MinecraftEdu Distributes the Building Blocks of Games-Based Education to Classrooms Everywhere
By Dr. Evelyn Reed | January 01, 0001 | 7 min read
Joel Levin at the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School used popular indie block building game Y1 App Minecraft as a learning tool for his second grade computer class. Now he’s a part of the newly-launched MinecraftEdu, a program dedicated to spreading Minecraft-based learning to classrooms around the world.(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c&cid=872d12ce-453b-4870-845f-955919887e1b'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c" }).render("79703296e5134c75a2db6e1b64762017"); }); Earlier this year Kotaku took a field trip to the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School to see Mr. Levin and his students in action, teaching building skills, cooperation, and teamwork 
via Mojang’s popular indie game. Given the open creative nature of Minecraft, I’d imagine teachers could use it as a platform for teaching any number of subjects.
https://kotaku.com/we-took-a-field-trip-to-the-minecraft-school-5803138 So does MinecraftEdu, a collaboration between educators and programmers in the U.S. and Finland aimed at giving educators everywhere the 
tools they need to institute similar programs in their classrooms.
Right now MinecraftEdu is offering up to a 50 percent discount Y1 Game on copies of the game for educators, along with onsite workshops and training so they can understand the game almost as well as young children will. And that’s just the beginning. There’s a MinecraftEdu custom mod coming that will integrate simple server software, world building tools, and a library of premade worlds, levels, and activities covering any number of subjects.
What a noble, forward-thinking endeavor. I log into Minecraft and spend hours digging giant holes. These folks log in and see the future of education. Minecraft EDU [Official Website] You can contact Michael Fahey, the author of 
this post, at [email protected]. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around all yono app our #tips page.