{"id":1617,"date":"2019-04-30T21:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T21:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/?p=1617"},"modified":"2019-07-14T08:43:41","modified_gmt":"2019-07-14T08:43:41","slug":"crafting-a-lesson-in-minecraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/?p=1617","title":{"rendered":"Crafting a lesson in Minecraft"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Like many\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">teachers<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, MinecraftEDU was a program that I watched my students play and enjoy yet I was reluctant to bring it into the classroom because of my\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">limited<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">crafting\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0skills.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I decided that a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s the technology coordinator, I\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">just\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">had to make a leap of faith and venture into the MinecraftEDU world<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. I started by allowing<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0students to play around with it informally during\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Library<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0time<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Becoming\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a Global Minecraft Mentor<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">made me take a more formal look at how MinecraftEDU enhance<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0learning<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. My\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">particular\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">area of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">interest<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0is<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">in<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0how<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, as teachers,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">we<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0can<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">bring<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">MinecraftEDU\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">into an already\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">crowded curriculum<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0advice\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I offer\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">colleagues<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0is to<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0begin<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">identifying<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">your<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0own \u2018inventory\u2019<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0a7\" data-font=\"Wingdings\" data-listid=\"3\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What learning programs do you have available?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0a7\" data-font=\"Wingdings\" data-listid=\"3\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are you mandated to teach?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0a7\" data-font=\"Wingdings\" data-listid=\"3\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What technology tools can you access?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once your inventory is establishe<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">d\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">take time to reflect upon\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">resources you have<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">design a\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">unit of work<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0that is \u2018built\u2019 from as many of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">se<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0resources<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0as appropriate<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, keeping<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0MinecraftEDU as the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">main tool<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I refer to this as \u2018layering-up\u2019 the lesson.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Remember<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0that s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">tudents are very creative lesson \u2018designers\u2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and we should encourage them<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to be part of the process.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Give them the curriculum and simply ask\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2018H<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ow could we show this learning in a MinecraftEDU world?\u2019<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide5.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide5-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide5-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide5-510x287.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">I did exactly that with my Year 6 (12 year old) students. Together we\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">read through<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">\u00a0a<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">\u00a0science unit\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">on<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">\u00a0energy<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">. We discussed the key concepts and the possibility of MinecraftEDU being the main tool for learning. The students<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">\u00a0assured me they could demonstrate and explain\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">force, energy and gravity\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">with<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">in<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">\u00a0a MinecraftEDU\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">world<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">\u00a0\u2013 and WOW \u2013 they\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">were right<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-AU\" xml:lang=\"EN-AU\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW66321455 BCX0\">!<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW66321455 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As I drafted th<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">is Science<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0unit I looked for opportunities to bring in visible thinking, which is a current school focus. We used the thinking routine\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chalk Talk\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">to determine prior knowledge on energy and force (See Project Zero \u2013 Harvard). We set up a OneNote section to record ideas and notes and kept the 21<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">st<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Century Learning Dimension of\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">S<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">elf Regulation<\/span><\/i><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0as a key skill throughout the unit. This \u2018layering up\u2019 of inventory items ensure<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the unit of work\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">was<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0more meaningful and relevant for students<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">open<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ed<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0up time within<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0a crowded timetable.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The results were outstanding. View Evie\u2019s work sample on\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">youtube<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/PYi6PqVaizU\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/PYi6PqVaizU<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The full lesson plan is available at\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/education.minecraft.net\/lessons\/the-force-of-minecraft\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/education.minecraft.net\/lessons\/the-force-of-minecraft\/<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I used a similar approach for a Maths task that involved\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">liaising with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the sporting company Supercars.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><a href=\"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide6.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1619 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide6.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide6-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide6-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Slide6-510x287.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This task involved<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0a student, Ben,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">emailing\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sam\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">at Supercars to gather information, in particular, maps. The unit had a focus on Maths, as well as thinking routines and skilful communication.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What I have learnt is that we need to respect the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">knowledge and skills<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">our\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">student<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Allow them to\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">help design their<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0learning within a framework prepared by the teacher.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">S<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">urvey\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0class\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">to<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0find the \u2018Masters\u2019\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and have them lead with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">you<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. As a Mentor I share these ideas via workshops and webinars and my advice is always to\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">just make that leap of faith \u2013 and start crafting.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like many\u00a0teachers, MinecraftEDU was a program that I watched my students play and enjoy yet I was reluctant to bring it into the classroom because of my\u00a0limited\u00a0crafting\u00a0\u00a0skills.\u00a0I decided [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1632,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-minecraft","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1617"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1631,"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1617\/revisions\/1631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsbarkerstearoom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}