Minecraft Education 

Classroom Mode is an additional download that allows teachers to have additional controls in a hosted Minecraft world.  The videos below show how to connect using Classroom Mode and provide ideas for using this feature with students. 

In-Game Controls

Basic Minecraft Vocabulary

• NPC  or Non-Player Character - Character in the game that does not move but can be used to communicate important information to players such as directions, questions or hints.

• Mobs - Creatures that move in the game. (mobile) ex: horses, sheep, chickens, etc.

• Spawn - Create more of a Mob

• Camera - Used to take snapshots of items in a world (pairs with book and quill)

• Book & Quill - Used like a journal to write about world experiences. Can be exported as a PDF.

• Portfolio -Used as a portfolio to show pictures of work taken with the camera.  Can be exported as a PDF. 

• Place - Right-click to build with whatever is currently selected in the Hotbar

• Mine - Left-click to destroy a block that is indicated in the crosshairs

• Board, Poster, Slate - used to deliver messages that can be read aloud

Minecraft Commands

How to Export a World File

How to Import a World File

Its helpful to think of a Minecraft World as a file to be shared with students.  Once the world is set up as desired, see information below on settings and more, it can be exported and shared as a file with each student getting their own copy.  It can also be assigned directly through Google Classroom or Teams or shared as a link.  Worlds can also be shared with groups of students to interact in together.  This is called HOSTING a world.  In order for hosting to work properly, all users must be on the same wifi network and must be using the same version of M:EE. Users can identify the version running from the launch window in the lower right corner. 

Customize Settings

Customize Content

#1 – Create a list of Classroom Community Guidelines with your students.

Inspired by the Minecraft group’s Jokaydia Community Charter Mentor, Trish Cloud, created the expectations below with her club. Providing students with the opportunity to understand and practice classroom community norms and help create those guidelines is a powerful way to set a good foundation when using digital tools. Additionally, your norms for players in a Minecraft world should mirror your norms for students in the classroom. The disconnect may cause unnecessary confusion for students.

#2 – Take the time to prepare your world before you use it with your students.

Mentor Brett Smith, recommends preparing your worlds before students connect. For his science classes he adjusts the game settings, plans how he wants his students to work, establishes working spaces for them, and prepares his class groups offline. Think clearly about what you want your students to achieve and how the Minecraft world you will use serves this purpose. For additional settings consider using Minecraft: Education Edition’s Classroom Mode.

#3 – Support your online work with offline documentation/instructions and tasks.

Mentor Michele McColgan suggests having a paper copy of the activity instructions, math problems, questions, or prompts that students can use as an offline record to show their work. This helps in connecting the IRL classroom to the Minecraft Classroom. Another idea to reduce frustration and encourages collaboration is take a break every 30 minutes and ask students to share with the class one example of how they’re successfully completing the task and/or where they are struggling.

#4 – Build unstructured time into your lesson.

A number of mentors found that allowing students to have a portion of the class period just to play significantly reduces or eliminates negative behaviors during the lesson. These 5 to 10 minutes might also be rich with opportunities for teachable moments. An example of how to this could be a build challenge to unleash creativity in your students. Need some ideas? Check out our activities of the week.

#5 – Teach students how to play.

Just like with other learning activities, if a student does not know how to use the tools required to complete the learning task, then that student is more likely to misbehave and distract other students. Spending some time to make sure every student acquires the skills necessary to succeed will pay off, just like teaching students classroom routines. Mentor, Kristine Holloway recommends pairing novice players with experienced players to facilitate collaboration.

#6 – Create alternative assignments.

One way to reduce misbehavior is to develop assignments that accomplish the same learning goal but do not require Minecraft. This strategy is useful as a consequence for students who misbehave in the game, but it is also a useful tool for differentiation. Some students may not want to play Minecraft, so students can be offered a choice which will subsequently limit misbehavior.

#7 – Balance structured activities with choice.

Mentor, Mike Johnston notes that when working with a tool like Minecraft, it is important to let the game be a game to retain student engagement while maximizing the potential of the tool. This moves Minecraft from a gimmick to a legitimately enjoyable learning experience. However, there are times that teachers may want to assign a strict step-by-step process or place the students in a pre-built map. Balancing these activities with those in which students are offered more in-game choices and control over the learning experience will do wonders for student learning.

#8 – Use Classroom Mode.

Mentor Andrea Tolley suggests trying the companion application to M:EE. Classroom Mode offers teachers tools essential to managing a digital Minecraft class. Features include an overhead map of student locations, settings to adjust player damage, use of TNT, the cycle day and night, and changes to the game’s difficulty settings.

#9 – Try, Reflect, Reset.

These tips may or may not work for your classroom. Be open to trying different strategies for management and eventually you’ll find what works for you and your students. Just like teaching anything else, it may take some trial and error before you find the solutions that work best for you and your students.

Updated: 4/16/25 PA