If you’re a fan of Minecraft, chances are you’ve heard of the Minecraft Education Edition. But what exactly is the difference between these two popular games? While Minecraft is known for being a virtual sandbox where players can build structures and explore a vast open world, the Education Edition puts a unique spin on this concept by incorporating educational elements into the gameplay.
With the Minecraft Education Edition, teachers can introduce students to complex concepts like physics and coding through interactive lessons and challenges. This education-specific version of the game includes a variety of features not found in the original, such as classroom management tools and the ability for teachers to customize the learning experience for each student. Additionally, Minecraft Education Edition offers an expanded library of in-game resources specifically geared towards teaching and learning, making it an ideal tool for educators looking to bring immersive learning experiences into their classroom.
While Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition share many similarities, their unique features make them suitable for different audiences. Whether you’re a casual gamer enjoying the freedom of the original Minecraft world or an educator looking to incorporate gaming into your curriculum, these two distinct versions of the game each have their own strengths and appeal to different audiences.
Minecraft vs Minecraft Education Edition: Key Differences
While they may seem like the same game, Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition (MCEE) have some significant differences that set them apart. Below are some of the key highlights:
Gameplay Features
- Minecraft’s gameplay is mainly focused on building and survival, where players can explore, build, and interact with the environment and other players. While the Education Edition has all the standard Minecraft features, including survival and creative modes, MCEE has additional features such as classrooms and NPCs (non-player characters) that teachers can program with custom commands to create more engaging lesson activities.
- The Education Edition has built-in lessons and resources that teachers can use to teach different subjects such as coding, history, and biology. These lessons provide a guided path for students to follow and can be customized according to the teacher’s needs.
- The Minecraft Education Edition has in-game resources, such as chalkboards and posters, to help instructors teach different topics. These resources can be customized to suit any lesson idea or scenario.
System Requirements
Since Minecraft is the original game and has been around for quite some time, it can be played on a range of devices. On the other hand, the Education Edition was developed to be played exclusively on Windows 10 devices and supported across different Microsoft ecosystems.
Accessibility
One of the main differences between the two games is accessibility. The standard Minecraft game is more accessible to the general public as it is available across more platforms and requires less specialized knowledge to use. On the other hand, the Education Edition requires more advanced technical know-how, including the ability to set up a server. Additionally, the Education Edition is only available to schools and organisations that are registered with Microsoft, making it less accessible to individual users.
Price
| Game | Cost |
|---|---|
| Minecraft | $26.95 AUD |
| Minecraft Education Edition | $5 AUD per user, per year |
The cost of the Education Edition is lower than the original version, but considering schools pay for a licence per user, it may add up. Nevertheless, the affordability of Minecraft Education Edition makes it more accessible for educational programs with a tight budget.
What is Minecraft Education Edition
Minecraft is a popular video game that allows players to create and build their own virtual worlds using blocks. Minecraft Education Edition is a version of the game that has been specifically designed for use in schools and other educational settings. It was created to make Minecraft more accessible and relevant to teachers and students, allowing them to use the game to enhance learning and collaboration through fun, engaging experiences.
Key Features of Minecraft Education Edition
- Classroom-Friendly Control Options: Teachers can manage student activity, provide feedback, and grade assignments with ease using Classroom Mode companion app.
- Global Collaboration: Students can connect with classrooms around the world to build, communicate and learn collaboratively with Minecraft: Education Edition.
- Creative Exploration: Students can build and create almost anything they can imagine in their Minecraft world. They can design, explore, and share projects ranging from space walks to historical sites.
How is Minecraft Education Edition Different from Regular Minecraft?
Minecraft Education Edition is designed to be much more than just a game. It comes with a variety of features and in-game tools that make it easier for teachers to incorporate Minecraft into their classrooms and incorporate learning outcomes.
Unlike regular Minecraft, Education Edition includes teacher controls like Classroom Mode, which provides students with a way to easily see and interact with the game world. This also allows teachers to monitor student work, provide feedback, and save the world to return to later. Additionally, Education Edition includes an in-game camera and portfolio, allowing students to document their work and learning.
Minecraft Education Edition Table of Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Classroom Mode companion app | A companion app for Minecraft that enables educators to manage world settings, communicate with students, give items and teleport students in the Minecraft world. |
| Lesson Plans | Teachers can access a range of lesson plans for Minecraft Education Edition from the Minecraft: Education Edition website. |
| Camera and Portfolio | Students can capture their adventures in Minecraft using the in-game camera. This feature allows them to take screenshots of their builds and create digital portfolios of their work. |
| Global Multiplayer | Students can connect and play with other Minecraft Education Edition users from around the world. |
| Custom Skins | Students can create and upload their own skins to personalize their Minecraft avatars. |
Minecraft Education Edition is a powerful tool for teachers and students alike. With its engaging gameplay, endless possibilities, and intuitive controls, it has become one of the most popular educational tools in the classroom today.
How Can Minecraft Education Edition be Used in Schools?
Minecraft Education Edition is a game-based learning platform that provides an immersive and engaging way for students to learn different subjects. It has numerous features that allow educators to tailor lessons and activities to meet the needs of their students. Among the most notable features of Minecraft Education Edition are the following:
- Collaboration and Teamwork: Students can work together on projects and assignments in real-time, which promotes collaboration and teamwork. This feature also helps students develop interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Creative Expression: Minecraft Education Edition allows students to express their creativity through building, designing, and customizing their projects. This feature encourages students to think outside of the box and develop their imagination.
- Cross-Curricular Learning: Teachers can use Minecraft Education Edition to teach different subjects, such as history, science, and math. This feature enables educators to create interdisciplinary lessons that are both fun and challenging.
Benefits of Using Minecraft Education Edition in Schools
In addition to the features mentioned above, Minecraft Education Edition has numerous benefits when used in schools. Some of these benefits include:
- Engages Students: Minecraft Education Edition provides a fun and engaging way for students to learn different subjects. This feature helps students become more invested in their education and more motivated to learn.
- Develops Critical Thinking Skills: Minecraft Education Edition requires students to think critically and solve problems in a creative way. This feature helps students develop critical thinking skills that are useful both inside and outside the classroom.
- Promotes Inclusivity: Minecraft Education Edition has features that allow students with disabilities to participate in the game, which promotes inclusivity and accessibility.
- Encourages Self-Directed Learning: Minecraft Education Edition allows students to work on their own projects and assignments, which encourages self-directed learning. This feature helps students develop independence and autonomy in their education.
Examples of Minecraft Education Edition Lessons and Activities
Teachers can use Minecraft Education Edition to create a wide range of lessons and activities that are both fun and educational. Some examples of lessons and activities that can be created using Minecraft Education Edition are:
| Subject | Lesson/Activity |
|---|---|
| History | Recreate a historical event or landmark using Minecraft Education Edition. |
| Math | Create math challenges or puzzles using Minecraft Education Edition. |
| Science | Build a model of the solar system or recreate a scientific experiment using Minecraft Education Edition. |
| English | Recreate a scene from a book or create a story using Minecraft Education Edition. |
Overall, Minecraft Education Edition is a powerful tool that can be used to engage and motivate students while teaching them important skills and knowledge. Its range of features and benefits makes it a valuable addition to any classroom.
Minecraft vs Minecraft Education Edition: Which one is better for Education?
In the world of gaming, few titles have had the impact that Minecraft has had. With hundreds of millions of copies sold worldwide, Minecraft has become one of the most popular games of all time. But did you know that there’s an education-focused version of Minecraft? It’s called Minecraft Education Edition, and it’s a modified version of the game that’s designed specifically for use in classrooms. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between the two versions and try to answer the question: which one is better for education?
4. Features Comparison
- Worlds and Gameplay: Both Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition have the same core gameplay mechanics, where players explore a blocky 3D world, mine blocks, and build structures. However, Minecraft Education Edition has many additional features specifically designed for education purposes. For example, it has non-playable characters that can guide students through lessons and give them feedback, and it has a camera mode that allows students to take pictures of their builds and share them.
- Content and Educational Resources: While both versions have access to a vast library of user-generated mods, maps and game modes, Minecraft Education Edition has a number of educational resources curated specifically for use in the classroom, including lesson plans, sample worlds, and other resources for educators.
- Multiplayer and Collaboration: Both versions of Minecraft allow for multiplayer gameplay, but Minecraft Education Edition has additional collaboration tools that make it easier for teachers and students to work together. For example, it has a Classroom Mode companion app that allows teachers to manage worlds and students, and it has a feature called “Code Builder” that allows students to learn and practice coding skills.
- Pricing and Accessibility: Minecraft is available on almost every platform, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices, and has a one-time purchase cost ranging from $20 to $30 depending on the platform. Minecraft Education Edition is a subscription-based service that costs $5 per user per year, with volume pricing available for large deployments. Minecraft Education Edition is also only available for purchase through Microsoft Store for Education, and requires a Windows 10 or MacOS machine.
| Minecraft | Minecraft Education Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Gameplay | Exploration, mining, crafting, building | Same as Minecraft, with additional education-focused features |
| Educational Resources | User-generated content only | Curated resources for educators, including lessons plans and sample worlds |
| Multiplayer and Collaboration | Multiplayer supported | Additional collaboration tools, including Classroom Mode and Code Builder |
| Pricing and Accessibility | One-time purchase cost of $20-$30, available on multiple platforms | Subscription-based service costing $5/user/year, available only through Microsoft Store for Education on Windows 10 or MacOS |
Overall, while both versions of Minecraft are great games, Minecraft Education Edition has several features that make it particularly suited for educational purposes. The additional content and educational resources, collaboration tools, and the ability to create custom lesson plans make it a worthwhile investment for schools and educators who are looking for an engaging and effective tool for teaching a variety of subjects, from math and science to history and languages.
Exploring the Unique Features of Minecraft Education Edition
If you’re familiar with Minecraft, you’ll find that Minecraft Education Edition (MEE) isn’t too different from the original game. However, there are a number of distinct features that set it apart and make it a valuable tool for teachers and students alike. In this article, we’ll explore some of the unique features of Minecraft Education Edition, starting with:
1. Classroom-Friendly
- One of the key differences between Minecraft and MEE is that the latter is designed specifically for classroom use.
- MEE features a number of settings that can be customized by teachers, such as chat settings, player visibility, and even the time of day.
- There’s also a classroom mode feature, which allows teachers to access a menu of items and commands that they can use to interact with their students and ensure that everyone is on task.
2. Educational Content
MEE includes a range of educational content that can be used to supplement classroom learning. For example:
- There are pre-built lesson plans and activities that teachers can use to teach subjects like history, science, and language arts.
- The game includes a number of virtual items, such as chalkboards and posters, that can be used to convey information to students.
- Students can also explore virtual replicas of historical sites and engage with interactive timelines and maps.
3. Collaboration Tools
Minecraft has always been a great game for collaborative play, and MEE takes that to the next level with a number of features designed to encourage teamwork and group projects. Some of these features include:
- Student portfolios, which allow students to showcase their work and progress within the game.
- Cross-platform compatibility, which means that students can play together regardless of the device they’re using.
- Multiplayer options, including split-screen play and online multiplayer servers.
4. Accessibility Settings
MEE is designed to be accessible to all students, regardless of their abilities or needs. Some of the accessibility features included in the game are:
- Color adjustments, which can be used to make the game easier to see for students with visual impairments.
- Text-to-speech and speech-to-text options, which can be used to help students with reading and writing difficulties.
- Options for adjusting game speed, which can be helpful for students who need more time to complete tasks or who need to work at a slower pace.
5. Support for Coding and Programming
One of the most exciting features of MEE is its support for coding and programming. Through the use of a custom Code Builder tool, students can learn coding concepts and work on their own programming projects within the game. The Code Builder tool includes a range of tutorials and challenges designed to teach students how to code using block-based programming languages like Scratch and Blockly.
| Benefits of Coding in MEE | Examples |
|---|---|
| Provides a fun and engaging way to learn coding concepts | Students can code their own games and activities within the Minecraft world |
| Encourages collaboration and teamwork | Students can work together on coding projects and share their creations with the class |
| Helps to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills | Students need to think creatively and logically in order to program their creations |
The coding features in MEE make it a valuable tool not just for teaching coding, but for promoting other important skills and competencies as well.
Minecraft Education Edition: Getting Started Guide
If you’re a teacher who has decided to embrace Minecraft Education Edition as a tool to help your students learn, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. In this guide, we’ll break down the basics to help get you up and running.
6. What’s the difference between Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition?
One of the most common questions we hear is what the difference between Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition is. While they share many similarities, there are several key differences that make the Education Edition a better fit for classroom use.
- Minecraft Education Edition is designed specifically for educational use, with tools and features that support teachers and students in the classroom
- The Education Edition includes a Classroom Mode companion app, which allows teachers to manage the game from a central dashboard and gives them the ability to provide students with resources, set up assignments, and more
- The Education Edition includes a library of pre-built lessons and activities that align with a variety of subjects and learning standards
- The Education Edition includes several features that provide additional support for students with accessibility needs, such as colorblindness and dyslexia
- The Education Edition includes a Code Builder feature, which allows students to learn coding skills by programming robots and other objects within the game
While the standard version of Minecraft can certainly be used for educational purposes, the Education Edition offers many additional features and tools that make it a more powerful and effective educational tool.
Integrating Minecraft Education Edition in Learning Curriculum
While Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition share many similarities, there are key differences that make Minecraft Education Edition the ideal tool for integrating game-based learning into the classroom. One notable difference is the vast library of educational content available with Minecraft Education Edition, including lesson plans, teacher guides, and learning outcomes.
- Lesson Plans: Minecraft Education Edition provides over 150 free lesson plans, created by teachers for teachers. These lesson plans cover core subjects such as math, science, language arts, and social studies as well as STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) to match 21st-century education needs.
- Teacher Guides: Along with lesson plans, Minecraft Education Edition offers teacher guides to help educators familiarize themselves with Minecraft and its capabilities, preparing them to integrate it strategically into their classroom.
- Learning Outcomes: Minecraft Education Edition aligns with a variety of national and international standards to help ensure that students are gaining valuable skills and knowledge as they play and explore.
Some educators may be hesitant to use video games in their classroom, but Minecraft Education Edition provides a safe and structured environment for students to learn and create. Educators can customize the game for their students, and they have complete control over the students’ virtual world as they monitor and provide guidance for their learning.
Another significant difference between vanilla Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition is the ability to use in-game code. Minecraft Education Edition supports coding in-game which allows students to learn valuable programming skills using a fun and interactive platform. The coding features available in Minecraft Education Edition include block coding, JavaScript, and Python. The incorporation of coding in games unlocks a whole new world of learning and creativity through which teachers and students can explore the potential of Minecraft as a tool for education.
| Core Benefits of Incorporating Minecraft Education Edition in Learning Curriculum |
|---|
| Minecraft Education Edition aligns with national and international standards |
| 150+ pre-built lesson plans and teacher guides are available |
| Minecraft Education Edition supports a wide range of coding platforms |
| Students learn valuable skills through fun and interactive gameplay |
In conclusion, Minecraft Education Edition is a unique tool for the classroom, allowing students to learn while having fun in a game-based environment. With its customizable learning plans, teaching guides, and learning outcomes, it provides a comprehensive educational experience that is aligned with national and international standards. Minecraft Education Edition is the perfect platform for educators to introduce game-based learning and coding in the classroom.
FAQs – What is the Difference Between Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition?
Q: What is Minecraft?
A: Minecraft is a popular sandbox video game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds made up of blocks.
Q: What is Minecraft Education Edition?
A: Minecraft Education Edition is a modified version of the game specifically designed for classroom use, with features that promote learning and collaboration.
Q: What are some of the differences between Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition?
A: Some of the differences include the ability to incorporate lesson plans and educational resources, access to pre-made worlds that tie in to specific curricula, and features aimed at encouraging teamwork and problem-solving.
Q: Is Minecraft Education Edition only for schools?
A: While the Education Edition is primarily intended for classroom use, it can still be purchased and played by individual users outside of a school setting.
Q: Would my child benefit from playing Minecraft Education Edition at home?
A: Yes, playing the Education Edition at home could potentially offer additional learning opportunities and help develop skills like critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork.
Closing Thoughts
We hope this article has clear up any confusion about the differences between Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition. While the basic gameplay is similar, the Education Edition offers several features specifically for educational purposes. Whether your child is playing at school or at home, Minecraft Education Edition can be a valuable tool for learning and development. Thanks for reading and be sure to visit again soon for more informative content!