There was a time when video games were seen as nothing but “mindless fun”, and let’s be honest…they were, and in a way they still are. But, just like a story can be changed to appeal to any person, a video game can be tailored to meet a certain goal. Such as, being used for educational purposes. In fact, many games have been made in recent generations to challenge kids and young adults to expand their knowledge. So, when Microsoft acquired Mojang, and their title Minecraft, they decided to do a similar thing, and made Minecraft: Education Edition.
This slightly scaled down version of Minecraft was made to be a truly educational tool, and as General Manager Deirdre Quarnstrom notes on the Windows Blog, it’s succeeded in numerous ways. Not the least of which is that Minecraft: Education Edition is available in over 115 countries, and has been used by 2 million users. Needless to say, they’re very happy.
And why wouldn’t they be? With over 250 lessons within the game itself, teachers are using the game to help grow the minds of their students. Especially in the realm of Computer Science, which Quarnstrom is very happy to note that coding is becoming a big part of these lessons:
“Though many don’t realize it, coding is in fact one of the most creative activities a student can do, building something with no limitations but his or her own creativity.”
Using this, Microsoft even partnered with Code.org to create coding challenges for players to use in the game. It’s called Minecraft: Hero’s Journey.
Now, if you are wondering whether students might abuse the game (given its freedom), Microsoft made sure that Minecraft: Education Edition has safety measures that the teachers can use.
Regardless though, it’s fascinating to see just how this popular game is helping shape the next generation.
