Tutorials/Minecraft in education

Minecraft can be an educational tool that facilitates cooperation and teamwork among players.

Content suitability
While the mobs may be scary or overly frustrating for younger children, single player contains no coarse language, no sexual references, no drug references, and no blood. There is combat, but it is in the context of survival, not gratuitous killing and is almost not animated.

In multiplayer other people on the server may use coarse or inappropriate language when using the in game text chat. This can be prevented by running a private server, where you control who can play on it. In the Xbox360 Edition there is a peaceful mode, so younger players do not have to encounter enemies apart from wolves (Who only attack when attacked).

Educational benefits
Minecraft can have a huge educational benefit for children. Minecraft can help teach a myriad of subjects both with and without adult involvement. Learning in Minecraft can be faster than traditional ways of education, as children are often far more motivated, get lots of practice and feel that what they are learning is useful.

Mojang have recognised the educational potential Minecraft offers and have partnered with www.minecraftedu.com to provide Minecraft 50% cheaper for educational institutions.

Technical ability
Minecraft should be able to be easily set up by a parent, as it purely requires downloading it from the site, opening the download and logging in. It allows the username and password to be saved, meaning children only have to run the download, which can be placed on the desktop, and click login.

Setting up a server is much more intensive and will almost certainly require parental assistance even to about 12 or 13 year olds.