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Minecraft in the classroom

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12 Works of Literature Recreated in LEGO. Give a bibliophile a set of LEGO, and she'll think outside the box.

12 Works of Literature Recreated in LEGO

These creations, inspired by library mainstays, prove that LEGO bricks are more than just child's play. 1. Harry Potter LEGO builder extraordinaire Alice Finch constructed a scale representation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for BrickCon 2012 (BrickCon, an annual event for LEGO enthusiasts held at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, just wrapped its 2014 session on Oct. 5). Finch spent 12 months over an 18-month time span (she took a six-month break to work on “other projects”) and an estimated 400,000 tiny plastic bricks to build her massive model. Finch’s Hogwarts took home both the People’s Choice and Best in Show at BrickCon 2012. Finch and her completed castle: Resources and Start Guide. Since the online version of ClassRealm is still a ways off (though hopefully not too far), it’s only fair that I share my current ClassRealm documents with the teachers who want to give it a try in their classroom.

Resources and Start Guide

This fantastic system can be yours for the amazing price of $0.00! (Please add $0.00 for shipping) Yep. Free. Why not? Maybe ClassRealm is what your students need to make this school year the best one ever. Note: ClassRealm works best if you add your own flair. Last Updated: January, 2014. Real-world Examples - MinecraftEdu wiki. Minecraft History Project. Inspired To Educate. In a previous post, we reviewed why Vicki Davis(@coolcatteacher) and other teachers use virtual worlds to teach digital citizenship and online collaboration.

Inspired To Educate

It’s amazing to see how teachers use technologies like OpenSim to transform their students into teachers. As a Dad, I always enjoy finding games that my son and I can enjoy together. We decided to check out Minecraft this week for father/son gaming time. Minecraft is a social virtual experience where players explore worlds composed of blocks. The game framework enables players to collaborate and communicate with each other by text chat. As we have been exploring tools in educational technology, I have been impressed with how teachers use Minecraft in their classroom. Minecraft can be used as a tool to engage student creativity: Erik Shaver, a social studies teacher, challenged his class to draw or describe a self sustainable town. To learn more, visit. Minecraft – Students teaching teachers :) It has been very busy for a number of students in the Minecraft class over the last couple of weeks.

Minecraft – Students teaching teachers :)

Students have been able to share their learning with educators in NSW schools in both the private and public system. In doing this they have embarked on an extraordinary journey that at times felt surreal. On Saturday the 20th October I was invited to present at the PLANE Festival of Learning, a conference in Sydney that featured the launch of PLANE (Pathways for Learning, Anywhere anytime – a Network for Educators) for all educators in Australia. At this conference @Natbott42 was also involved in the presentation by showing the teachers around our server and chatting with them over skype from his lounge room in Tasmania.

A Sydney student, Nick Patsianas, also helped out with the presentation. Students teaching teachers – pic taken by @townesy77 NSW teacher building area. Teacher’s Guide: Five ways Minecraft (and other video games) can boost student writing skills. With the recent surge of interest in using video games in schools, I’ve been asked a lot about what gaming looks like in my class.

Teacher’s Guide: Five ways Minecraft (and other video games) can boost student writing skills

I thought I’d share five ways I’ve used video games, like Minecraft, to help boost student success with their writing skills. Before we get started, I want to make clear that there is much learning happening while people play video games. I posted about that back in 2007, when I started teaching and was thinking about the literacy value in real time strategy building video games. Tons of learning happens while students are playing games: strategic thinking, trial and error experimentation, scientific reasoning, and more. But that’s not going to help you come report card time. So, how can educators use video games in an inquiry-based, student-led way that will help support their literacy skills?

Graphic organizers, like webs, are great to kickstart post-game writing activities. 1. 2. Teachers Teaching Teachers #255 Exploring Minecraft w/ Jo Kay, Dean Groom, Bronwyn Stuckey, Joel Levin, and Chad Sansing 7.13.11. Using Minecraft as an Educational Tool. Minecraft in the Classroom Teaches Reading and More. Last month, Scientific American declared, "... not only is Minecraft immersive and creative, but it is an excellent platform for making almost any subject area more engaging.”

Minecraft in the Classroom Teaches Reading and More

That’s a nod from a top science magazine to the game many parents wish their kids had never heard of. This endorsement follows Common Sense Media's seal of approval. On the surface, it's not so surprising. Something like 80 percent of 5- to 8-year-olds play games, and 97 percent of teens. Early simulations like Reader Rabbit are still used in classrooms to drill reading and math skills.

But Minecraft, a blocky, retro, role-playing simulation that's more Lego than svelte, hi-tech wizardry, isn't just the game du jour. Use these effective classroom management tips to deal with difficult students... Being consistent is of paramount importance when implementing and executing... Tips for how to get a teaching job, including interview questions for teachers...