Not everyone sees Microsoft's "Minecraft: Education Edition" as a positive tool in school. Microsoft's classroom-friendly version of the sandbox video game was formally launched earlier this month after giving teachers early access this summer.
Tom Bennett, a behavior expert for the U.K. government's Department of Education, told The Times that he's "not a fan" of "Minecraft" as an education tool in classrooms. He believes that the open world game is "another gimmick which will get in the way of children actually learning."
Imitating U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's rhetoric in his campaign, Bennett said that education should "drain the swamp of gimmicks." For Bennett, "removing these gimmicky aspects of education is one of the biggest tasks" that teachers and educators have to face.
Bennett believes that books are still the better form of teaching, not to mention it's cheaper than "Minecraft" and other tools like the game. He thinks that using games or other learning gimmicks in school runs "a real risk of children focusing on the wrong thing."
Bennett is not the only one with these opinions regarding "Minecraft." Others said that "Minecraft" can introduce a "distracting classroom environment." They also believe that providing structure to a supposedly free game world can push children to "tune out of the message," Engadget reported.
Year 5 collaboratively building WW1 trenches using Minecraft Education Edition @PlayCraftLearn @ImmersiveMind @CSC_DigiLearn #MIEExpert pic.twitter.com/ElLKkYzMIW
— Mr Protheroe (@DpDarran) November 7, 2016
"Minecraft: Education Edition" is now available to more than 50 countries, according to CNET. This version can be purchased for $5 per user and comes with a companion called "Classroom Mode."
The app assists teachers in managing world settings, communicating with students, administering items, and teleporting users into the "Minecraft" world. Another companion tool for "Minecraft: Education Edition" is "Minecraft Mentors."
Some educators, on the other hand, sees "Minecraft: Education Edition" as a positive tool for education for many years now. For these educators, the game can help children learn spatial awareness and problem-solving skills.
The sandbox world of "Minecraft" introduces a "collaborative and immerse classroom environment" that students respond better to than the typical whiteboard. Educators also applauded "Minecraft" for teaching coding, math, social studies, history, art, geology and geography -- subjects that can be taught better with an interactive visual aid.
Do you believe that "Minecraft" is only a learning gimmick that distracts children? Or do you see it as a helpful tool in the classroom? Share your thoughts below.
