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ETEC 522 – Ventures in Learning Technologies
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Discussion Question 2

By jesse mayer on June 19, 2016

The power of using Minecraft for education comes with from the game’s malleability and open world concept. By now, you would have seen different examples of teachers using Minecraft to deliver lessons, to create collaborative projects, to allow for roleplaying, to create an area for exploration and discovery, and to bridge different disciplinary areas together to engage students of all types and interests in ways not possible using more traditional approaches.

What is often difficult to see firsthand however, is the work required of instructors to learn Minecraft, to find, and adapt game resources appropriately to teach on a level appropriate to their needs. At the end of the day, Minecraft is a game – with its most popular player base in the elementary school age.

After all that you have seen, as an EVA, do you believe MinecraftEDU, and by extension, the game based learning opportunities offered within, to be a valuable educational tool worth investing time and effort in? 

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30 Jun Posted on Discussion Question 2

Short answer: yes. Longevity, no. Game based learning is quite fragile. There are numerous studies coming out, being performed or tested. The industry is still so young, vibrant and interested. There is however instability in the misinformation being shared, tested and adopted by educators. Corporations, industries and startups are also saturating a sector that is already so eager to implement anything they can get their hands on. Game based learning is also still taboo. Sure, we LIKE the idea of learning through play, but trying to sell this to administrators, educators and parents is still like walking on eggshells. I've been heavily invested in this for a number of years now and find myself critiquing because of the junk that is being pumped into this market. Games, such as Minecraft are now being branded as "EDU" why? The game is already inherently educational. Thing is, we need to make a profit and we want to mine data. That is how you and the industry will sell game based learning.

30 Jun
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Dominic Maggiolo @maggiolo

Short answer: yes. Longevity, no. Game based learning is quite fragile. There are numerous studies coming out, being performed or tested. The industry is still so young, vibrant and interested. There is however instability in the misinformation being shared, tested and adopted by educators. Corporations, industries and startups are also saturating a sector that is already so eager to implement anything they can get their hands on. Game based learning is also still taboo. Sure, we LIKE the idea of learning through play, but trying to sell this to administrators, educators and parents is still like walking on eggshells. I've been heavily invested in this for a number of years now and find myself critiquing because of the junk that is being pumped into this market. Games, such as Minecraft are now being branded as "EDU" why? The game is already inherently educational. Thing is, we need to make a profit and we want to mine data. That is how you and the industry will sell game based learning.

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24 Jun Posted on Discussion Question 2

I absolutely think that this is something worth investing time and money in. As previously said, it will take quite a bit of time and money, but I think the return could be very positive. Instructors who are passionate about using game based learning techniques and have the training to use MinecraftEDU should continue to spread the word and grow the knowledge base around the topic. As an investor I would invest in the implementation of tools and resources to get Minecraft in to private schools that are already using more technical elements in their teaching and that have the funding to help instructors make the most of the game. I realize that Minecraft may be a fad, but right now it is all the rage. If teachers can learn to advance their technical skills and learn to incorporate game based learning in to their curriculum now, it will help them incorporate the next game fad when the time comes. Relevance and engagement are what will keep kids wanting to come to school and will allow them to apply their fundamental learning skills in a fun way!

24 Jun
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heather lennie @lennieh

I absolutely think that this is something worth investing time and money in. As previously said, it will take quite a bit of time and money, but I think the return could be very positive. Instructors who are passionate about using game based learning techniques and have the training to use MinecraftEDU should continue to spread the word and grow the knowledge base around the topic. As an investor I would invest in the implementation of tools and resources to get Minecraft in to private schools that are already using more technical elements in their teaching and that have the funding to help instructors make the most of the game. I realize that Minecraft may be a fad, but right now it is all the rage. If teachers can learn to advance their technical skills and learn to incorporate game based learning in to their curriculum now, it will help them incorporate the next game fad when the time comes. Relevance and engagement are what will keep kids wanting to come to school and will allow them to apply their fundamental learning skills in a fun way!

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