Representation matters
Ensuring the representation of all genders, ethnicities, grade levels, students with disabilities, etc. are represented in your MSA program is critical! It's important to make a concerted effort to make sure that all the students within your schools/district can see themselves as a part of your MSA program. It's important to mention that recruitment for your Minecraft Student Ambassador program isn't just for your “A” students to take part and therefore, you shouldn't simply include those high achievers. Make sure your MSA program is open, available, and ready to receive everyone!
Girls Who Code:
We know that there are entire programs built around exposing girls to coding and creating such as Girls Who Code. According to the Girls Who Code website, the percentage gap of male to female computer scientists continues to get smaller and smaller. Exposing our female students to programs like Minecraft can help to close the gender gap in entry-level technology jobs by the year 2030 (Girls Who Code).
Include students from multiple grade levels:
The Minecraft EDU website states: “Minecraft Education is an open-world game that promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive environment where the only limit is your imagination.” There are lesson plans available on the Minecraft EDU website for students as young as three years old. These lesson plans provide teacher resources and information that ensures successful sharing of Minecraft lessons with students of all ages. Don't be afraid to invite students from varying age groups to be a part of your MSA program.
Include students with disabilities:
We made sure to open our MSA program to all the students in our district and it was amazing to see ALL our students thrive in our program. The creative aspect of Minecraft EDU and the collaboration that it fosters, coupled with students being able to earn badges, etc. makes it a positive learning experience for each student.
On the Minecraft EDU blog Sean Arnold, an educator in New York City shared thoughts on students with disabilities using Minecraft. Sean stated, “....so much of special education is defined by Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) procedures and the work of B.F. Skinner. And, while there's a place for it, giving Skittles has no inherent value and will eventually become less motivating because it's purely external. The best digital games, of which Minecraft is an exemplar, automatically convert the external motivators (points, leaderboards, and badges) into internal motivators (challenge, meaning, and socialization). The strength of Minecraft for this is its adaptability to be solitary or social, creative or destructive, guided or open.” (Minecraft EDU blog, 2017).
Read more about Sean’s thoughts:
Change the Game: Using Minecraft to Teach Students with Autism