Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Plan Week 3 Term 4


Plan Week 3 Term 4

Michael was absent today, we did not have  work shop.

After a few weeks of difficulty with our server access (I'll let the guys explain that bit!), we decided to give our students a -
build build build session.
We have a goal of 3 weeks, we aim to invite the year three kids over for a tutorial on Minecraft.
Part 1
Build and finish the interactive structures that the teams have designed.
Focus on each structure having:

Movement

Problem solving

Switches

Redstone

Circuit

Doors

 Pressure plates

Tracks with and without power

Mine Carts

Part 2

Scripting various how to instructions on use of the structures they have created.

Plan Week 2 Term 4


Week 2 Term 4

AFK
Michael’s work shop

Do’s and don’ts of Minecraft

IN WORLD
Role play

Teachers and students, all minecrafters will role play a tutorial on the use and functions of minecraft. Playing first the teacher then the role of the student. (swapping after 10 minutes)

Taking turns they are to give verbal instruction from log in to use of keys and functions. The 'studetns' must do as they are instructed and give feed back to the 'teacher' at the end of the session.
Feedback on clarity of instruction, and ability to explain the "how to" minecraft language.
Purpose
To prepare the students for their teaching session with the year 3 students
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Student as Teacher Lesson Plans


The following are lesson plans written by Michael a Y9 student who delivers content to our Minecraft day.


Lesson 1
Redstone and dispensers

The purpose of this is to either shot out items or place them on the floor.

Step 1: what you want to do is place down your dispenser followed by a string of Redstone with maybe a few Redstone repeaters.

Step 2: you want to make sure you have a button, lever or pressure plate to turn the red stone on for a limited time.

Step 3: now what you want to do is fill the dispenser with the item you want it to either spawn or place on the floor.

Step 4: if this has not worked for you just re follow the steps and check the Redstone to make sure it works.



Lesson 2
Tracks and powered railings

The purpose of this is to either transport items or to make transport easier. (You could also make a roller costar with hills and stuff)

Step 1: what you want to do is make sure you know how long it needs to be and wither it needs to turn.

Step 2: Now that you know how long it is you want to place Railings in the spots they need to bee keeping in mind that if it needs to go up you make it look like stairs then place the railing on them.

Step 3: Now you need to go to the start and follow along the track and put powered railings in every Fourth spot with a Redstone Torch next to it unless there is a corner then you leave it and count another 3.

Step 4: now you need to make sure it works as well as figure out if a Minecart with a chest is going along it or if its to transport you in a normal Minecart. (To get in the Minecart all you need to do is Right Click on it) 

Lesson 3
How to stop Water and Lave flooding

The purpose of this is to help keep you buildings clean and tidy from all spills.

There is no steps for this all you need to do is locate the source of the mess and either place a block on it or pick it up with a Bucket.


What you can do though to avoid these problems is to not build out of Ice, Water buckets and Lava Buckets.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Reflection Week 10

Our little stars are not working as quickly as our previous group.
 we ahve had to have more Build session, therefore the basic lesson plans have been similar the last few weeks. However their enthusiasm is just as high. The main factor is that this group have not had previous exposure to Minecraft.
We have had to do a great deal more skill building and they are taking it all on board. The expert work shops are working a treat and the students are making a real effort to have a go and implement the things they learn in these sessions each week.
I do not have enough words of praise for our brilliant year 9 expert, he is a born teacher!

Team conferences, milestones and goal setting have all helped keep each build team on track.

Loving it more each week!

Plan Week 10 TASK 9


Week 10

TASK 9

Expert workshop

Mine Carts

Trouble Shooting – water/flood


Minecraft - Creative Mode

Build session – complete the interactive structures to be used for tutoring year 3s

Out of world

Structure

Sit at same computer as previous week (computer # recorded in student list)

Log into same server – all kids in the right world.

Instruction

Outline goal, purpose and aim of session. Build session.

Give explicit instructions to find each other in world. Students are to do this in a set period.

Time management - Set timer 2 min to locate your team

Team conference

The team goal

Once they have located their team mates, they are to stop (hand s off computer) and have a group team discussion, they are to redefine allocated tasks. This will enable all team members to have clearly in their minds what their individual responsibilities are to achieve the team goal.

In world

We want to see evidence that the students are using the new skills covered in the expert work shops.
Continue the construction.
10 minutes in, get students to stop and check o the progress of the team, reset goals and redefine roles if required. Continue to build.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Who is teaching who?

Ha the magic question.

Should you know more than your students?

No.

You should be the guide.

And we are lucky to be the guide.

Our students are really uninterested in who teaches them so long as they learn.  They are confused about homework if it means learning things in Minecraft.  Our school refuser is concerned about how he should prepare to lead next weeks class and what is important to for younger students to learn.

I learned lots of cool stuff about how various Redstone tools work.

Many students mimic Redstones tools which they learn by heart and then replicate.

We learn the building skills, mechanics, physics and circuitry all through the skills of our student mentor.. It is about developing ideas not copying the steps.

Now if I can find one to teach English, Maths and the rest of the curriculum we can all go home and relax. :)