Professor defends Minecraft’s plunge into education

Minecraft is making huge strides in their quest to help students in the classroom and amid doubts surrounding the project's validity, a University College Cork professor has publically leapt to the scheme's defence.

The flagship Mojang game has done extremely well in the gaming sector since its 2009 release, selling over 70 million copies across all platforms, and that was only because the game is fun, just imagine its potential if it could enhance a student's academic progress.

Truth is, the possibilities are endless if it works.

GameZone recently reported that teachers were being encouraged to weave the sandbox title into their lesson plans, and now a number of people involved in the industry have been left impressed by recent developments.

One focus in particular for Minecraft has been its potential in helping students with math work, and Patrick Fitzpatrick, emeritus professor of mathematics at UCC, feels that the process could help in the long run.

“The overwhelming majority of school students play computer games, and these provide an avenue for the study of elementary logic in an environment that is both familiar and enjoyable.

Fitzpatrick is not the only academic to comment on plans to plunge Minecraft into the classroom, Iain Stanger, teacher in Aberdeen, also spoke out in defence of the project.

“I know some schools using fantasy role games and others such as Minecraft, which have the potential to enhance people’s learning. Games such as Just Dance and Wii Fit also have the potential to do this" he said.

If you would like to read more about Minecraft's movie into the educational market, click here.