Minecraft: More Than Just A Game

Derick Pikula
As a father of three children, I understand the constant battle of managing screen time. I am an advocate for more outside play and exercise, and minimizing screen time. Being a technology instructor, there is a balance of teaching lifelong learning skills in an environment where students can feel safe to take risks using technology.

The popular video game Minecraft is a favorite among young children and teens alike. This virtual 3D environment allows one to construct objects, manipulate terrain, and interact with other users in order to build a virtual world. Minecraft is used in schools worldwide through its educational version, MinecraftEDU, and more recently, Minecraft Education Edition, in large part because of the open ended game setup.

At Harbor Day, students in grades two through four use Minecraft Education in order to construct replicas of historical landmarks, create new imaginative structures, as well as build virtual 3D puzzles in an open environment. Second grade students use MinecraftEDU sparingly to navigate in the 3D environment, and collaborate with classmates to create virtual communities. Third grade students use Google Earth in connection with their Minecraft world, to replicate specific geographical areas and create detailed maps of their constructed land. Fourth graders replicate lands based on past, present, or fictional drawn from literature. These assignments satisfy skills in ISTE 2016 Standards for Students.

The biggest benefits of using Minecraft in Education during technology time is student engagement and deeper learning. Students are learning the process of building and exercising their visuospatial reasoning skills. Visuospatial reasoning is measured in terms of the ability to imagine objects, make global shapes, and understand the differences and similarities between objects. The program is also a great way to promote collaboration. Students learn how to foster cooperation, brainstorm and generate ideas as a group, and regulate group-driven norms in a shared environment.

My aim here at Harbor Day School is to ensure that all programs and computer content is appropriate, useful, and meaningful. I can attest to the positive results that come from structured play using Minecraft Education, and look forward to exploring new possibilities of lessons and skill development that this software might enhance.

Listed below are a few examples of articles written about Minecraft Education and the classroom impact:

The Minecraft Generation


Immersive Minds

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Derick Pikula is has been teaching technology at Harbor Day School since 2014.
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Harbor Day School is a co-educational private independent K-8 school established in 1952.

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