This workshop will really help children to think and improve their creativity. Their Queries related to Minecraft were also resolved both as individual and in groups. The idea of learning with fun and self-learning were well demonstrated in the workshop.