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Minecraft to unearth next SA classroom gems

March 7, 2017 8:48 am by: Category: Broadband, BUSINESS, Featured, Technology Leave a comment A+ / A-

Minecraft 1By GIFT NDOLWANE
JOHANNESBURG – TECHNOLOGY is hailed as an important tool to simplify and make learning enjoyable, eventually augment student achievement, empower teachers and enrich the overall learning experience for the students.
It is even more relevant in the current era of tech savvy millenials.
In this context, Microsoft South Africa has announced the availability of Minecraft: Education Edition, for purchase in the country.
Since its 2016 global release, Minecraft: Education Edition has reached more than 75 000 students by providing educators with a fun, engaging foundation to create, explore and learn in classrooms around the globe.
Minecraft: Education Edition is an open-world game that promotes creativity, collaboration and problem-solving, built with the help of more than 50 000 students and educators who participated in Microsoft’s early access programme and provided valuable feedback to help fine-tune the experience across a diverse set of learning environments.
As part of the official launch in South Africa, Microsoft together with Minecraft ambassador/creative consultant in education, Stephen Reid, director of Scottish-based company, ImmersiveMinds, will host teacher training sessions in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Reid has almost 20 years’ experience in working to bring technology to the classroom and spent the last decade focused on games-based learning, with six of those on the development of Minecraft.
He says the key to harnessing technology as an effective tool for teaching and learning is in recognising its place in the everyday lives of youngsters.
“The tools they embrace and enjoy using are not the tools we tend to deploy in our school systems readily,” says Reid.
“Technology should not be viewed as a stand-alone tool, but as a powerful part of any teacher toolkit, complimentary to traditional tools.”
Minecraft: Education Edition brings the classroom and curriculum to students in an environment they are already comfortable with.
“Technology is increasingly making head way in the classroom, with textbooks, battered notebooks and worn-down pencils giving way to e-readers, tablets, laptops and a multitude of software and digital tools that are completely changing the way that students learn,” says Angela Schaerer, Teacher Engagement Lead for Microsoft SA.
Minecraft: Education Edition comes with a number of benefits as student engagement, creative exploration and collaboration, with tangible learning outcomes.
 Guardian

Minecraft to unearth next SA classroom gems Reviewed by on . By GIFT NDOLWANE JOHANNESBURG - TECHNOLOGY is hailed as an important tool to simplify and make learning enjoyable, eventually augment student achievement, empow By GIFT NDOLWANE JOHANNESBURG - TECHNOLOGY is hailed as an important tool to simplify and make learning enjoyable, eventually augment student achievement, empow Rating: 0

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