From there, landscape detail including ruins, ponds, rivers and forests can easily be added in. We did so without leaving the classroom – we recreated in MinecraftEDU using shuttle radar topography mission data available from space shuttle missions, combined with DEM software for viewing 3D models to create a scaled map of the region, imported into Minecraft using WorldPainter. In a recent archaeology undergraduate class, we explored the site of the deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy in East Yorkshire. Motivated and enthused teachers are more likely to motivate and enthuse their pupils, who in turn are more receptive and willing to explore, experiment, test and – most importantly – fail, as part of the learning process. The key to success in the classroom, as any good teacher will tell you, is keeping students engaged. It allows players complete freedom to explore, build and experiment and is often referred to as “virtual Lego”. Minecraft is a creative “sandbox” game where the players dig up blocks in a landscape, craft them in to new materials, then use them to create whatever they wish. The latest edition will make this even easier – but what makes this game such a great tool for teachers? The popular world-building game, Minecraft, provides that opportunity at every twist and turn – something Microsoft has emphasised when announcing the release of Minecraft Education Edition.Īfter buying Minecraft in 2014, Microsoft also recently acquired MinecraftEDU, a modified version of Minecraft developed by Teacher Gaming to help teachers use it more easily in the classroom.
#Minecraft medieval town full
I recently told a room full of academics interested in using videogames as a teaching tool that “to play is the biggest freedom we can have as a child, or as an adult”.