Good Morning, Good Evening Miners, Crafters, and Creepers. Welcome to tonight's #MinecraftEDU Chat, where we are discussing Narrative Storytelling and Questbased Learning in the Classroom. @Wynncraft
A0: Chris, #studentteaching in rural PA. I used to play a lot of games as a kid, but I don't know how many of them qualify as quest-based #MinecraftEDU
Hey guys Pickle here! I am a moderator of this chat as well as a student. I currently live in New England and recently for the past few days have been playing Wynncraft #minecraftedu
Mark G, from NJ, and co-founder of the chat. Right now I am really into @Wynncraft and getting @pickleberry1234 hooked too. I also love Text-based MMORPGs. I used to play one called Avalon and another called Sojourn, both rebooted under different names. #MinecraftEDU
A0: Hey all. Momibelle here! Original homeschooler, now all about gaming in ED. Just finishing up a class on the snapshot. Luv these fish! And now 'quest' based loot finding! #MinecraftEdu
Which is your Favorite FF? I really want to play some of the newer ones. I just created a Retro Gaming console from am RaspberryPi 3 and want to download some of the SNES and Playstation Roms. #MinecraftEDU
A1: Since story-telling is a fundamental and research-based method for learning, anything involving a narrative will be more likely to be effective no matter the content. #MinecraftEDU
A1: I believe that designing a narrative to all of my #MinecraftEdu adventures was key to immersing Ss in the characters, plot, scene and of course the language #langchat
I am an official moderator for this chat and have been for a while now! I have been involved with this chat in general since they started pretty much Before I became a moderator for the chat I believe I co-hosted twice? Now it is every week though! #MinecraftEdu
Absolutely! Some of the elements that were included in the game had never been used before and are now commonplace in games like the new Mario #Odyssey#MinecraftEdu Games within Games within Games #Minigame
A1: I'm all about story-telling and find that kids are so much more engaged and focused when narrative is front-center. Mind u, I'm not big on 'linear' games, but continue to prefer sand-box, so that our stories can take shape as a result of a child's 'meanderings'.
#MinecraftEDU
I never converted my own worlds...but in my new position I;m working on purchasing licenses for the district. Lots of potential in the new #MinecraftEdu
Well you are group 6 and I'm group 5. I think if geography follows the numbers we are going to be very close this week. I'll have you sign a NDA when you visit and likewise the other way! #MinecraftEDU#E2#Road2E2
A1: When we allow students to drive the narrative (of the classroom in general) we establish a culture of respect and mutual responsibility, thus allowing students to to ownership of their learning. Empowerment. #MinecraftEDU
A2: Kids are and can be lost in the mini-game mania. It changes the potential. I'd rather do one long map over the course of serveral lessons, than a super-short one, as a result. #MinecraftEdu
Speaking of games within games. Have you seen some of the things happening in #Minecraft? I saw a working DonkeyKong in Minecraft, with Mario being controlled by the player, from a First person POV! Crazy. #MinecraftEDU
A2: I think a big one is not giving the "players" choice within the lesson. This could be simple like making choices to progress or more complex like choosing a profession or role to play throughout the game/lesson #MinecraftEDU
A2 - Reading ability of students can cripple a great narrative driven lesson in #MinecraftEDU. I hope soon we can add short audio clips to NPCs. That would be epic! Practicing my wizard voice!
A2: A struggle I grapple w is that I like to give students voice and choice when it comes to literacy & I find people quickly move from training to whole class #MazeRunne#MinecraftEdu
So true! This is why not only is it important for educators to design narratives, but give time for students to develop their own stories within the game! #MinecraftEDU
I think that sums it up. #Minecraft and now #MinecraftEDU have always been about potential and the unlimited possibility both for teachers and students. #MinecraftEDU
I agree with this point. However, I find a lot of value in short quests that can be completed in a short period of time, 20 min, and then allow for debrief and reflection. However, there is also something to be said about sustained energy in prolonged quests #MinecraftEDU
I read an Article by Spires (2015) which outlined 10th grade students who read on the 8th grade reading level, but within narrative games, could read and comprehend on the 12th grade reading level. #MinecraftEDU was also referenced in the article.
A2: Sometimes Ss are frozen with indecision when too many choices are available. It's important to provide guidance (scaffold) as the move through the narrative -
so they aren't overwhelmed & give up #MinecraftEdu
Stoked to be able to contribute to this blog discussion of what @PlayCraftLearn brings to classrooms communities like mine. Proud to be part of the #MinecraftEdu team as a mentor among some awesome folks!
Here are 9 tips for classroom management from Minecraft Mentors. Community guidelines, unstructured time, offline activities, group reflection and more useful advice for teaching with Minecraft. https://t.co/ba5C4wfaKQ#teachingtips#gbl
What if we provided a hint or help "block." Could be something physical that they turn into the teacher for a clue, or a specific item within the game. I am thinking like the hint cards in BreakoutEDU games. #MinecraftEDU
A3: Narrative in #MinecraftEDU is different than other games because Minecraft is a sandbox game. Everything has the potential to be a choice or to be changed by the player as they move through the game or lesson.
Absolutely. This is one of the most powerful attributes of #MinecraftEDU. While we can design quests, it is still and always will be a sandbox, which enables that open-world environment.
A3: A narrative in #MinecraftEdu Uses differentiated instruction by delivering messages through NPCβs and bulletin boards and other items in the game
A3: Narrative in #MinecraftEDU has evolved greatly overtime. We can do so much with NPCs and command blocks. Depending on game mode, creative/survival/adventure, as well as choice of blocks (Allow/Deny) we can really drive the learning or open up the world
A3: Narrative within #Minecraftedu can be like an octopus. Eventually everyone gets to the center of things, even if that's actually where we start. Lol.
This can be important, too, when a teacher designs a lesson and students make a choice to stray off the path of the designed lesson.... and into a potentially better learning experience #MinecraftEDU
Yes! Using NPC is one great way to drive the story, however, signs and chalkboards are a great vehicle for delivering a message as well. Same with the Camera/Portfolio, and now the Book&Quill (writable Book) we can not only live stories, but write them. #MinecraftEDU
A3 - Narrative in #MinecraftEDU you can abandon at any time like a few games but on top of that you can tear it all down or add extreme epicness to it at any time too!
So, when students do stray from the path, how do we bring them back to the quest? What incentives or motivators have we provided in our game to allow for that voluntary participation? #MinecraftEDU
I really like the use of adventure mode to help control the environment. I want to explore the use of Command_Blocks to attempt to build in a currency or exchange system. Put items in hopper, gain access to new area, etc. #MinecraftEDU
Today the Year 5 students are continuing to experiment with Redstone in #MinecraftEdu they are creating their own problems and trying to solve them. E.g. a waterfall that can be turned on and off! @PlayCraftLearn
A3: Um, guys? I find that the boards are too busy, children won't read them. I have been using them to drive the learning (standing there and reading aloud). Rather than answer questions, too, I'll direct kids back to the beginning of a section of play. #MinecraftEdu
Q4: Storytelling through Minecraft has been used in YouTube for years. How can we incorporate these ideas and experiences into the classroom? #MinecraftEDU
Q4: Storytelling through Minecraft has been used in YouTube for years. How can we incorporate these ideas and experiences into the classroom? #MinecraftEDU
If the incentive for straying off the path is autonomy, mastery, and purpose (@DanielPink), then maybe rethinking the pre-set learning path is a better idea than trying to passively or actively force the students back on track. #MinecraftEDU
I like the New Area piece. Progressively harder narrative and levels ending with portals to the next piece of the story. OR choose your own adventure! Sweet @MGrundel@PlayCraftLearn#MinecraftEDU
Right, so I need to learn how to do the command for an if-then. If I receive a special item, (maybe named by an anvil) Ithen teleport to this area/section of the map. This is something I have been exploring in Vanilla Minecraft. would love to incorporate into #MinecraftEDU
A4 - Teachers have had some success with The Dragon Realm narrative in #Literacy classes using #MinecraftEDU. The world is beautiful and the story not too too bad if I must say so myself :) Here's the walkthrough. https://t.co/ud9w1wqqvW
A4: Step 1 = unblock YouTube :)
Step 2 might be to see if there is interest in creating stories that can be published for a wider audience using YouTube #MinecraftEDU
Can I just say how important this question is. @pickleberry1234 came up with this, and sadly, as much as I love it, my mind, as an educator, went no where near this topic, but it is at the forefront of our students' minds. #MinecraftEDU
Absolutely. Which is why we need to design epic learning quests, so students feel that they can achieve these goals within our game. It may be better items/equipment for compelteing that part of the quest, etc. #MinecraftEDU
A4: Skype with YouTubers and Content Creators in Minecraft! I am sure many of them would love to speak with a group of students on how they develop their ideas/plots/stories. Similarly, reach out to mapmakers, etc. #MinecraftEDU
I know that I am not an expert mapmaker/quest designer. However, we have tools like @SkypeClassroom that allow us to connect with Experts from around the world. #MinecraftEDU
A5: I also love the idea of video walk throughs like the one @BBTNB did for his dragon realm. We can allow students to make quest guides to show their progress and learning and use as a teaching tool for within the class. #MinecraftEDU
Q5: What other apps or tools can be combined with #MinecraftEdu for creating amazing narratives and game based lessons? OR What additional features would you like to see included to enhance narratives in #MinecraftEDU.
Q5: What other apps or tools can be combined with #MinecraftEdu for creating amazing narratives and game based lessons? OR What additional features would you like to see included to enhance narratives in #MinecraftEDU.
Excellent ideas. Bringing the Minecraft content creators into the classroom is also way easier than bringing in Shakespeare or Twain or J.K. Rowling. Also, some of those creators might already be in our classrooms. #MinecraftEDU
A4: Skype with YouTubers and Content Creators in Minecraft! I am sure many of them would love to speak with a group of students on how they develop their ideas/plots/stories. Similarly, reach out to mapmakers, etc. #MinecraftEDU
Q4: Storytelling through Minecraft has been used in YouTube for years. How can we incorporate these ideas and experiences into the classroom? #MinecraftEDU
A4: YouTube remains THE place where kids learn, reflect and observe others who are really great narrators. @VintageBeefLP@Paulsoaresjr and others do 'Let's Play's that helped me see the potential of learning through play many years ago. #MinecraftEdu
If you can get JK Rowling to Skype with your kids, you better call me up so I can be there, no matter where I am! But yeah, may be easier to get someone who created an epic Hogwarts map to chat. #MinecraftEDU
A5: One feature I would love to see added to the NPC is an Exchange Button to allow for a bartering or trading system within the game. This would open up so many portals (doors). #MinecraftEDU
A5: My first thought was @WizardKeen's video on using Sketchfab to annotate an area of a Minecraft world as a 3D model that can be shared to a large audience. I wonder if it can be done with .mcworld files? https://t.co/4IwLGlQ5ct#MinecraftEDU
A4: YouTube remains THE place where kids learn, reflect and observe others who are really great narrators. @VintageBeefLP@Paulsoaresjr and others do 'Let's Play's that helped me see the potential of learning through play many years ago. #MinecraftEdu
It would be really cool to connect some of these through #MinecraftEDU code connection. I had this thought about connecting Lego Robotics as well! Imagine building a Lego Agent and connecting via Code COnnection #MinecraftEDU
In reply to
@mr_isaacs, @twinethreads, @MetaverseApp, @GamestarMech, @scratch, @YoYoGames
A5 - My wish list for #MinecraftEDU that would support narrative driven lessons. NPC with audio clips, Selection of theme music to set moods, NPC skins to create characters, In game video capture for YouTubers, and wheelchair characters! Not too much, right @PlayCraftLearn? :)
A4: We can adapt the YouTube style of producing episodes to create a more formal story-telling approach to learning and play. Hum, this is an idea I've yet to explore! #MinecraftEdu#Minecraft
All great suggestions. I would love for structure blocks to be used to import structures as well to quickly build settings. This can partially be done w/ Clone command, but I still need to build original structure. #MinecraftEDU
A5: Would love to be able to bring in schematics for quick import. This of how quickly we could build worlds. I believe that this can be done, it just isn't. #MinecraftEDU
Wow! I cannot believe that we are already at the Outro! This chat was highly engaging and I learned so much. You guys gave me so much to reflect on in building epic quests, engaging students, and allowing opportunities for choice-based learning! #MinecraftEDU
Our most important resource. Which is why, even though I love to model for my students, we need to put some of the "heavy building" on the students in the design and creation of the quests. #MinecraftEDU
