Interactive learning methods like Minecraft coding for kids are becoming more and more popular. Experts call it one of the main trends in modern education gamification – a set of techniques that turn the educational process into a game.
Some even predict that in a few years, school education can be fully transferred to a video game. Schools will teach children math and literature using, for example, Fortnite (an online game revealed in 2017). However, such ideas do not sound futuristic because the first experiments have already begun. Minecraft has already been actively introduced into the educational process in many schools across the United States and Europe.
So, why Minecraft coding for kids?
First, Minecraft is the most popular game in the world. About 112 million people play it every month. Moreover, Minecraft is the leader in YouTube views for 2019 (Minecraft-related videos have been watched over a hundred billion times). Also, the game has a huge fan base, which means that in almost every school, there are students who probably are familiar with the game. So, there is no need to explain the rules once again.
Second, Minecraft gives room for imagination and almost does not limit the possibilities. Children can build, extract resources, create and complete quests, engage in joint activities, or roam the world. More freedom means more ideas about how the game can be used. Besides, this game has no linear narrative, but there are many tools for creativity.
Thirdly, Minecraft is like a Lego constructor. Children understand it from an early age. It has long been proven that working with a construction set develops kids’ logic, solid thinking, memory, and creativity. So if a child is used to creating worlds from cubes or Lego parts, they quickly adapt to the online constructor and grasp its rules intuitively.
How is Minecraft used in education, and is there any benefit?
Today, more than 400 schools in the United States, India and the Scandinavian countries use Minecraft in their education process. While in Sweden, some schools even introduced compulsory lessons in the game.
Simplicity and versatility allow Minecraft to be used in almost all primary school subjects: solve mathematical problems, illustrate chemical and physical experiments, model organic systems in biology, and immerse yourself in literary or historical worlds.
Minecraft is especially useful for students from rural schools. Using the online platform, they can get new experiences, learn more about the world and meet peers from other countries. An important part of Minecraft’s success is the community formed around the game. Both gaming bloggers and educators note that many children regularly interact on the forums for advice and meet adult players who help them learn new knowledge and activities.
Therefore, Minecraft is a tool for learning and a platform that helps prepare for adulthood in modern society. Teachers who have used the game in the classroom notice that Minecraft helps children feel responsible and allows them to take on a leadership role because any child playing Minecraft understands it better than a teacher and is always ready to prompt.
So far, Minecraft for educational purposes is used mainly among children of primary and secondary school age. But the platform’s features open opportunities for a broader Minecraft learning experience, including for adults.
You can register for a free trial class with Minecraft Education by clicking on this link.