staalhooper143858

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>