As schools strive to keep up with advancing technology, they are exploring ways to integrate modern technology into the curriculum. In addition to interactive whiteboards, tablets, and laptops, video games may now have a place in the classroom.

The Crown Estate Partners with Minecraft for Educational Purposes

A collaborative effort between The Crown Estate, owned by the King, and Minecraft has led to the creation of two new worlds within the game's Education edition. Launched on September 28th, these worlds will allow students to learn about offshore wind farms and even try their hand at building their own within the virtual realm.

Two Lesson Plans for Teachers

Teachers across the country now have access to two lesson plans designed around activities available in Minecraft Education. The first lesson, titled The Offshore Wind Power Challenge, focuses on offshore wind farms. The second lesson, created by The Crown Estate, revolves around conservation and ecology in Windsor Great Park.

Impressive Results Seen During a Live Demonstration

The effectiveness of the program was demonstrated through a live lesson featuring Minecraft Education. The students were tasked with building an offshore wind farm, considering factors such as cost, turbine type, water depth, and marine habitats. Following the lesson, the students displayed a high level of knowledge retention and remembered key vocabulary and concepts. One student even remarked, "It’s more interactive, so it’s easier to learn. A lot of us prefer games to writing, so it’s easier to remember."

Proven Benefits of Interactivity in Education

Research has consistently shown that interactive learning aids with knowledge retention. In this case, students were actively engaged in their games, sharing ideas with partners and discussing ways to optimize their virtual wind farms.

Minecraft: A Widely Successful Educational Tool

Minecraft has already been successfully implemented in educational settings in various countries. For example, in The Netherlands, it was used to design a city. Minecraft Education's Director of Learning Experiences, Justin Edwards, expressed the popularity of the game in subjects such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Chemistry. It has even been used to teach World Peace, with six Nobel Prize laureates participating in the game.

Lessons Aligned with the National Curriculum

The Crown Estate worked with Hopscotch, a company that creates lessons for multiple subjects, to develop lesson plans in line with the National Curriculum. Judith Everett, an Executive Director at The Crown Estate, explained that Minecraft helps make conservation more accessible. By partnering with Hopscotch, they ensured that the lessons meet educational standards while bringing the subject matter to life.

Video Games in Education: A Potential Success

Although it remains to be seen if this program will be successful in the UK, incorporating video games into the classroom can break the stigma surrounding them and ultimately aid students in their learning.