Swedish School Makes Minecraft Lessons Compulsory 162
SchrodingerZ writes "The Viktor Rydberg school in Stockholm, Sweden, has announced that they have included Minecraft into the curriculum for their 13-year-old students. The program is not meant to teach children about math or language, but rather as a tool to inspire creativity in the classroom. 'They learn about city planning, environmental issues, getting things done, and even how to plan for the future,' Viktor Rydberg teacher Monica Ekman told English-language newspaper The Local. 'It's not any different from arts or woodcraft,' she added."
Simcity does city planning, environmental issues, (Score:5, Insightful)
Simcity does city planning, environmental issues, getting things done, and even how to plan for the future. Better.
Is minecraft the only software they can find? (Score:4, Insightful)
No doubt minecraft, the game, is interesting
But I still curious to know if there are other better software out there that can encourage students to think creatively.
Anyone that has any example, care to share?
Thanks !
Re:Simcity does city planning, environmental issue (Score:5, Insightful)
Simcity does city planning, environmental issues, getting things done, and even how to plan for the future. Better.
I don't think they're really on the same scale. In Simcity, you play the planner/mayor/whatever-high-up that determines macro issues. We should build houses here, power plants should be there. I don't care what you think, I'm God.
In Minecraft you play an individual. You determine what you use, where you build, how you build, all micro issues centered around yourself. You have no in-game control over your fellow players. You have to resort to actually negotiating and talking about things if you want to affect the macro situation.
I most definitely agree that Simcity could be used for teaching. However, depending on what it is you're actually trying to teach, I would not call it "better."
Re:Legos (Score:4, Insightful)
Get over yourself.
Re:MINETEST (Score:2, Insightful)
It also isn't foreign since Notch is Swedish.
Re:Is minecraft the only software? BLENDER (Score:2, Insightful)
If you want to teach the children to build 3d objects
Not the goal. Post is moot. And they're 13. Some kids that age might actually be able to get into Blender, most of them won't.
If sparking interest in computers and digital arts is the reason they chose MC
Not the goal.
They may not directly stimulate the creative side of the brain
But that's the goal. Try at least reading the summary if you insist on avoiding the actual article.