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Site Review: MinecraftEdu

Site URL:  https://education.minecraft.net/

Content:  Minecraft is a highly addictive game that allows players to build their own worlds with a unique set of rules. The game has been used in a number of education settings, and the people behind this Web site are offering special tools for classroom use. “MinecraftEdu is the collaboration of a small team of educators and programmers from the United States and Finland,” according to the site. “We are working with Mojang AB of Sweden, the creators of Minecraft, to make the game affordable and accessible to schools everywhere. minecraft edu custom classroom modWe have also created a suite of tools that make it easy to unlock the power of Minecraft in your classroom.”

Design:  The site has an outdated, blocky design. It’s easy to follow, but clearly design was not a major factor in its creation.

Review:  There is not much content directly on the site, which consists of a sales portal and a set of links, along with a news blog. MinecraftEdu.com sells Minecraft at a discount, as well as a custom MinecraftEdu modification (mod), which allows educators to incorporate their own curricular content and run a custom server for each of their classes. (The mod works on top of the original Minecraft game.) The site also offers links to forums and a wiki, where teachers can exchange ideas, tutorials and lessons.

Bottom Line:  While not much of a resource on its own, this site lets teachers purchase a special module for maximizing Minecraft’s educational uses.

 

Article by Daniel B. Kline, EducationWorld Contributing Editor
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