Working online and remotely for such extended periods of time continues to have its challenges for teachers and students. How do you keep people engaged via a screen when we are all longing to be back at our desks in the classroom? It’s not easy, but we are certainly aiming to use every tool at our disposal.
One of the emerging tools from 2020 was Minecraft. Minecraft Education Edition is freely available to our students, and in an online world of building blocks (think Lego in cyberspace), imaginations can run free and people can meet up without masks and without restrictions! Minecraft has been one of the best places for students to play together while apart and has led us to some unexpected innovations…
Year 7 Minecraft camp 2020 – last year’s Year 7s missed out on a physical camp but were able to take time to enjoy being virtually together inside an interactive Minecraft world with fun challenges and competitions.
Latin Minecraft – oh yes! Our Latin teachers have started making their own Latin videos that introduce key words and themes within the Minecraft environment. Ever wondered how you warn someone there’s a creeper coming in Latin? Ask any of our Year 7s!
Minecraft Parkour – a virtual obstacle course cunningly created to challenge competitors as they race against each other to finish line. Students across Secondary competed in a live streamed event for online glory.
Minecraft Club – a Wednesday afterschool activity that allows students to join together under staff supervision and play in a fun virtual space.
If you’ve never been inside a Minecraft world, why not ask your child to share the fun with you?
Online safety
While embracing how the digital world can enhance education, we continue to work with our students to help them to understand good digital citizenship and safety online. Coming up this month is the 'eSafety’s Parent Guide to Popular Apps' webinar from the eSafety Commissioner.
This one-hour webinar takes a look at TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube and is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8-13. It will cover the popular apps used by young adolescents and includes case studies, research and targeted advice to help you support your child in safe and enjoyable online experiences. Available times to choose from include:
- 6th of September - 12.30 to 1.30 pm
- 7th of September - 7.30 to 8.30 pm
- 10th of September - 12.30 to 1.30 pm