One of the world’s most popular video games is now an enticing educational tool for an El Cajon school.
“Minecraft,” which is played by more than 100 million people worldwide, is being used by The Cajon Valley Union School District as a digital learning tool.
District officials said students use “Minecraft” to learn everything from math to language skills.
The University of San Diego’s Mobile Technology Learning Center is working with the district to implement the game at Emerald Middle School.
The school on Friday held a special “Minecraft Day” to celebrate the new addition to its curriculum and welcome the Chief Operating Officer of Mojang, the makers of “Minecraft.”
Vu Bui, the chief operating officer, said the game is changing the classroom dynamic.
“It’s the students themselves who are not only champions of the game, and they say they want to use it and they’re finding cool new ways to use it, but they are also able to educate the teachers on how it can be used,” Bui said.
Cajon Valley Union Superintendent David Miyashiro said the addition of “Minecraft” is creating an unexpected bonus: parents tell him the students love school more because of the game.
“When their kids wake up and they can’t wait to come to school, and they want to come to school on Saturdays,” Miyashiro said.
