Minecraft As A Mandatory Subject In School? Sweet!
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Sweden has to be one of the coolest places for a kid to grow up in - First, they introduced the concept of schools with no grades or classrooms, then came Monstrum's amazing playgrounds and now, the coolest idea of all - 'Forcing' 13-year-olds to play Minecraft as part of the classroom curriculum.
The seed for this rather radical idea was planted when the government of Sweden organized a national school competition called 'Future City' for which classrooms were asked to submit their ideas about the kind of structures they envisioned in the Sweden of the future.
It was such a success that educators at Stockholm’s Viktor Rydberg school decided to continue this 'out of the box' thinking by incorporating Minecraft into the class curriculum for 13-year-students.
According to the teachers, the game which challenges kids to use their imagination by building virtual worlds complete with electricity grids, water supply pumps and anything else they would like to see in their future, allows students to think beyond the classroom frontiers. This they believe will help them make better decisions as adults, especially about things like the environmental impact of their actions. And while it may sound radical to most people they liken it to teaching a woodcraft class - except in this case, all the construction is being conducted in a virtual world.
So far, 180, 13-year girls and boys, have participated in this mandatory unit, which not surprisingly has been such a huge hit that the school is planning to make it a permanent addition to their curriculum. It of course augments, not replaces, core subjects like math and science. The educators say that even parents who were a little apprehensive about their kids playing video games at school, are now on board and fully support this decision.
We wonder if any school in the US would even consider such a drastic curriculum addition - And how parents would react. What do you think? Be sure to let us know, by adding your comments below.
Resources: The local.se, gizmag.com
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13802 Comments
- Nameover 13 yearsminecraft is a good game and it would give kids information about grids
- Derpover 13 yearsMinecraft is in America i have it.
- ellaover 13 yearsI think that it is very cool that the kids get to play minecraft in the school because it gives them a chance to have some free time at the age 13 which i am pretty sure that they dont get recess. I am wondering wgat made them get the idea to start that?
- coool over 13 yearsi wish i was the teacher i would let them play any vidio game and play minecraft all day
- jadaover 13 yearswhy do kids have to be for ced toplay mindcraft. I wonder why the schools want to teach this.
- shaneover 13 yearsi dont think kids should play minecraft in school theres better things to do. no offence to peopl ethat like minecraft but i think of it as being forced.
- jennaover 13 yearsi wish that we had that here. Also how are they going to get all there work done if they have to play minecraft? I think that they dio their work at home.
- antonioover 13 yearsminecraft is a awseome game i want that to come to america
- hiover 13 yearsminecraft is just awesome
- Ginaover 13 yearsI am so amazed that kids at 13 are forced to play minecraft. I am wondering how the students their get a good education because they dont have to do alot of work really no work at all.
