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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13800 Comments
- lelaover 11 yearsi LOVE MINECRAFT!!!
- ???over 11 yearsawesome
analiseover 11 yearsOnce i bred a pink sheep without dye and my little brother was green with envy! (Insert smiling devil emoji here!)
nikukyuover 11 yearsI once saw a naturally pink sheep! I was in creative, so I built a fence around it and built a house next to it! Voila! Instant unusual house pet!
inventor2004over 11 yearsThat is an amazing news!!
cheetahluverover 11 yearsCool- like minecraft is fun but it makes my head hurt- and if anyone is looking for a fun game, try tankionline.com. :D
happypug12over 11 yearsHow do you play it, cheetahluver? And if you want an even more fun game, try Animal Jam.- cheetahluverover 11 yearsUmmm, its sort of hard to explain, but theres a tutorial when u first start, and thanks for the inspiration, ill try it immediately! :D
- happypug12over 11 yearsTell me if u like Animal Jam or not, cheetahluver! If u like it, I can give you some tips. : )
- cheetahluverover 11 yearsHappypug i just tried it! I started with a tiger, and it seems pretty fun. :D
- happypug12over 11 yearsGreat, cheetahluver, I'm glad u enjoy it! I'm an aqua wolf. : )
- A Waffleover 11 yearsWhat is up with people and Minecraft these days? I mean what's the point of it besides walking around and doing stuff in a cubical world? No offense or anything to anyone who made the game or plays it but I find the game a waste of time
- analiseover 11 yearsA waste if time? Minecraft can actually build the architects of our generation!
- cheetahluverover 11 yearsNot really- those "architects' will have to know a lot more, because building is a lot different from making block structures by clicking your mouse.
pounceover 11 yearsUh- it's not a waste of time. It teaches you how to guard your stuff- and it's super fun! You just have to download it- and BAM! A whole universe where you can do whatever you want with a super-simple layout. Can you FLY in the real world (without a jet pack)? NO. Can you travel other dimensions in the real world? NO. Can you build a CASTLE in TWO DAYS in the real world (excluding Legos)? NO. it is AWESOME and I will ALWAYS stand by Minecraft.
ag101over 11 yearsYou go girl!
awaffleover 11 yearsIt teaches you to guard your stuff? That's ridiculous! As far as I'm informed of, Minecraft isn't the least bit like reality. I mean, how many times have you seen on the news, "Man is eaten by zombie because he could not defend himself with 'diamond sword'"? That's what I though. Never. All Minecraft will teach you, if you say you play it so you can guard you stuff, is to murder people with swords, bows, and fires if they come anywhere NEAR you. And as for the infinite world that you mentioned, why not do it in reality and get even more from it instead of spending hours in front of your computer screen? Sure, money and time may be a problematic factor in that but Minecraft only generates what kinds of environments? Deserts and plains and forests? Well say hi to California who meets all these needs. so "pounce" snap out of it and meet reality! :D- happypug12over 11 yearsYou don't need to murder anyone in Creative Mode. Anyway, I actually like Animal Jam better than Minecraft. No offense to Minecraft; I still like it. : )
- analiseover 11 yearsTrue, true, true
- cheetahluverover 11 yearsI agree with you :D
- johnnyover 11 yearsMinecraft is awesome!!!!!!!!
- doggie290over 11 yearsOMG!! SO AWESOME!!!
souleater2over 11 yearsWOW! OMG!!!!! I WISH I WAS IN THAT SCHOOL!- fiddlediddle12over 11 yearsI love mincraft i am playing it now
