Minecraft

=Teaching Minecraft=
 * Overview of game
 * Immersive world
 * Sample world at 10.128.70.181
 * Kids have a high-level of excitement
 * Like the “Omega Man” movie
 * the world has day and night
 * run around and build during the day
 * monsters come out at night
 * Multi-user server
 * Build and destroy items
 * Everything can be modified
 * Characters have an inventory (“belt” & “backpack”)
 * Combination of base items (wood, rock, coal, iron ore, diamonds, etc.) create other tools (door, axe, pick, etc.)
 * Tools help perform tasks faster
 * Build farms with animals
 * Can change the mechanics of the game by downloading mods
 * Can download texture packs to make the object look more realistic and less pixilated
 * List of mods at [] and [|http://www.minecraftdl.com]
 * Lessons
 * Practice with mouse and keyboard
 * Practice with different user interface
 * The game fosters research because students need to research directions and tips
 * Build a town
 * What role will each student play in the world?
 * Should the world create a barter system
 * Find a pyramid
 * Figure out how to open the door to the pyramid
 * Teach foreign language through chat
 * Architecture – recreate an accurate rendition of your school
 * Basic math (counting)
 * Art – block textures can be made in Photoshop
 * Role playing – build a pyramid and assign historically accurate roles to students
 * Collaboration – create a wiki for students to contribute when they learn something about the game
 * Best Practice
 * Steep learning curve
 * Minimal directions, but lots of resources on the Internet
 * “Mindcraft short and sweet” on Youtube
 * For younger students, it is better to setup a world for students
 * For older students, let them start from scratch
 * Understand server options to match grade levels
 * Need to break habits learned from other video games (i.e., kill what moves)
 * Create roads
 * Create camp for students to sit and watch teacher
 * How to create projects for students who have been playing Mindcraft already?
 * Follow Mindcraft wikis and twitter to find out about new items
 * Updates tend to break server
 * Changes to game will be shown at the start of the game after an update
 * Studnts can have different characters with the same account
 * MindcraftEdu
 * Ability to freeze students
 * Ability to teleport students
 * Ability to get unlimited inventory
 * Lock world to be daytime
 * Turn on/off destructive things
 * Give students an item
 * Create assignments (students hit special key to see it)