Minecraft Education

All In One
Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

Minecraft Education Edition, crafted by Mojang Studios and part of the Xbox Game Studios family, was inaugurated in November 2016. Designed with educational goals in mind, this version of Minecraft leverages the global appeal of the game to foster a fun, interactive learning environment. The development was driven by a recognition of the need for more engaging and innovative educational tools that can operate across various learning settings, including homes and classrooms​ (Minecraft Education)​

Minecraft Education has become a cornerstone in game-based learning, impacting millions of students worldwide. It’s not only a popular tool in educational sectors but has also been integrated into standard curricula across multiple grades, demonstrating its flexibility and wide-reaching appeal​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Grades

This educational platform is designed to be versatile, catering to a broad spectrum of educational levels from elementary through high school. This wide range ensures that Minecraft Education can grow with students, providing continuous learning opportunities at every stage of their education​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Cost

For Minecraft Education, the cost varies depending on your affiliation with an educational institution. If you are part of an eligible educational institution, the cost is $5.04 per user per year. For those not part of such institutions, including individual consumers and homeschoolers, the price is $12 per user per year (Minecraft Education)​.

Product Overview

Minecraft Education transforms the classic Minecraft game into a rich educational tool. It allows students to explore subjects in an immersive world where learning is facilitated through engaging, game-based activities. The platform includes features like a secure environment for play, multiplayer capabilities for collaborative projects, and extensive support resources for educators​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Unique Features

The platform’s uniqueness lies in its integration of learning with interactive play. Key features include:

  • A secure, multiplayer environment that enables students to collaborate on projects.

  • Comprehensive educational tools and resources to enhance teaching and learning experiences.

  • Accessibility options to accommodate diverse learning needs​ (Minecraft Education)​.

How It Works

Minecraft Education utilizes a game-based learning framework where students interact within a Minecraft world tailored for educational content. Educators can use pre-built lessons or create their own to fit specific learning objectives, making use of the game’s inherent features to teach a variety of subjects​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Getting Started

To begin using Minecraft Education, educators and parents can download the software compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and other platforms. After installation, users can create an educator profile, access training modules, and start exploring the comprehensive lesson plans available on the platform​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Educational Content

The curriculum of Minecraft Education includes a diverse array of subjects, enriched through engaging digital interaction:

  • Mathematics and problem-solving

  • Science and engineering principles

  • Historical events and civilizations

  • Language arts and literacy

  • Computer science and coding

  • Social-emotional learning and collaboration skills​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Highly engaging and interactive learning environment

  • Supports a wide range of educational subjects

  • Encourages collaboration and creativity among students

Cons:

  • May require a learning curve for educators unfamiliar with gaming

  • Reliance on technology might exclude students with limited access

  • Language and content localizations are still expanding to be more inclusive​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Parental Advice

Parents find Minecraft Education to be a valuable resource for children who thrive in dynamic and interactive learning settings. It’s particularly beneficial for encouraging problem-solving, creativity, and digital literacy skills​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Ideal and Non-Ideal Fits

Ideal for:

  • Students who enjoy video games and interactive learning

  • Homeschool settings that value flexibility and creativity in curriculum

Non-Ideal for:

  • Students who require highly structured or traditional learning environments

  • Those who may be easily distracted by the gamified elements​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Availability

Minecraft Education is available through its official website where licenses can be purchased for individual or institutional use. It supports a wide range of devices, ensuring accessibility for various educational setups​ (Minecraft Education)​.

Join our Minecraft club on Modulo!

As part of our commitment to leveraging innovative educational tools like Minecraft Education, Modulo is proud to offer the Minecraft Club with Elvin. This club enriches our curriculum by providing a practical application of Minecraft in a collaborative and interactive environment. Held every Friday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM PST (4:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET), the club is designed for children in grades K-5 and limits its membership to 10 students to ensure personalized attention and a supportive atmosphere.

Engagement and Skills Development: Club members are required to have a Bedrock Minecraft account and access to Zoom, combining the interactive elements of Minecraft with the personal connection of live video. This dual platform approach helps students to not only engage with the educational content in Minecraft but also to see and interact with their peers in real time, reinforcing social skills and teamwork.

Diverse Activities: The club's activities extend beyond digital gaming. Participants engage in a variety of games and projects that promote critical thinking and collaboration. Additionally, physical and interactive activities like yoga, art, and scavenger hunts are incorporated to keep the students active and to enhance their learning experience.

Community and Continuous Learning: Our server allows for flexible participation, with students encouraged to connect and play outside of scheduled hours. This ongoing access promotes continuous learning and community building, key components of the educational philosophy at Modulo. Through Minecraft Club, students not only apply their learning in an engaging setting but also build lasting relationships with peers, demonstrating the power of educational technology to foster comprehensive developmental skills.

Top Secular Alternatives for All-in-One Curriculum:

Here are our favorite other all-in-one options for different types of learners.

Book Lovers, Gifted and Profoundly Gifted Learners: Torchlight Curriculum
For Gifted, Workbook-Lovers: Critical Thinking Co
Nature-Based Curriculum for creative, Hands-On Learners: Blossom and Root
Adaptive learning app for kids who love video games : BrainPOP Homeschool
For Middle and High School Students: Build Your Library
For kids who love watching videos, here are highly Engaging Free YouTube videos for middle and high school: Crash Course
For Project-Based, Standards-Aligned Curriculum and Online School: Oak Meadow
For Free or Freemium online curriculum: Khan Academy Kids, Khan Academy or FishTank Learning
For more Traditional/schoolish Standards-aligned adaptive online learning: Time4Learning

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Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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