Minecraft: Beginning-Trial 1

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Allan Algar

My current school decided they would not fund the 25 licenses with only the last quarter of the year remaining.  I still felt it was a great opportunity for me to test out its setup and use with students.  I eventually hope I can figure out a way to use it in a core class.

Redstonehost

Redstonehost has generously decided to host up to 100 students without cost.  They provide the server with Minecraft installed and Bukkit and McMyAdmin to give more control over the minor changes to Minecraft’s settings.  Unfortunately the Minecraft.edu plugin is not installed and it sounds like it may not happen since I am running it on a 3rd party host.  Disappointing but not a deal breaker.  It will be nice to get it working in the future.

Minecraftedu

There are 2 ways to access the server, one is through the Redstonehost site.  This allows you access to the virtual server and its console.  If you know Linux and all the Monecraft codes then this will be useful.  I don’t and so this is only useful if I want to restart the server or completely reinstall Minecraft.  The second way is through McMyAdmin.  This gives a GUI  interface to change Minecraft settings and enable the Bukkit plugins.  There is also a console that allows you to see who is logged onto Minecraft and use the Minecraft codes to make changes, chat, etc.  Alot to learn.  I’m still struggling with the use of the Bukkit plugins.  The Bukkit website has an extensive list of optional plugins, it’s getting to know how to use them that is difficult.

 

Bukkit

The next things was to set up all the accounts for students to use.  This was important to do correctly so that only I had the ability to change passwords etc.  I followed the lead of several others and used the +1 email trick to ensure all the emails were directed to my school email account.  This took a bit of time and I decided to mix up the names.  As I cannot change the names once they are set, I grabbed names from Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Harry Potter.

This took a bit to set up but I was finally ready for the first day with kids.  The next step would be to get the kids thinking about how they were going to play together.

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Final Project

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Allan Algar

My final project for COETAIL has proved to bring out some of the doubts I spoke of at the beginning of the course.  One of the dread I have always had is putting something out for others to use/scrutinize.  I once heard someone say that procrastinators tend to be closet perfectionists.  Starting something when they have doubts about the perfection of the product can keep you from truly getting started.  My ego is telling me this is where I fall into. 

I began a plan to look into a Science unit I was currently rapping up.  The more I thought of it the more I realized that my students use of tech wasn’t really revolutionary.  I still feel that it is a great project that gets them thinking and creating but the collaboration and sharing has been limited to peers and parents rather than outside our little bubble.  I’ve already started looking at how I can expand and share with other classrooms but think I need a bit more time to flush out those ideas.

I then debated for a while about  an elective I’m currently teaching in which I have students play in various logic and strategy games.  This is where I felt I could grow the most. I’ve thought and read a fair bit about the use of Minecraft in the classroom but I have not truly thought of how it would truly benefit students educationally.  Using Minecraft as my project plan has given me valuable time to investigate many of the big ideas that would/could be covered in a class.   I started with the NET.S standards and then tried to branch into Social Studies and Science as I find the game naturally plays to these subject areas.  

Here are my thoughts and justifications of Minecraft as an educational tool.  I’ll preface this by repeating the irritating little voice in my head, this is not perfect.  It is a plan in progress and it will definitely change as I gain access to the EDU mod of the game.

 

As the plan was developing it became obvious that there would be 2 levels of play when Minecraft was used.  It would depend on the environment and the goals it was aiming for.  My strategy games elective would allow for a much more unstructured environment where creativity and survival were the goals.  In a subject specific classroom their would be a greater need for an more structured specific goal oriented environment.  The latter would be need to ensure completion of any standards that were being covered.

The assessment for this unit would also change as the goal changed.  I’ve provided a rubric that I would use to have students peer assess.  As I do not yet have access to the EDU mod I am not fully sure of what I can monitor in our world.  I would therefore rely more on regular conversation and a Google form and or Journal to determine if any intervention was required.  The student journals would definitely give a better overall feel for the workings of the world and how the students were feeling about it.

I have also not decided if the world would be available after class for a variety of reasons.

In terms of my actual trial of its use in the classroom I have found RedstoneHost willing to host our class for free while offering his guidance on setup of the server.  Now I’m just hoping that the school will back the project and pop the $315 for 25 licenses and $41 for the edu mod.  It will be purchased through MineCraftEdu.com.  If the project is not approved then I may contact the school I’m heading to next year and see if they are willing to support the elective.  If they are then I’ll pay for it myself and bring it with me.

 

 

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Finding Time

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Allan Algar

The TEDx below by Dan Meyer is a great example of how to take the lessons you are currently using, and tweaking them to fit a more inquiry based environment.  This sounded familiar to a discussion at the Apple Education Leadership Summit in Singapore last year.  Apple has a similar outlook on lessons that involve tech.  In fact it is refreshing to hear the mantra slowly being repeated in more and more in teaching circles: Don’t just tag tech onto an existing lesson, revitalize it and make and already good lesson better.  

A quick summary of what Dan talks about:

  1. Visuals: Use multimedia to grab attention and intro a problem that students can relate to.
  2. Questions: Ask the shortest possible question.  No details just relate it to the media.
  3. Conversation: Encourage student intuition.  As students discuss HOW to answer the question, specific questions will arise out of necessity.
  4. Let students build the problem: Let them plan and try to answer the specific questions they just came up with.
  5. Pictures: Allow students to test it themselves creating real world experience when possible
  6. Be less helpful: Avoid the tendency to give the answers and explain the results.

 

 

I’ve been a lurker in the Ning world of Flat Classroom projects.  Some of the projects are unrelated to the Science content that I need to get through.  Some could be linked but my self doubts allow me to use the excuse that I don’t have the time to begin a large project  with that type of responsibility with a format that I’m not completely familiar with.  While I do find many of the projects to be more Language Arts/Social Studies based, there are opportunities to take on projects like these for an elective class.  Unfortunately,due to the high amount of interest, they tend to require you to register6-9 months ahead of the actual project.   That poses a problem for teachers who may move schools every 3-4 years.

When working in Pakistan I was fortunate enough to be involved with an amazing group of Science teachers.  They created the NESA Virtual Science Fair  and connected students from international schools to allow professors and grad students the opportunity to mentor MS students through a Science project.  The move to Dubai next year may provid the opportunity to work with this group again.

I am starting to recognize the importance of connecting with like-minded Science teachers for these types of collaborative projects to happen.  The problem still remains: How do I find and communicate with these teachers?  It needs to be a drive, a goal for the year if this is to happen.  Even if you find interested teachers within your own physical school there are the challenges of finding common planning time.  Next year I’ll allow myself the leway to plan for this type of project.  I’ll have enough of a learning curve as a first year MYP Science teacher.  I will however continue to search for the right project that fits the curriculum, is valuable to learning and most of all motivating.  And if I can’t find one I’ll have to create one.

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Finding a Place in Your World

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Allan Algar

Our school has recently started a 1:1 Macbook program for students in Middle School.  We are the “pilot” project and as with all new programs there are several details that were not completely thought through and are being revised.  One is our policy towards digital devices.  The old policy restricted devices to the classroom and did not allow the use of phones of any type.  Creating a positive 1:1 environment needs to include all the devices that students may have and want to use both in and out of school.  As the use of tech is promoted old policies need to reflect those new expectations.  While students are allowed to work on homework/assignments in the library and outside during their break times they are currently not allowed to use any electronic device outside of their scheduled classes.  If our 1:1 program has been successful then that means many assignments will require a digital device.  

Parents, teachers and school admin need to look at what students are using their devices for.  Past policies were made to avoid the social isolation of students who would only talk on the phone with parents and zone out on their ipods, missing out on the important social contact during their dwindling break time.  Without arguing about the ridiculousness of the original policy we need to ask why we would consider it anti-social to work on an assignment with friends on their laptop, phone, cameras and working on an essay in the corner of the library is NOT.

Revisiting the nature of learning and the environments we are promoting is needed. All stakeholders need to understand the intended paths that will lead us to the desired learning goals of students.  Both parent and educators need to stop hiding behind their own real or imagined fears to justify the creation of policies that go against the schools learning goals that include technology.  The claim that the”predators” out there online threaten the safety of our students is an old and tired example.  Many schools still try to forbid the use of social networks as they are the gateways to the “creepers” online looking to hurt the children.  Why are school not looking at these concerns as opportunities to educate these students.  Creating knowledgable online digital citizens rather than hiding their heads in the sand.  Students have never stopped using social networks and emails because they were told not to.  They find ways around any filters that parents and schools set up.  The only product of policies like these are students who are not fully aware of how to protect themselves and how to behave online.  Blocking Facebook does not prevent online bullying.  It allows the bullying to go on without the school or parent accepting any responsibility for it.  Shameful.

In Living and Learning with New Media it is recognized that young people today are learning in ways that are unfamiliar to many adults.  The stages of Messing Around and Geeking Out are opportunities for young people to learn, grow and become recognized mentors in any area that interests them.  Can you imagine giving a child the opportunity to learn about virtually any area of interest, learn rapidly because they are highly motivated and are immediately using their learning, AND then creating and sharing with the many other people who are interested in the same field.  Think of not just the learning but of the natural flow that can take place from interest, learner to teacher and the personal growth and pride that that person could feel.  Yet many parents and educators would take this away.  This time is labeled as playing and the learning having no value. 

While some youth will find their own path regardless of the obstacles put in place by the adults in their world, many will miss out on these opportunities not because they can’t afford the latest gadget but because they don’t have an adult to guide them in this world of learning.  Adults and teachers need to realize that their lack of interest (or fear) of tech should never hold an energetic and motivated student to learn.  

Soon I will make a leap out into a world that I’m unfamiliar with.  Currently many students in my classes are interested in Minecraft.  After looking into the value and uses of games in general in the classroom, I’ve chosen Minecraft for its potential to encourage creativity, digital citizenship, socialization and teamwork.  I know nothing about how to get it setup and started in my classroom but I am going to learn.  I will not be using it in my Science class until I can find direct value to the topics I have chosen, but I am going to use it in my logic games elective.  I have hurdles to overcome.  There is a steep learning curve in regards to tech issues.  One of my biggest obstacles will be to gain the support from my admin (both financially and ideologically).  Regardless, it may fail, it may not.  Either way I know I’m trying to keep up with the interests of the students I am working with and I’ll have learned something from the experience.  If nothing else I’ll be emulating the most important aspect of education: That you never stop learning.

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Finding my submissions

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Allan Algar

Please excuse any multiple posts that make it up to the blog.  I’m curren’ty using Scribfire and even though posts are making it up to the blog it is saying there is a 500 error with wordpress.  Anyone else having similar issues?

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Finding Health

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Allan Algar

This begins the thrid week of my COTAIL program and I’m already feeling a bit behind.  The flu that had been threatening to hit for the last week, finally hit this weekend.  I can usually work through sickness and occationaly take a day off to get the needed rest to recover.  This time however I had three days of blinding, aching butt kicking last weekend.  Of course it followed a day out of the class to work on curriculum.  If you are a teacher you know that missing a Friday and a Monday AND the weekend then you know I am a week behind (at best) at work.  If you’re not a teacher then I just had 2 paid days off to sleep all day.

I’ve got my required post up and still need to catch up on my readings.  I’m confident that I’ll find the time to keep up with the course workload, but it’s times of illness like the last few days that makes me really appreciate things like being able to look at a computer thinking my eyes are going to explode.  To all those out there this flu season, keep on keepin on.

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Finding Creativiity

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Allan Algar

 

I was reading this week about a father who had enough of his daughter’s computer use and taught her a lesson.  The most worrying part of the story was how he dealt with it and the accolades that he received from other parents who could relate to his frustration.  He recorded himself calmly leaving a message for his spoiled daughter with a cigarette in his mouth and ended his message pulling out a gun and shooting his daughter’s laptop.  Now without going into the health and safety issues in his message, what was his daughter to learn from this?  That the adult she is to learn from deals with frustration with violence and guns?  Ridiculous.  What had the daughter done to upset her father so much?  She had posted a video on Youtube where she complained about how hard her life was balancing chores and school.

Now this blog is more about education so I’ll stop with the social commentary and focus on the learning that this child was involved in.  I’m not a fan of airing personal complaints to the world but I haven’t been raised with a computer in my hands.  We do have to consider the why behind this girl’s actions.  The rant that she posted didn’t sound like anything out of the ordinary for a regular teenager to complain about.  But why online?  Perhaps it’s because she was in the process of learning about  the tools she was given.

There is a whole new look at how people learn when they have technology tools available to them.  Some claim that it “rewires” the brain.  I personally think this is a media scare tactic to fuel the fear of tech that’s already out there.  After all wouldn’t reading, playing an instrument or playing sports seem to do the same when compared to people who aren’t exposed to those activities?  There are some who are now looking at how people learn with tech and the internet available to them.  

There’s an interesting read that I’m in the middle of right now that describes these stages as Hanging Out, Messing Around and Geeking Out.  This study looks into how youth are engaging in online media.If youth truly do follow a pattern where watching, interacting and communicating and finally fully immersing themselves in the online media they are expected to use, then adults need to adjust many of their concepts of what kids are doing online. 

There are classes being taught in classes around the world that use games as a teaching tool.  Minecraft in the classroom is an often debated topic.  If we are to believe that rote & memorization are not producing the creative problem solvers the world and workplace are looking for, then we need to recognize that games (simulations) are one way to explore those skills.

If we are expecting students to become fluent with media and tech that allows them to demonstrate their learning, then we need to recognize how they develop this fluency.  If the study is to be believed then when young people are snooping around on websites that are of interest, social websites and youtube, then we need to get rid of the idea that play is not a good use of their time.  With this in mind, our fifteen year old who had their learning/socialization tool violently destroyed by her responsible caregiver, it hardly seems like the immature one was the teen.

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Finding Community

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Allan Algar

 

I attended a weekend workshop Saturday on 21st Century Learning with Kim Cofino.  We had a great mix of teachers from all levels at the workshop. Our school has piloted a 1:1 program this year in the MS that has experienced several hiccups. The HS will be adopting a 1:1programs as well next year and many of the teachers were interested in learning how they could ensure they and their students were using the technology effectively.  Part of our afternoon was geared to the practical, getting teachers to begin using tools like Quicktime (flip classroom) and Twitter for online PLN.  While I was not new to these ideas I still like how you pick up small tips that make routine things easier.

The discussion on setting up PLNs were one of the most relevant to what I’ve been reading for the first week of the COETAIL course.  Teachers tend to be intimidated by new expectations placed on them regarding technology.  It is one more thing to think about on the long list responsibilities that they already have.  I can’t say my views on tech are much different.  Integrating new tech means finding the time to have at least a working knowledge of it.  I am, however,  starting to realize that if begun with some thought and planning, the benefits are well worth the time invested. 

A common attitude shared among older or tech phobic individuals is that tools like Twitter, Facebook and personal Blogs are self indulgent, masturbation for the egotistical.  These teachers prefer face to face relationships with real people not virtual “friends” and believe it ridiculous for anyone to think they are “friends” with 100’s of people they barely see.  When they took the time to consider the different purposes for using these tools,  those perspectives began to change.  Yes, there are people who use these tools for self-important reasons.  However, that’s not the only way they can be used.

 

When considering the use of social networks for professional use, we need to consider the advantage they can provide.  The Facebook idea where the goal is to befriend as many people as possible even without truly knowing them needs to disappear. While it’s true you will most likely never have close relationships with the people you connect with in your PLN, that doesn’t mean that you can’t help each other professionally.  Teachers began to realize how making connections with other educators can make them better teachers than they would be on their own.  

Our HS teachers have many questions about how to best manage a new 1:1 program.  While they will benefit from the MS teacher’s experience and suggestions, there are many schools and teachers around the world that have gone through the growing pains of introducing a 1:1 program  Those connections start to be seen as desirable.  Why reach out to just the people you know personally when there is a huge group of likeminded teachers that are just looking for a venue to share?  In this new new light, social networks began to be seen as an opportunity to benefit professionally not personally.

Reading the first few chapters of Reach by Jeff Utecht I have also began to experience a shift of my own.  I’ve previously used Twitter, Google Reader, and dabbled with blog writing.  While I found value in using all these toolsm I also eventually fell prey to the question, why am I doing this?  Who is reading this?  Can I really afford the time this is taking?  Other than Google Reader, I all but gave up on using Twitter and closed my blog.  I was using them mostly for family and friends.  However, Facebook and Skype ended up being the standard way I keep everyone up to date about my life overseas.  But what about professionally?  Utecht explains that everyone experiences the question of WHO is listening to what I’m saying?  The best way to handle that question is to begin the whole process of creating your online presence with a clear idea of who it is you want to connect with.

Reach also gives teachers many places to start looking for educators and sites to help build a community with which to share.  Share being the key word.  My first attempt at connecting online was purely selfish.  I don’t think I’m alone in this.  I was what was called a “lurker” in social networks. I was someone looking for ideas and lessons I could use in class, without much interest in giving back.  That would take too much time.  I’ve begun to realize that this is an attitude left for the world of searching Google.  In order to connect I need to begin sharing.  That’s how I will become part of a community or network.

I have also begun to think about what I want my professional presence online to look like.  I have started looking at Google, Twitter and now this new blog, with the goal to connect with as many like-minded people as possible.  

Once I know who I’m writing for and connecting to, I’ll have an answer for the doubts that will creep back in when life gets stressful and busy.  I’ll be able to remember and remind myself that it really is true: What I get out of my online communities will depend on how much I’ve put in.  

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Finding a Voice

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Allan Algar

 

I’ll be starting a blog as part of the COETAIL program that I’m beginning this month. While this won’t be my first blog it will be the first that has a specific purpose.  I’m hoping that this is motivation to keep it interesting, relevant and consistent.

Loud MouthI am struggling with the idea of writing for the sake of writing.  I’ve never been a letter writer, interested in keeping a journal, and struggled with written reflection of lessons.  I consider myself a reflective person but have never felt the drive to share it anyone outside of family or friends over a few measures of single malt to coax out the argumentative nature.  I know I’ll struggle with the idea of sharing my opinion about articles, that I may or may not be truly interested in, on a weekly basis.  I’ll apologize now for any posts that lack enthusiasm or focus. I’ll also be a bit self conscious of coming off as a loud mouthed, know it all.  Online expression can be a tricky thing.

I do have a few friends that are now blogging online and I’ll probably try to take notes on their successes and emulate them.  The only regular contributor I know personally is an IB English teacher currently working in Kuala Lumpur.  Grant is a good friend from my days in Bangkok.  He is currently on sabbatical from his teaching position and working on getting his unpublished work out to the masses.  As part of promotion, his agent has suggested he create an online presence.  If you knew the level of his resistance to tech (other than for writing) you would find this as comical as I do. Check it out at Venables Writes. 

As the COETAIL program is a certificate program on Educational technology, I’m going to assume that most topics I’ll be writing about will focus on teaching.  However, as I am a tech and science geek (and teacher) I’m sure there will be plenty of time to spread the wonders of Science.

Here we go. 

 

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