Minecraft helps pupils to develop vital skills
AN EXCITING new Minecraft project has been launched in Wales, which includes the creation of five learning centres.
Teachers will learn how to utilise the creativity and innovation of Minecraft: Education Edition in their classrooms as Wales becomes one of the first countries in the world to fund Microsoft software for all maintained schools, thanks to a £1.2m investment from the Welsh Government.
Minecraft executives from the US visited Darran Park Primary School and Ynyshir Primary School to see the software being used by pupils.
The licensing deal includes
Minecraft: Education Edition, which is available via Hwb, the Welsh Government’s digital learning platform.
In line with the new curriculum for Wales, the project enables educators to prepare learners for the future workplace, building collaboration, communication, critical thinking and systems thinking skills through gamebased learning.
The open learning environment in Minecraft worlds gives learners the freedom to experiment, encouraging creative self-expression and problemsolving, while offering teachers a transformative way to be innovative, creative and engage learners using
Minecraft to ignite their passion for learning.
This project also offers practical examples to support the Welsh Government’s ambitions for all learners to develop digital competence skills that will help them thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Councillor Christina Leyshon, RCT’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “I had the pleasure of seeing Minecraft: Education Edition in use at our schools. The children are very enthusiastic and are already putting the software to excellent use. I am sure it will encourage them to be innovative, creative and will set them in good stead for the future.”
Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “I’m proud to say we’re one of the first countries in the world to take this progressive approach to providing school staff and learners with access to Microsoft software.
“Through projects like Enriching the Curriculum for Wales, we want all learners to benefit from the collaboration, communication, problem-solving and critical thinking opportunities that Minecraft: Education Edition offers.”
Allison Matthews, executive producer of Minecraft: Education Edition, said: “We are very excited to see the learning outcomes that educators will be able to drive in the upcoming year as they find ways to incorporate Minecraft: Education Edition across the curriculum.
“It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm being shown by the children and I would like to thank everyone at Darran Park Primary and Ynyshir Primary for the warm welcome afforded to us.”
Schools have been identified in the four Welsh regional consortia to become Hwb Minecraft Learning Centres, which will guide educators across the country in using Minecraft: Education Edition in transformative ways to engage students.