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<p>Minecraft to launch education edition By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor </p> <p>19 January 2016 </p> <p>An "education version" of Minecraft is scheduled to be released by Microsoft. </p> <p>The product will offer teachers new ways to utilize the game's world-building capabilities in various subjects. </p> <p>Microsoft paid $2.5bn (PS1.8bn) for Mojang Minecraft, Minecraft's Swedish creator, in 2014. And late last year it purchased the four-year-old MinecraftEdu version of the game from Finland-based independent developer TeacherGaming. </p> <p>It is promising to add features in the near future, but schools could face additional costs. </p> <p>It claims that more than 7,000 classrooms across the world already use Minecraft in some form. </p> <p>"Teachers are using Minecraft to do so many things, like teaching maths, science poetry, religion and even poetry," Anthony Salcito, Microsoft's vice-president of worldwide education said to the BBC. </p> <p>"Once we make it easier for schools to access and use the tools, I think you'll see that the number of classrooms increases very quickly." </p> <p>Camera in-game </p> <p>MinecraftEdu already lets teachers modify content in the game and access a library of shared education-related assets. </p> <p>Microsoft promises to improve user experience: </p> <p>The characters created by children to retain their characteristics during sessions </p> <p>The students can take "photos" of their progress with an in-game camera. They can then save them in an online book along with their own notes. These can later serve as a guide for other children, or be used by teachers to evaluate their progress. </p> <p>Children can download software that allows them to continue playing Minecraft for educational purposes outside of school. They don't need to purchase the game. </p> <p>Teachers and children need to have their own Office 365 ID to access the service. This ID can also be used to gain access to the cloud-based productivity software developed by Microsoft. </p> <p>Microsoft claims that this will allow teachers to cut down on the number of online accounts they need to manage. https://canvas.instructure.com/eportfolios/1449623/Home/What_does_Minecraft_Servers_List_Mean </p> <p>It may also help the company promote its word processing, file sharing and email applications over other services like Google and others. </p> <p>Microsoft will charge a fee of $5 per year (PS3.50) per teacher and child. </p> <p>That could prove more expensive than the current set-up that requires schools to pay a one-off fee of $14 multiplied by the maximum number of people they wish to be able to login at the same time, plus an additional $41 for server software. </p> <p>"We believe that we're bringing added value," said Deirdre Quarnstrom director of Minecraft education. </p> <p>"On on top of having a permanent identity, players will also be able to access the most up-to-date version of the game. </p> <p>"MinecraftEdu together with other Minecraft mods, was one to two releases behind by nature of the development process. </p> <p>"We are also replacing the need for schools to own and maintain separate server hardware." </p> <p>Virtual Shakespeare </p> <p>The new features were well-loved by Leigh Wolmarans, the head teacher at Lings Primary School in Northampton. </p> <p>The school already uses MinecraftEdu to teach children about A Midsummer Night's Dream by asking students to create a version of Shakespeare's play in the game. </p> <p>However, he added that other teachers should be aware the software had its limitations. </p> <p>He said that technology can be utilized to achieve exceptional learning but it should be used in conjunction to other tools. </p> <p>"If all you do is put them in a chair and let them to play Shakespeare through Minecraft Then you're doing something wrong." </p> <p>"Dance, drama, art and music are the best ways to teach children. </p> <p>"But technology can enhance it as an additional tool." </p> <p>Microsoft has announced that it will allow teachers to "beta-test" Minecraft's education edition for free at some point in the summer, prior to its official rollout. </p> <p>Minecraft used to teach the science of chemistry </p> <p>5 November 2015 </p> <p>The schools use Minecraft in their lessons. </p> <p>20 June 2014 </p> <p>Minecraft </p> <p>MinecraftEdu </p> <p>Lings Primary School </p>
