Look who was out boating this morning on the server. A father and son fishing trip!

Look who was out boating this morning on the server. A father and son fishing trip!

I uploaded a new map to my realm and invited last week my students to join me there.

I uploaded a new map to my realm and invited last week my students to join me there. We've been playing together for a week now and today I published some tasks. I borrowed the idea from Linda's ADM building and what I learned from EVOMC Mooc. During playtime in the chat, they use only English. In Skype, they try to use what they know. Here are pictures of what we have created so far this week. #MagicalWorldofMC  

Thanks everyone who came online today and helped demonstrate how teachers are able to network with each other using...

Thanks everyone who came online today and helped demonstrate how teachers are able to network with each other using Minecraft!

#EVOMC16

this week I attended the Digital Pedagogy Lab institute in Cairo 20-24 March16 and during one of the un-conferencing...

this week I attended the Digital Pedagogy Lab institute in Cairo 20-24 March16 and during one of the un-conferencing sessions that I lead I mentioned Minecreaft being used in education and some participants became interested in connecting with educators who use it for teaching and learning. If any of you would like to connect with those educators from Egypt and around the world please let me know so I can pass the information to them. thanks.

Hi everyone.

Hi everyone. I'm writing from Cracow, Poland. I'm a teacher of Polish, programming and robotics at primary school. I like mixing humanities with new technology. I play Minecraft just for 2 months, but I already love it.

Hello #EVOMC16 -- This is an announcement that Jeff Kuhn and I will be discussing our EVO experiences and inviting...

Hello #EVOMC16 -- This is an announcement that Jeff Kuhn and I will be discussing our EVO experiences and inviting folks to tour the EVO Server during the afternoon tech fair at the Ohio University CALL Conference on Friday (tomorrow).

The presentation, titled "Minecraft for Professional Development and Networking," will be informal (part of the fair), but we will have computers open demonstrating our G+ Community, and our Adobe Connect meeting space. Adobe Connect will be available during the conference at the following link: https://adobeconnect.oit.ohio.edu/evomc16/

If you are available, please join us on the server and/or in the adobe connect session so you can interact with other teachers and CALL professionals and demonstrate our community in action!

The tech fair is scheduled for 1:30pm to 2:30pm EST...that's 5:30-6:30pm UTC.

Here is the link to the conference: https://sites.google.com/site/ohiocallconference2014/ohio-university-call-conference-2015/ohio-university-call-conference-2016-8th-annual-call-conference-2016

#evosessions

https://sites.google.com/site/ohiocallconference2014/ohio-university-call-conference-2015/ohio-university-call-conference-2016-8th-annual-call-conference-2016

Hope it is ok to post this information in this community ... maybe it is to special

Hope it is ok to post this information in this community ... maybe it is to special

Here is a link to a map for learning programming with computercraftedu. The basic idea of the map is to start by using the visual editor to solve some quests for example opening a door with the roboter turtle with the command "redstone true". The students should always compare their visual programms with the code-editor to learn someting about the commands in textform. Later I the visual editor will be stopped and only code-editor will be used.

Download map for MinecraftEDU
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwFXTdt9e8t2OUl4cTFFeG1SSG8/view?usp=sharing


Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcaeE5p61fs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcaeE5p61fs

Where's Waldo?

Where's Waldo? Can you spot the #evomc16  participants in #SLMOOC16  taking place throughout the month of April? (More of us are presenting, but these are the ones who had got their photos in by the time the organizers decided to make this graphic :-).

Find more information at 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SHsoYS6KW2vQDRIq-nA16mTYlRYHlB3V_22WM4wWwTw/edit?usp=sharing

Another great article on the use of Minecraft in the classroom:

Another great article on the use of Minecraft in the classroom:
http://www.techlearning.com/blogentry/10465
http://www.techlearning.com/blogentry/10465

When Aaron Schwartz, Rose Bard, Mircea Patrascu, and Linda Gielen and I met in pursuit of the Ender Dragon last...

When Aaron Schwartz, Rose Bard, Mircea Patrascu, and Linda Gielen and I met in pursuit of the Ender Dragon last Saturday I was asked to set up a voice hookup on the fly. I like Zoom for that since it allows me to screen-share Minecraft which I can monitor on a second computer and record in Camtasia.  In the future not only do I need more practice in Minecraft, and preparation and testing of the setup, but if we could get others to rotate sharing their screens as well we could have a very interesting production one day. This one is rough and still in the exploratory stages, but it is what it is :-). It will at least enable others to sample the experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw-NTvi54PM

 
This will be on our reading list for next year's  #evomc16 , or maybe we should offer ourselves a badge for writing one ourselves.  More information at
http://press.etc.cmu.edu/content/teachercraft-how-teachers-learn-use-minecraft-their-classrooms

Download the pdf here: 
http://press.etc.cmu.edu/files/Teacher-Craft_Dikkers-etal-web.pdf

It was really great to experience the End with Vance Stevens Linda Gielen Aaron Schwartz Mircea Patrascu and his son.

It was really great to experience the End with Vance Stevens Linda Gielen Aaron Schwartz Mircea Patrascu and his son.
Couple of videos I recorded.  Thanks for the adventure, guys!
Next adventure: Kill the Dragon
I hope you can join us next time.
https://youtu.be/9HlA0MoVo9U
https://youtu.be/MJIJGCaz6Aw
https://youtu.be/9HlA0MoVo9U

Hi everyone.

Hi everyone. At the end of each EVO session moderators are supposed to ask participants to fill our an end of session survey. Without further ado, PLEASE fill it in for us. Just 4 question, multiple choice, less than 5 minutes. THANKS!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XCLSSQF

http://mashable.com/2016/03/18/minecraft-in-vr-review/#6kD1PybRCPqD

http://mashable.com/2016/03/18/minecraft-in-vr-review/#6kD1PybRCPqD
http://mashable.com/2016/03/18/minecraft-in-vr-review/#6kD1PybRCPqD

Shared with me by one of my students...

Shared with me by one of my students...

https://www.understood.org/en/community-events/blogs/my-parent-journey/2016/02/29/what-my-son-with-adhd-taught-me-about-minecraft-and-executive-functioning
https://www.understood.org/en/community-events/blogs/my-parent-journey/2016/02/29/what-my-son-with-adhd-taught-me-about-minecraft-and-executive-functioning

Hi , I am looking for a partner for a consortium that I am putting together.

Hi , I am looking for a partner for a consortium that I am putting together. I was wondering if anyone within the Minecraft MOOC community that has experience in constructing learning activities in Minecraft would be interested in participating in a consortium for a research grant. Unfortunately, the partner needs to be within an EU country and have experience in EU projects.

Please let me know ASAP. My e-mail is stella1@asu.edu

thanks,
stella

The End is Near...

The End is Near...

http://doodle.com/poll/ky6xuwsdrq4tqwru

http://doodle.com/poll/ky6xuwsdrq4tqwru

We're opening up the End portal on the Survival Server.

Come experience the End with us.

Indicate your availability on the linked Doodle.
http://doodle.com/poll/ky6xuwsdrq4tqwru

I have some stories to tell that may be should go into a blog or a vlog but let me just briefly mention a couple of...

I have some stories to tell that may be should go into a blog or a vlog but let me just briefly mention a couple of things and ask a question.

Sometime after I joined EVOmc server I joined a server that allows both creative and survival modes where a girl sort of adopted me and has been so helpful. Soon after I joined a realm that belongs to an educator who's a guildy from WoW. This encouraged me to play more often and start learning.

Yesterday I had one of the worst experiences so far when the system became very lagy and jumpy and I started feeling so dizzy that I had to sleep early due to how sick I felt. I played again today for a little then watched a video to learn more and just watching the video made me feel so sick again.

I started searching and reading about this and found that many get this "simulation sickness" . I found this blog post with some info and tips http://femhype.com/2015/06/24/6-ways-to-deal-with-simulation-sickness-while-gaming/ -- now trying an Oculus Rift suddenly doesn't seem appealing to me at ll :(

Has anyone else experienced this or had students who suffered from this sim sickness? Do you have anymore tips ?

I am so glad that WoW and SL don't induce such a horrible feeling.

http://femhype.com/2015/06/24/6-ways-to-deal-with-simulation-sickness-while-gaming/

Dr.

Dr. Valerie Hill and I gave a webinar last night for AASL on "Minecraft and Immersive Learning Environments for School Librarians." The slide show is available here:
https://goo.gl/3NgSfk

I also made a page of resources on my blog:
http://booklady9.edublogs.org/minecraft-resources/
http://booklady9.edublogs.org/minecraft-resources

#evomc16

#evomc16
Minecraft to become testing ground for artificial intelligence experiments
"Although AI specialists may get the most out of the platform, Microsoft stresses that AIX will also support simple programs that children can create, and the firm has promised to provide a range of teaching materials."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35778288
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35778288

#evomc16 participant Nathan Beyerlein has let me know he's posted at TEFL Express on the interview we recorded and...

#evomc16  participant Nathan Beyerlein has let me know he's posted at TEFL Express on the interview we recorded and archived here 
http://learning2gether.net/2016/02/28/nathan-beyerlein-interviews-moderators-of-evo-minecraft-mooc-for-teflexpress/. Thanks to those who participated and to all who have contributed to making EVO Minecraft MOOC a great learning experience and now-thriving community of practice.
http://teflexpress.co.uk/blog/tefl-and-minecraft/

The examples of practice using Minecraft I've seen so far (most of them) seems to be used for different areas of...

The examples of practice using Minecraft I've seen so far (most of them) seems to be used for different areas of knowledge, but there doesn't seem to be language teachers using Minecraft (EFL or ESL especially in countries where English is not the first language) apart from one teacher using in Spanish classes ( recommended by Robert Ogorek ) and used to use MC in Japanese Classes (Kotoba Miners) or David Dodgson in Turkey.
https://plus.google.com/117728672084359581216/posts/8uTTP8SzPRG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAXQ7YZ489A
http://eltsandbox.weebly.com/blog/storycraft-using-the-world-of-minecraft-as-inspiration-for-writing
If you know more teachers out there, could you please share links to videos, articles, etc.

Educators Innovating with Minecraft

Educators Innovating with Minecraft
How are educators innovating and creating learning experiences with Minecraft? http://connectedlearning.tv/educators-innovating-minecraft
http://connectedlearning.tv/educators-innovating-minecraft

A view into hell?

A view into hell?
What is this? Mining at level 11 I rammed into a dark space with a fire and a lot of skeletons and monsters - good that my diamond suit is enchanted meanwhile. Can anyone tell me what I found?
Did I dig too deep like the dwarfs in Moria at "Lord of the rings"?
 #evomc16

Website with some great stuff for teachers.

Website with some great stuff for teachers.
http://www.gamingedus.org/2014/11/seven-tips-to-setting-up-a-minecraft-club-at-your-school/
http://www.gamingedus.org/2014/11/seven-tips-to-setting-up-a-minecraft-club-at-your-school

Managing my last challenges - an enchanting table and a ride to savanna land by cart at #evomc16

Managing my last challenges - an enchanting table and a ride to savanna land by cart at #evomc16
Hey, I can enchant tools and weapons, hurraa. As you can see at the pictures, I put an enchantment table in my tree-room in the lighthouse and in my living house in the "city". At the picture in the entrance hall of the lightouse (look through the glass roof) you see my enchanted pickaxe. ;-) I documented mining obsidian by video (in the performance, yet to come).

Approaching from the sea to my beachhouse look at the window in the room under the sea, there's a squid swimming in front of the window pane. Cool. Instead of commuting by boat between there and savanna land I will go by cart, after I found out there is a Metro-connection. Many thanks to Linda for this helpful project!!!
It is really interesting what has become of our world. :D

Maha Abdelmoneim Hi!

Maha Abdelmoneim Hi! I just missed you in the game. I stepped out for a sec, and when I came back I saw your message. So sorry! If you want to meet, let us know when you are available.

What is neat about games is something called the possibly space.

What is neat about games is something called the possibly space. This is all the possible things you can do in a game. As long as the possibility space is too large for our brain to fully process the game stays interesting.

For example in tic-tac-toe the possibility space is small. That's why small kids love tic-tac-toe but past a certain age it becomes boring - the child's brain can process all the possible moves making it possible to win or force a draw every time (mistakes aside). Chess, however, can be played for life.

Possibility space can also provide room for a key component of the engagement games provide - internalized goals. Most games have a win state such as Mario saves the Princess. When players get engaged by a game they often forsake this win state goal in favor of a 'win state' of their own - I want to collect every coin in Mario without dying.

Which is a long winded way of saying I have found my new internalized goal - to fill in this map on our Admin Office wall!

#evomc16

A strange encounter with skeleton horses. #EVOMC16

A strange encounter with skeleton horses. #EVOMC16

An example on how to use mc for teaching languages. Check out other videos by Irvspanish

An example on how to use mc for teaching languages. Check out other videos by Irvspanish
https://youtu.be/aCJJ7Khn4LU

#evomc16

#evomc16  
Anyone interested to meet me tomorrow, March 6th at 1400 UTC, on my server?
I can tell you a few words about data types in Minecraft and I will show you the basic commands of ScriptCraft.
I don't know if it's OK to say it here, but we'll have some drinks also (quite strong ones) :)

#evomc16 How I became a survivor.

#evomc16 How I became a survivor. A short video sequence about the development from an absolute beginner to a skeleton shooter. Linked in my blog:
https://paradigmagnus.wordpress.com/2016/01/14/minecraft-mooc-tumbling-down-the-world-of-cubes/

I spotted this today. I haven't had the time to watch the whole video, but I thought you guys might want to watch it.

I spotted this today. I haven't had the time to watch the whole video, but I thought you guys might want to watch it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK9EUElKmZ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK9EUElKmZ8

I'm still working on my Survival reflections, but here's the beginning of it:

I'm still working on my Survival reflections, but here's the beginning of it:
 http://booklady9.edublogs.org/2016/03/01/minecraft-in-survival-mode/
#evomc16  
http://booklady9.edublogs.org/2016/03/01/minecraft-in-survival-mode