MinecraftEdu…

Can You Dig It?

Jennifer Faulknor

Pam Hamilton

Hillsboro ISD

Presentation Link: https://goo.gl/WhjvFg

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�

MinecraftEdu…

Can You Dig It?

Jennifer Faulknor

Pam Hamilton

Hillsboro ISD

Pin: IXKNY

Presentation Link: https://goo.gl/WhjvFg

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Door Prizes

Did everyone get a ticket?

Who are We?

• Jennifer Faulknor - Biology Teacher - Sees 125 students during 7 periods. 3 PreAP classes and 4 regular with inclusion. Students go to the computer lab to use Minecraftedu. Students also have 1:1 iPads. � faulknoj@hillsboroisd.org @faulknoj �
• Pam Hamilton - GT Teacher - Sees students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Use an assortment of netbooks, laptops, and desktops for Minecraft.edu. Has also used Minecraft pocket edition on iPads. hamilton@hillsboroisd.org @HillsboroGATE

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Nearpod POLL

Rate your level of Minecraft Expertise.

None (0), Novice (1), Competent (2), Advanced (3), Expert (4)

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Have you ever used Minecraft in your classroom?

yes

no

What will we learn today?

• What is it and why?
• Getting started with Minecraftedu
• Using and Managing Minecraftedu
• Curriculum Lesson Applications
• Best Practices and Limitations

What is Minecraft?

• Sandbox style game created by Swedish Programmer, Markus Persson & published by Mojang
• Open ended without constraints
• Various types of play. Can be completely peaceful & creative or play in survival mode where players must gather resources and craft their tools while staying alive.
• Dozens of types of blocks and materials such as stone, plants, & animals can be used for building complex structures.

What is Minecraftedu?

• A version of Minecraft created to make it accessible and affordable for schools.
• Creator Joel Levin
• Provide discounted Minecraft licenses to educational institutions, a custom edition of the game with features designed especially for classroom use, and a hosting service to let users connect and play together.

How well do my students enjoy using MinecraftEdu?

113 High School Biology Students in grades 9 & 10 were surveyed

Student Comments

“I think minecraft is good for learning because it's better to use than paper and more interesting.”

“These projects are fun and interactive because it boasts an effort connect with other students.”

“I like using minecraft because we actually get to demonstrate and build what we want to answer. It shows what we are thinking.”

“You can visualize stuff”

“There are many creative things I can make using biology and minecraft”

“There are a lot of fun models �we can make for biology.”

“I like using minecraft so I don’t have to write in a journal or use a boring powerpoint app”

9th and 10 graders

Two Main Styles of Play

• Creative -
• all needed materials and supplies are readily at hand
• don’t lose inventory
• can take your time building
• create huge structures
• Survival -
• players gather resources & craft tools while staying alive
• settings include monsters, or mobs, & spiders
• players can survive perils such as starvation and drowning

Why Use Minecraft in the Classroom?

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• Focus on student engagement
• Design lessons with our students in mind
• Can use to teach cross curricular subjects
• Students can be creative and use their imagination
• Problem Solving - every step involves decision making
• Students will collaborate and use teamwork

Student made skins

Nearpod Draw it

If you could create a minecraft skin, what would your skin look like?

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Getting Started?

• Register, purchase, download, and install
• MinecraftEdu Server Software download - $41.00
• Student accounts - $18 each or $14 when purchasing 25 or more accounts
• Run your own server,or play in the cloud using their hosting service for $25 / month per classroom server
• My cost for a server and 25 licenses was $391

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Software Requirements

• Two pieces of software:
• Multiplayer Server
• Client
• Both have these minimum requirements:
• A Windows, Mac or Linux computer (desktop or laptop)
• 2 GB of RAM or greater
• Intel Pentium D, AMD Athlon or greater processor
• 200MB free hard disk space or more
• Java 6 Release 45 or later (including Java 7 and 8)

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Recommended requirements:

• RAM: 4GB
• CPU: Intel Core i3 or AMD Athlon II (K10) 2.8 GHz
• GPU: GeForce 2xx Series or AMD Radeon HD 5xxx Series (Excluding Integrated Chipsets) with OpenGL 3.3
• Latest release of Java 8 from java.com

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More technical info

• The server is installed on the teacher computer
• Manually create a static IP address
• The client is installed on each student computer
• Students will add your server using the IP address

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Start Server Launcher

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Create New World

Or Choose a Saved World

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Or Download From World Library

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Settings

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Classroom Guidelines

Website

http://services.minecraftedu.com/wiki/Teaching_with_MinecraftEdu

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Curriculum Lesson Ideas

Website

World Library - http://services.minecraftedu.com/worlds/

Biology Applications

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Biomolecules of life: Proteins, Nucleic Acids, Lipids, Carbohydrates

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Biology Applications

Ecosystem Relationships

Spencers Screencast

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Biology Applications

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Plants: Photosynthesis and Respiration / Plant systems

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Biology Applications

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Genetics Heredity

Brannons Screencast

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Biology Applications

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• Mitosis

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Biology Applications

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Cells - organelles

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Biology Applications

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Ecological Succession

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Biology Applications

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DNA

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Biology Applications

Protein Synthesis

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Biology Applications

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Enzymes - Enzyme Substrate Complex

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Biology Applications

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Real Life Lab example in Hawaii

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Science Applications

• Earth’s cycles - water cycle, rock cycle, lunar cycle
• Weathering and erosion
• Chemical and Physical changes
• Force and motion - build different tracks and test using minecarts
• Physics example

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Math �Applications

• Make sense of problems� and persevere in solving them�in 3D
• Create models
• Show slope
• Word problems

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https://curriculumni.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/minecraft-and-mathematics-stem/

GATE - Gifted and Talented Education

• Future City Project
• Biography Projects
• Future Innovations
• RollerCoaster

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English Language Arts Applications

• Create the setting and characters from a book. From there, characters can have a conversation about theme, connections, relationships.
• Biographies
• Illustrate an original story in 3D
• Pre-game planning and goals
• Post-game play reflection
• Create maps, diagrams, and guided tours

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http://www.teachhub.com/minecraft-classroom-teaches-reading-writing-problem-solving

Social Studies Applications

• A GREAT alternative to direct instruction
• World Library - explore existing worlds and prepare instructions for their students
• World of Humanities
• Student Projects - Students build based on their research.
• Ex. After a study of China, students may build a portion of the Great Wall.
• Buildings, monuments, scenarios (markets, transportation), and events (WWII)
• Medieval Village Class Project
• Excellent Examples of Projects

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Social Studies Ideas Website

http://minecrafteduclassroom.weebly.com/teacher-resources.html

http://minecraft.edtecworks.com/2014/05/04/class-project-medieval-villages/�

Problem Solving Applications

• Freeze Tag World
• Minecraft Clue
• Obstacle Courses
• Computer Science and Programming
• Game of 4 Bridges

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Assessment

• Post Play worksheet Example by Chris Scott
• Exit ticket completed at end of class �Example in Google Forms
• Attach screenshot to Showbie App
• Students screencast their presentations and will �email
• Present to class or group
• World Civilizations Rubric Example

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Nearpod Open Ended Question

Do you have a project idea or curriculum application you would like to share?

Other MinecraftEdu Components

Redstone - movable form of power, like electricity

Mods - add ons to the game, change the look and feel of the world, will need a mod loader like Forge

Computer Craft - mod that allows for easy computer programming with multiple ways to code, uses robot turtles

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MinecraftEdu News

According to MinecraftEdu, Microsoft will be acquiring MinecraftEdu from Teacher Gaming. They said they are working on a new educational version. Here are some quick facts from their website:

“-You can keep using MinecraftEdu as long as you like.�-MinecraftEdu sales will continue normally for now, but will likely end in the next few months.�-MinecraftEdu owners will be offered one year of service for the new Education Edition for free by Microsoft.�-MinecraftEdu Classroom Server Hosting will keep working, and you can still sign up for new cloud servers.�-TeacherGaming won’t be going anywhere and we have new exciting plans for the future!”

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Minecraft Education Edition

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Video Trailer - �https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I50_9tr6Cp8

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Planning your Minecraft Project

• Start with concrete objective
• Take inspiration from lessons you already teach
• Students may work in small groups, pairs, or individually
• To add depth, you can create goals within larger activities that focus on student interaction
• Have a writing element such as journaling or reflecting
• Students may label signs, blocks, and books to record information

Best Practices

• Go through the tutorial world yourself to learn the controls
• Monitor - set expectations
• Screen names - Students record their screen name and real name so I know who is who.
• Peaceful play - Many scenarios require collaboration or working individually to build a community. Remind students of expectations frequently. Give consequences if not.
• May set up a world that has individual build areas for each student or group to build in.
• Figure out your experts. Great resource for you and your students who do not know how to play.
• Play with your students. Start a lunch or afterschool club.
• Seek out other minecraft educators

Another Idea

• Print your creation with a 3D printer using this free server - Mr. Jarretts Blog Post
• http://blogs.ncs-nj.org/minecraft/2013/12/14/how-to-3d-print-what-you-build-in-minecraft-tutorial-with-video/

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Limitations

• Must go to the computer lab
• Not compatible with Chromebooks
• Some students don’t like it. I may give an alternative assignment.
• Must have proper hardware
• The environment may be “laggy or glitchy”
• Requires proper monitoring
• Frustrated students who are new to the game or ones that are used to certain mods or items that are not being used at school

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Nearpod Quiz

1. What type of game is Minecraft?
2. Who created MinecraftEDU?
3. Using Minecraft stimulates which of the following in the classroom?

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Resources

• Our S’more Page lists lots of links & resources we have used https://www.smore.com/30533-minecraftedu-can-you-dig-it

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Thank you for attending!

• Please fill out the survey found on the TCEA app.

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Credits

• Wallpaper background: http://www.andysowards.com/blog/2013/30-epic-minecraft-wallpapers/
• https://minecraftedu.com/
• http://www.teachhub.com/minecraft-classroom-teaches-reading-writing-problem-solving
• http://technorookie.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-to-get-started-with-minecraft.html
• http://mrparkinsonict.blogspot.com/2014/02/minecraft-maths.html
• http://lessons4minecraft.com/?page_id=491
• http://colorslive.com/details/1193362
• http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2168992
• http://mrparkinsonict.blogspot.com/2014/02/minecraft-maths.html
• http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/12/01/minecraft-lesson-ideas-243/2/

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BOOK