MinecraftEdu

Now i know this is about a game in a sense, and i know there is a minecraft thread in the gaming section already, but i believe this topic is more to do with education than the game itself.

So basically: http://minecraftedu.com/

Do you think this is a good idea? Do you think a program like minecraft can be used effectively in classrooms or will students build obscene structures and grief other students?

For those still in school, do you think it would help you learn?
For those who have left school, do you think it would have been helpful while you were learning?

Discuss!

I don't understand how it's being used?

Not sure how it'd aid the learning process at all to a point above what can be done already without it. Also exploitable.

I don't understand how it's being used?

Yeah, the site doesn't go into much detail about that, but i suppose it depends on the teacher and whats getting taught

A heavy modded version of minecraft can be made to show, for example, physics examples like rollercoasters and pomegranate like that.

With heavy modded i mean that to make the physics of the game more similar to real world physic.

I don't understand how it's being used?

Architect?

This seems to be aimed toward classes with children though...

And aren't there better programs specifically designed for stuff just like that?

You know what children have? Trouble focusing in classes.

Maybe if they saw this through a computer monitor they will focus more, Having fun while learning i guess?

Then again human race is unpredictable as pineapple.

I don't understand how it's being used?

"All right class today in history we're going to examine a full scale model of the roman empire with minecraft!"

Something like that i guess. There are certainly applications in classes you wouldn't think would matter, and i don't even play the game.

I don't understand how it's being used?

This.
Although I can imagine taking trips to some landmarks or ages there's already stuff that do that without looking blocky, although what Fenix says could be it since you could see it as a schooltrip+physic+enviorment interaction but of course it would have to be heavily modded, that way I could see it work in stuff like history, science and other stuff that kids have trouble focusing on but until I see more details on how it would be used I'm doubtful.

Holding my vote till further info.

How
about
this?

pretty sure it's aimed at young kids to get thinking and other social skills running, such as working together to build houses.

That escapist link is pretty damn cool. Did not expect that.

I like the idea of kids loitering around, excited to make up ideas and putting them to reality.

Using as a way to incite creativity is nice, but I don't see this going much further than Art class or something extra-curricular.

That video on escapist was pretty cool, works pretty much as with The Scouts (which I was part). Show kids something cool that they want to do and demand discipline and other things in exchange.

You could learn about wiring basics by playing with redstone. Perhaps having an assignment to have kids create their own version of an RS norlatch, AND gate, T flip flop, or whatever. Maybe make a pure redstone version, piston version, and water version of each.

What some kid did to avoid writing a project:
[video=youtube;CtbdYWa3gno]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CtbdYWa3gno[/video]

What some kid did to avoid writing a project:
[video=youtube;CtbdYWa3gno]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CtbdYWa3gno[/video]

Way you worded that made the kid seem like an ass. When he really isn't.

Way you worded that made the kid seem like an ass. When he really isn't.

O.o I worded how I would have seen it when I what at that age, something fun>something boring, so by doing the fun stuff he avoided doing the boring stuff (building vs. writing), so please point me how I made him look like an ass.

O.o I worded how I would have seen it when I what at that age, something fun>something boring, so by doing the fun stuff he avoided doing the boring stuff (building vs. writing), so please point me how I made him look like an ass.

Pretty straight forward.

"What some kid did to avoid writing a project" sounds like he's procrastinating or not being productive with his time.