Essay about 21st Century Learning

Submitted By lfazio
Words: 4299
Pages: 18
Open Document
Wiki

MinecraftEdu in primary education―a future technology
By Lisa Fazio

(sourced 15/12/ 2012 http://asia.gamespot.com/images/6400549/1/?feature=1&caption=Minecraft%2527s
%2Bmaking%2Bwaves%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bclassroom.&ontology=12647&cvr=kil%2F)

What is Minecraft?
Minecraft is a software program developed by Swedish developer Markus Persson and released to the public in 2009 as a video game. This independently developed video game using java programming language and referred to as a 'sandbox indie game'.
Players of Minecraft use it to create virtual structures and worlds using blocks. These blocks come in an array of materials including; stone, iron, brick, timber, and in various shapes and colours. The structures and worlds which are created can be manipulated by the user to be de-constructed and creatively reengineered (source http://minecraftedu.com/wiki/index.php?title=What_is_Minecraft%3F
14/12/2012).
In the first iteration of Minecraft users built structures to 'protect against nocturnal monsters'. The game has now changed to include more features and applications to enable unlimited creativity to form imaginative virtual environments. For example, players have established, virtual worlds where they explore fantasy worlds with their online friends such as, watching the sunrise over a glassy ocean in a new world (source http://minecraftedu.com/wiki/index.php?title=What_is_Minecraft%3F
14/12/2012).

(image 13/01/2013 http://www.nikdaum.com/news/10minecraft40big.jpg)
The following You Tube video demonstrates how Minecraft enables players to create and work together to create visual works-of-art.

In 2012 Minecraft is developed and published by the Swedish company, Mojang. The success and user base of Minecraft is vast. It has five awards from the 2011 Game Developers Conference; the Innovation
Award, Best Downloadable Game Award and the Best Debut Game Award from the Game Developers
Choice Awards. In addition the Audience Award, the Seumas McNally Grand Prize, from the
Independent Games Festival in 2011; and in 2012, Minecraft received the Golden Joystick Award in Best
Downloadable Game. As at December 13, 2012, it has sold 17.5 million copies across all platforms
(source 15/ 12/2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minecraft).
Minecraft has three different application routes for users:
1 Survival: here users gather resources, explore, survive and make decisions for combat
2 Creative: solve problems using imagination with unlimited blocks for use
3 'Hardcore' survival: comprising a higher degree of difficulty compared to survival
Users can play both survival and creative in multi-player mode.
Minecraft in education
Minecraft is in the classroom as a learning resource. This is because teachers, as games players of
Minecraft, see the benefits it has to a student's learning process. It is in use by students to make virtual structures out of the unlimited design features using the creative mode. In this mode there is no combat, and learners use blocks of all shapes, designs, colours and sizes to complete learning projects in a virtual environment. Learning is a mastery focus which uses the learner's imagination to solve problems which they can then visualise.

If there is a need for learner's to solve problems based on survival scenarios, this is available using the survival mode. For example; there is a plaque of locusts swarming to a farmers harvest. Learners can create problem-solving strategies to save the harvest from the approaching locust using mathematics, science and then in a virtual world see the outcomes of their research, hypothesis etc and makes changes within the safety of the virtual environment (Source 15/12/2012 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/03/legos-for-the-digital-age-students-build-imaginary-worlds/). The following is an example of a Minecraft virtual world in action:

(source http://minecraftedu.com/wiki/index.php?title=What_is_Minecraft%3F
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about 21st Century Learning

Essay Digital Learning For The 21st Century Idaho Classroom Final

Carol L. Scholz ABD 21st Century Classroom Digital Content Coordinator cscholz@sde.idaho.gov • Introductions – Poll Everywhere in action • 21st Century Classroom • • Research – National – World View – Teaching in a Culture of Change • Survey -Idaho Educators Tech Use and Needs • What’s in the Schoolnet Digital File Cabinet? • 21st Century Lesson Planning Research – Charlotte Danielson & Universal Design for Learning • Digital Learning Day • • Teaching the 21st Century Learner Video •…

Words 947 - Pages 4

Essay on Different School Model

One In my city I had the pleasure of visiting two very unique school models, public and private. My reasoning behind this choice was based on my experience in the public school system, and my lack of knowledge as to how private schools facilitate learning. The first model is Brookwood High School, a public secondary school, student body 3,421, grades 9-12. The second model is Gwinnett Christian Academy, student body 309, grades 9-12. What are the most important issues you currently face in ensuring…

Words 1563 - Pages 7

Community Event Final Event Essay

video will demonstrate the impact of UDL and the positive effect it plays in education  http://youtube.b e/bDvKnYogbe4  S tation 2 Tech n olog y + U D L For A ll Learn ers Mission Statement  The learners center provides academic support and learning strategies through services resources and collaboration with teachers that will allow students and community to achieve there academic goals Belief Statement  That each one poses the ability to learn  For students to be successful we have to teach…

Words 621 - Pages 3

21st Century Skills Assessment

After watching the video "21st Century Skills Assessment" and reviewing the rubrics and assessment listed, I believe one of the areas in which I need improvement on is technology skills and media literacy. Since I am a physical education teacher, it has been difficult to implement technology during class time. There have been some lessons where I use videos or music videos to help teach kids about dance or help give them motivation. I believe that I can improve in this area by using different technology…

Words 463 - Pages 2

Essay on Sociology: Problem Solving and Communication Skills

Dominika Warchol What do schools need to do to prepare students for the 21st Century? All schools should prepare the students to be ready to successfully enter the 21st Century word and its difficulties. In order for one to be prepared for the 21st Century his or her school needs to use appropriate technology, develop communication skills and create the complex problem solving environment. To begin, the schools need to develop technological usage. One way to develop technological usage is…

Words 520 - Pages 3

Essay about Project Management

Module 1: Projects Overview Lesson 1: Project Basics Activity 1: Your Knowledge of Project-Based Learning Estimated Time: 10 minutes 1. Complete the first two columns of your own Know-Wonder-Learn-How chart. * What do you already know about project-based learning? * What do you wonder about project-based learning? What I Know | What I Wonder | What I Learned | How I Learned | Projects address standards. Projects are engaging. Projects Take time…

Words 4142 - Pages 17

technology terminology Essay

generation of the World Wide Web that is focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_2_point_0.html 21st Century Skills 21st Century Skills refers skills students need to be successful in the 21st century. They include: cross-curricular skills and learning to learn skills. http://www.curriculum21.com/pd/resources/archives/glossary eBooks/…

Words 503 - Pages 3

The Importance Of Technology In Education

every facet of business and life. In the report of Sayer (2016), Andreas Schleicher said that school systems need to find more effective ways to integrate technology into teaching and learning to provide educators with learning environments that support 21st century pedagogies and provide children with the 21st century skills they need to succeed in tomorrow’s world,”. And that technology is the only way to dramatically expand access to knowledge. To deliver on the promises technology holds, countries…

Words 1716 - Pages 7

The Importance Of Music Education

musical, and should be given the opportunity to learn and discover their hidden potential. Through a mixture of informal and non-formal teaching and learning approaches in Music, students will find value and take charge of their own learning in one way or another. In informal teaching and learning, students are self-directed and will most likely be learning music aurally through music recordings with their peers whilst the teacher acts as a facilitator from the sides and not give…

Words 822 - Pages 4

The Masters Essay

between the way the students learn in the 20 century versus the 21st-century? Observing Vygotsky’s work, some may notice that there is a big difference between the two. Understanding Vygotsky theories of social - cultural approach can help answer that question. Basically, there are four basic principles to the Vygotskian Framework. They are as follows: Children construct their knowledge. Development cannot be separated from a social context. Learning can lead to development. Language plays a…

Words 899 - Pages 4