First, I would like to say that I wholeheartedly agree that Minecraft is an incredible learning tool. I have witnessed it in action with my own kids, both in an educational context and free play (which is arguably educational as well) and I am continually impressed with the real world knowledge they glean from the game and the incredible structures that they are able to effortlessly build.

But….

 

I have SO many questions!!

In discussion with my pod I have been reassured that the game is really not that complicated and advised that a mouse would be better for navigating than the Mac tracking pad that I’m currently using…..but I am not even sure that I want to invest the play-time required solve some of my Minecraft mysteries, especially when we are already spending so much time online.

Ms. James presented a very engaged perspective, one where she was just as passionate about the program as her students, but what if you’re not? What if, as a teacher, you want to engage your students and  enhance their learning opportunities and enable them to experience this tech, enjoying all the benefits that come along with that, but don’t love gaming yourself? How far down the gaming path do we need to go, to properly/successfully implement these programs in the classroom?

Update:: Since writing this post, I have played Minecraft with the fantastically supportive and patient members of my tech pod.  I am happy to report that my kid built me a crafting table, I learned how to pick flowers, gather seeds, collect chicken eggs, cut down trees and I even built a fence with a friend (which we then lured a flock of chickens into!)…and it was actually kinda ok!?

Knock, knock…Who’s there? Diamond….Diamond who? You’re diamond me crazy!