I remember when Minecraft started to get popular, asking my nephew if he could teach me how to play as I wanted to leverage the tool for mathematics. He managed to wriggle his way out of doing it and I forgot about it for a number of years, until my son was old enough to play the game. Since then, I have become a big fan, it is the only game where I can play with both my kids and we all have a great time doing our own thing, together.
I’ve been trying hard to bring it into my maths lessons and had varying results. There is a fine balance between educational and fun. We are encroaching on some of our students favourite game, and potentially turning them against it! So we have to give them as much freedom as the experience allows.
This means the structure of the lesson has to be spot on: Have clear expectations of the evidence of learning. Ensure the learning is the focus, ensure that students understand they are using Minecraft as a tool to demonstrate skills and understanding, and that it is not a reward lesson.
Below I’ve linked to some of the lessons I have completed using Minecraft – some of them are worlds that are previously available on the game, and some require you to download a game I have created. I plan to create some videos on how to upload a world for students to use – but for now the Microsoft Learning Teacher Academy has most of the details to get you on your way
Maths Beyond the Curriculum 