Good Morning, Good Evening all you Miners, Crafters, and Creepers. Welcome to tonights #MinecraftEDU Chat w/ @CBbmerrill a #MinecraftMentor. We are chatting about Breaking through Border_Blocks and Implementing New Ideas. Happening Now
Mark Grundel from Central New Jersey. Co-founder of the chat, educator, Minecraft Mentor and Trainer. My first Minecraft lesson was on area and perimeter. Then I went to this: https://t.co/LwGS0SKxO6#MinecraftEDU
It's Tuesday night, so it must be time for #minecraftedu! Darin, 8th grade english language arts teacher from Iowa. No real "lesson" to pull out, I just like to see what kids can build! :)
That's awesome! I love using Minecraft as a skill developer and then letting kids plug in the content. You could have kids recreate books in #MinecraftEDU
A1 Getting the students invested is the easy part! They know and love the game. As far as other stakeholders go, I've tried to show the connections to the curriculum and emphasize the raised engagement of students. #MinecraftEdu
A1: I haven't been able to implement #MinecraftEDU in a class because I have no purchasing power as a student teacher, but I've heard some interesting stories from other teachers on implementing the game in their schools/classrooms.
A1: I have found that transparency is key to gaining support. If you plan on using it in the classroom, put parents in a #MinecraftEDU Lesson during your Back To School Night. Have kids build the classroom and make a video taking them through the day. #MinecraftEDU
A1~Our district is working toward being a 1 to 1 district. My principal is already really supportive. Giving students the opportunity to show their understanding in different ways and then sharing with other people has been helpful #MinecraftEdu
The most common strategy is to start it as an after school program. Then again, a lot of teachers got their admin to buy it for their classroom or use the free accounts that come with new Win10 devices #MinecraftEDU
Is there a quick way to find that out? I have a school account at my current district that I could test it on, but I don't think #MinecraftEDU is listed in the subscriptions for the Office365 accounts.
Collaboration is something that is being encouraged in our district as well. #minecraftEdu has been a great platform for students to work on digital citizenship and collaborate together on projects.
My students built many books in #MinecraftEDU and then we attempted to upgrade them into adventure games/maps, such as Tuck Everlasting and Series of Unfortunate Events. #MinecraftEDU
A1: I have invited our stakeholders to my Ss presentations of what they created. They saw my Ss engagement level as well as knowlege of the content being reflected Minecraft. #MinecraftEdu
A2 I've found it easiest to make #MinecraftEdu one of my math stations. I'm not to the point where this is daily occurrence, but it's been one way that works for me. I've also used it as soft start station at the beginning of the day.
I agree! I don't think I've heard any stories of teachers being able to pull it into their classroom after starting with it after-school, though. I assume it happens, but I usually hear their stories as they start the after-school. #MinecraftEDU
Agreed, #MinecraftEDU can be a challenge to work on collaboratively, but as children develop and reinforce those skills, I see strong friendships emerge and "unlikely" students emerge as leaders. #MinecraftEDU
I had one student that learned really quickly that dynamiting other student projects to show off his skills didn't help him win any friends. #MinecraftEdu
I started with 4 old computers and kids bringing in their phones/tablets. Here is a calculator a student built w/ Redstone: https://t.co/o5Qm8RsRjr#MinecraftEDU
Hmmmm.... it accepted my email address... maybe I should load up #MinecraftEDU and see if it will take my username/password. Teachers have different email domains than students, so I don't know if it will work for my students.
I have. I've had student show their understanding of fractions/multiplication/division/perimeter/area using #MinecraftEdu I've either given students the freedom to create these on their own, or I've found already made #MinecraftEdu worlds online.
A2: One more. This child did not have a cell phone, but had his mom record him while he presented on his PS3 (or Xbox) from home and sent the video in! All 3 are examples of ownership and empowerment! #MinecraftEDUhttps://t.co/yqkekJurW5
A2: Weekly we work on projects where my Ss are given a choice of what they would like to do in Minecraft to demonstrate their knowledge of our concepts. #MinecraftEdu
Haha, yes, but my students would be forced to log out at least once a day. That's still a month if they don't log in outside of my class. #MinecraftEDU
I have heard of some great ideas for using minecraft to teach factors and multiples. I've had my students use #MinecraftEdu to create multiplication arrays and use them as base ten blocks as well.
A3: One challenge is my students don’t like to stop when it is time to move on, but they know that we have to set appropriate time limits! #MinecraftEdu
A~3 My biggest challenge is trying to learn the program fast enough to take advantages of all the possibilities. I know it can be a lot more powerful than it is they way I am using it now. #MinecraftEdu
A3 When dealing with tech, not having 1:1 is always an issue. Adding BYOD at the elementary level could fix this! Getting all stakeholders invested could be an issue, but I believe that if rolled out effectively this potential issue could be addressed. #MinecraftEdu
A3: Biggest challenge? Students bringing their laptops to class and hoping the Internet and laptops all work during the full class period. I have a feeling tech problems would subside if we were playing #MinecraftEDU, though ;p
Q4~ What examples of evidence do you have, such as data form research or assessments, that helps support the use of Minecraft in the classroom? #MinecraftEdu
Keep playing and talking with students. I am amazed how much I learn from my top builders by simply talking with them and watching them. I think of myself as a facilitator and collaborator, but they are the experts. #MinecraftEDU
Q4: What examples of evidence do you have, such as data from research or assessments, that helps support the use of Minecraft in the classroom? #MinecraftEDU
A4: My students have performed better on assessments than previous years without Minecraft. They first demonstrate in Minecraft their understanding of the concept then on unit assessment. #MinecraftEdu
Interesting Mindset some of us teachers have. I am conflicted between calling it a tool and a game. I truly see it as a learning tool, but use it as a game. #MinecraftEDU
I've found that you have to put up with a ton of tech issues as you roll out new technologies and that it is important to teach students patience while you figure things out. I have a "3 before me" policy where Ss need to check with at 3 other Ss before coming to me #MinecraftEdu
A4: I tracked students attendance rates over 2 years and saw a significant decrease in absenteism and chronic absenteeism in my students. #MinecraftEDU
A4: In general, PARCC (Standardized Test in NJ) scores went up and many students showed significant growth in my classes over 2 years of using games like #MinecraftEDU
I've had my students use the camera and portfolio to submit assignments. They just email them to me. I've also had them export worlds and upload them to #onenote for other students to explore. #MinecraftEdu
At the elementary level, the number 1 indicator of attending college is attendance. Working at a Title 1 School we suffered greatly from absenteeism. #MinecraftEDU
A4: I tracked students attendance rates over 2 years and saw a significant decrease in absenteism and chronic absenteeism in my students. #MinecraftEDU
Q5~ What suture lessons would you like to plan and implement with Minecraft in the classroom? What resources do you need to accomplish this? #MinecraftEdu
Additionally, students would arrive to class on time (less tardies). Which is a thing in elementary. To think, these kids are rushing their parents to get them to school on time (we are a walking district, no busses) #MinecraftEDU
Q5: What future lessons would you like to plan and implement with Minecraft in the classroom? What resources do you need to accomplish this? #MinecraftEDU
Small group #math instruction. Used #Minecraftedu to build arrays of 24 to help #learn area and perimeter. Students learned that area remains constant while perimeter changes in each array.
#mathisfun#myschoolrocks
A5 I really want to find ways to use #MinecraftEdu in science, SS, reading, and writing. I need to do more research and connect with more people who are using #MinecraftEdu in their classrooms.
A5: I would like to see an economics system established in #MinecraftEDU where I don't need a complex dropper and command block system to implement. Think of the possibilities! #MinecraftEDU
A5 In the future I want to do a project involving character traits where the students use NPC to deliver a quote from the book that most shows their character trait. As well as more code connector lessons, oh and the structure block!
Hmmm.... might need to get some collaborators to add more sections for that update :) I focused it on ELA content and anything interdisciplinary with literacy. I haven't found any articles so far that blend chemistry with ELA use. #MinecraftEDU
Work on recreating immersive environments. For Social Studies, how can you recreate an event in history? For science, how can you use it to model discovieries, natural phenomenom, etc. #MinecraftEDU
When I have students work in #MinecraftEDU I generally try to incorporate game elements into the build, whether they are survival challenges, parkour, Geocaching, etc. If you want, we can chat further. #MinecraftEDU
Once the Chemistry update comes out it will be perfect for Matter. And Redstone makes it great for electricity. RubeGoldbergs for the energy unit?
#MinecraftEdu
A5: One more add-on I would like to see is a custom skin pack generator. Think of the digital arts skills students could incorporate into creating custom skins for avatars and NPCs. #MinecraftEDU
I have done some work with Rube Goldberg machines. I actually have a world with basic redstone examples that cause chain reactions. I need to post this to the Community Site! #MinecraftEDU
Small group #math instruction. Used #Minecraftedu to build arrays of 24 to help #learn area and perimeter. Students learned that area remains constant while perimeter changes in each array.
#mathisfun#myschoolrocks
Thanks to our great moderator of the Evening, @CBbmerrill an amazing educator and Minecraft Mentor. Also, special thanks to @pickleberry1234 and @PBJellyGames an amazing team to work with. Finally, we could not do it without you, the community. Thanks so much! #MinecraftEDU
A6 Joe Heine, 5th grade teacher. I'm excited to explore the different ways I can apply #MinecraftEdu into ss, reading, and science. It was great to hear from educators who are using this tool in their classrooms. Thanks @CBbmerrill
