Microsoft Introduces Minecraft: Education Edition

Microsoft has released a new edition of the popular Minecraft game. Minecraft: Education Edition is intended for classroom use as a tool for learning a variety of subjects, from history to physics.

Not much is changed compared to the standard version of the game. An improved map has been added to the education version of Minecraft to make it easier to navigate. In addition, a teacher can limit the materials students can use and an in-game camera with notebook is added to keep track of what happened.

Forty participants can work together on each server and make assignments that are drawn up by a teacher. To support teachers, it has been made easier to customize the Minecraft world and a website has been set up where teachers can help each other. Special learning worlds can be placed on the website with lesson plans that can then be used by other teachers. Microsoft has indicated that it will not make its own worlds for use in the classroom.

Microsoft showcases the possibilities for using Minecraft in education at the Bett show in London. It will provide workshops on how to use Minecraft during the show, but will also show a demo of Minecraft: Education Edition.

Minecraft: Education Edition is made in collaboration with the creators of the MinecraftEDU mod for Minecraft. Microsoft says it will release the price of the educational version of Minecraft before the end of the school year. For now, the plan is to charge $5 per user per year.