Microsoft and DepEd launch pilot of ‘Minecraft: Education Edition’ for mobile devices
Microsoft and the the Department of Education (DepEd) recently launched a pilot of the mobile version of Minecraft: Education Edition exclusively in the Philippines.
The game-based learning platform aims to provide 23 million Filipino students early access to an expanded learning experience in school, at home, or in any remote learning environment.
Educators worldwide have been using Minecraft: Education Edition to engage students and make learning interactive and fun. The platform is designed to promote creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive and secure digital environment.
Public and private schools across the Philippines have been integrating Minecraft: Education Edition, especially during the pandemic as classes have largely been held virtually for nearly two years.
With an estimated 84 million smartphone users in the Philippines, Microsoft aims to provide access to game-based learning to more students nationwide.
“With the right tools and program interventions, game-based learning approaches can improve a child's memory capacity, computer, and simulation fluency, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and build other skills such as map reading or practical thinking," said Joanna Velez Rodriguez, Public Sector director of Microsoft Philippines in a press release.
According to Rodriguez, the availability of Minecraft: Education Edition, gives more teachers and students access to the application across various devices including Windows, Mac, iPad, Chromebook, and Android mobile devices.
“At Microsoft, we remain committed to supporting DepEd in preparing our teachers and students for future skills by making technology accessible to everyone,” Rodriguez added.
Designed for students of all learning styles and all grade levels, Minecraft: Education Edition provides more than 300 Minecraft worlds to explore and over 600 standards-aligned lessons to engage learners across the curriculum from history, languages, social and emotional learning, equity and inclusion, and STEM-focused areas such as chemistry, coding, and much more.
Teachers can easily curate lesson plans for specific learning outcomes using the tools available on the platform. Students can also develop critical 21st-century skills which they can apply in their future workplaces.
According to DepEd Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua, the Philippines is the first country where Minecraft: Education Edition for mobile is being launched for pilot testing.
“To our 900,000 thousand teachers and 23 million learners, use this opportunity to enhance teaching and learning using technology with Minecraft: Education Edition. Let us encourage more teachers and learners to actively use this tool for game-based learning to improve teaching and the learning processes in today’s technologically advanced world,” said Pascua.
According to DepEd, they have been working closely with Microsoft and its Global Training Partners for the broader use of Minecraft: Education Edition in the country’s education system.
With Felta Multimedia, DepEd has recently implemented a pilot test to enable virtual field trips for students using Minecraft: Education Edition to foster learning in Philippine history.
DepEd is also providing a series of free online tutorials on Minecraft: Education Edition, together with Line Learning and Development Solutions, through its ETulay sessions on social media, and continues to capacitate and empower more teachers and learners with the support of DepEd’s “Minecraft Champions” and “Minecraft Certified Educators.”
The pilot release of the application is exclusive in the Philippines and is now available for download through the Google Play Store. Students and teachers can access the platform by signing in using their Microsoft 365 school accounts.
