Deanna did bring up a good point wanting to know more about Minecraft in higher education. This weeks articles did scratch the surface on applications in higher ed. In the following week, we would see her work.
Mind blowing! Are the two words to summarize everyone's Minecraft projects. I felt like taking a pickaxe to my project after the first few presentations. In her awesome ways, Deanna knocked it out of the park with her logic circuitry example. She really did an amazing job on researching and building her lesson. I really had no idea that you could be that complex in Minecraft. The other winner of the evening was Susan (?) who did harmonics and chords in Minecraft. She mentioned how it would have taken a room full on pianos to replicate the same things that she made possible in Minecraft. Deanna and Susan both work in higher education, so it was very interesting to see such well thought, well executed examples of concrete lesson plans.
Mind blowing! Are the two words to summarize everyone's Minecraft projects. I felt like taking a pickaxe to my project after the first few presentations. In her awesome ways, Deanna knocked it out of the park with her logic circuitry example. She really did an amazing job on researching and building her lesson. I really had no idea that you could be that complex in Minecraft. The other winner of the evening was Susan (?) who did harmonics and chords in Minecraft. She mentioned how it would have taken a room full on pianos to replicate the same things that she made possible in Minecraft. Deanna and Susan both work in higher education, so it was very interesting to see such well thought, well executed examples of concrete lesson plans.
Here's my draft idea that was presented.
Mini Lesson Plan Outline:
1) The objective of this Minecraft mini lesson is for students will be able to understand the basic concepts for computer science in early childhood education.
2) Concepts
Students will learn to walk along a colored path. Students need to achieve virtual balance by developing fine motor control using their fingers and hands while using their sight to follow along and look ahead. The teacher will verbally prompt students and ask questions to guide students.
3) Minecraft Activity - Counting, Primary Colors, and Steps
Time
Activity + Description
1:00–1:10
Review
Teacher will review the numbers 1–10
Counting in sequence
First, verbally with whole class (all together)
Video to reinforce number recognition and counting
YouTube: The Numbers Song - Learn To Count from 1 to 10 - Number Rhymes For Children
1:10–1:20
Review
Teachers will review primary colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue
Teacher shows video to reinforce names of colors to visual recognition
YouTube: Sesame Street: OK Go - Three Primary Colors
Teacher will quiz students verbally, with the whole class (all together)
Red, Yellow, or Blue
1:20–1:25
Teacher Demo
Asks students
Stepping Stones Activity in Minecraft
Red = Right Turn
Yellow = Left Turn
Blue = Forward
Students will count blocks (steps)
Students must pick one or more of the blocks to complete the missing step
Students will pick the correct block from their inventory to correctly complete the path
Students will write in their workbook (fill in the blank) what number block was missing (1–10), and what color the block was.
1:25–1:30
Teacher has students enter Minecraft world
Teacher takes students to learning area
Teacher reviews how to use Minecraft with students
1:30–1:40
Obstacle Course #1
1:40–1:50
Obstacle Course #2
1:50–1:55
Students finish workbook
1:55–2:00
Teacher reviews with students
Gets students impressions - discussion
What color block is used to go left?
What color block is used to go forward?
What color block is used to go right?
Count with me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Teacher counts
1, 2 (pause) what comes after 2?
Mini Lesson Plan Outline:
1) The objective of this Minecraft mini lesson is for students will be able to understand the basic concepts for computer science in early childhood education.
2) Concepts
- Counting from 1–10
- 3 colors: red, blue, green
- Understand: forward, left, and right
- Introduced to and practice hard to learn concepts: over, around, and through
- Place missing blocks in a sequence to receive a food prize
Students will learn to walk along a colored path. Students need to achieve virtual balance by developing fine motor control using their fingers and hands while using their sight to follow along and look ahead. The teacher will verbally prompt students and ask questions to guide students.
3) Minecraft Activity - Counting, Primary Colors, and Steps
Time
Activity + Description
1:00–1:10
Review
Teacher will review the numbers 1–10
Counting in sequence
First, verbally with whole class (all together)
Video to reinforce number recognition and counting
YouTube: The Numbers Song - Learn To Count from 1 to 10 - Number Rhymes For Children
1:10–1:20
Review
Teachers will review primary colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue
Teacher shows video to reinforce names of colors to visual recognition
YouTube: Sesame Street: OK Go - Three Primary Colors
Teacher will quiz students verbally, with the whole class (all together)
- Present picture of an apple
- Present picture of a sun
- Present picture of a sky
Red, Yellow, or Blue
1:20–1:25
Teacher Demo
- Teacher shows students the Minecraft area with the lesson of the day
- Teacher explains the concept
Asks students
- What color is this block? (Red)
- What color is this block? (Yellow)
- What color is this block? (Blue)
Stepping Stones Activity in Minecraft
Red = Right Turn
Yellow = Left Turn
Blue = Forward
Students will count blocks (steps)
Students must pick one or more of the blocks to complete the missing step
Students will pick the correct block from their inventory to correctly complete the path
Students will write in their workbook (fill in the blank) what number block was missing (1–10), and what color the block was.
1:25–1:30
Teacher has students enter Minecraft world
Teacher takes students to learning area
Teacher reviews how to use Minecraft with students
1:30–1:40
Obstacle Course #1
1:40–1:50
Obstacle Course #2
1:50–1:55
Students finish workbook
1:55–2:00
Teacher reviews with students
Gets students impressions - discussion
What color block is used to go left?
What color block is used to go forward?
What color block is used to go right?
Count with me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Teacher counts
1, 2 (pause) what comes after 2?