Minecraft: Education Edition

Overview

Minecraft: Education Edition is now available to Hwb users with Microsoft 365 licences.

Minecraft: Education Edition is available for Windows, MacOS, and iPad devices and will need to be downloaded on the devices you plan to use with your learners. We recommend using Windows Desktop or MacOS as this will allow you to use the Classroom Mode and Code Connection companion apps, which offer an enhanced Minecraft experience for the classroom.

Downloading Minecraft: Education Edition

Minecraft: Education Edition can be downloaded from the Minecraft: Education Edition website.

Navigate to https://education.minecraft.net/get-started/download/
Scroll down to the section of the page titled Downloads by device and platform.
Click on the downwards facing arrow under Windows Desktop for Minecraft: Education Edition to start the download.
Once the download is complete, open the downloaded exe by clicking on the folder either in the downloads bar at the bottom of your browser or in the downloads folder of your device.
The Minecraft: Education Edition Setup Wizard will open. Choose your setup language (Minecraft: Education Edition isn’t currently available in Welsh) > Click Next.
The next prompt will ask if you want to continue to install Minecraft: Education Edition on your device. Click Next to continue.
Read the Microsoft software licence terms for Minecraft: Education Edition and click the appropriate checkbox to accept > Click Next.
You will need to select where you would like Minecraft: Education Edition to be installed on your device. Either leave the default location or click Browse to select an alternative location > Click Next.
If you would like shortcuts for Minecraft: Education Edition to be created on your desktop or Start Menu Programs folder, click the appropriate checkbox > Click Next.
To begin the installation, click Install.
A pop up will appear asking if you want to allow Minecraft: Education Edition to make changes to your device. Click Yes to continue or No to cancel the installation.
This is the final stage of the installation. Click the checkbox if you would like to launch Minecraft: Education Edition once the installation is complete > Click Finish.
Enter your Hwb username (e.g. username@hwbcymru.net) > click Next.
Enter your Hwb password > click Sign in.

Classroom Mode

To manage settings for your learners from a central user interface in Minecraft: Education Edition you need to download Classroom Mode from the Minecraft: Education Edition website. A full guide to installing and using Classroom Mode can be found in the Minecraft: Education Edition support site.

Code Connection

Code Connection is an extension to Minecraft: Education Edition which allows educators and learners to explore, create, and play in an immersive Minecraft world – all by writing code. Code Connection connects to learn-to-code packages like ScratchX, Tynker and a new open source platform called Microsoft MakeCode, where users can find familiar tools, templates and tutorials.

Code Connection can be downloaded from the Minecraft: Education Edition website. A full guide to installing and using Code Connection can be found in the Minecraft: Education Edition support site.

Technical requirements

Schools and local authorities should review the technical requirements for running Minecraft: Education Edition, which outline the websites and ports that need to be open on the network in order to use Minecraft: Education Edition.

Free training

Microsoft are funding a new Minecraft: Education Edition project in Wales which includes the creation of five Minecraft Learning Centres (MLCs). These MLCs will be running a series of free-to-attend workshops for educators, to demonstrate how to make use of Minecraft: Education Edition in the classroom, in line with Curriculum for Wales 2022. There will also be a roadshow of Minecraft: Education Edition events taking place across Wales this academic year, including ‘Minecraft Meets’ and sessions in the Regional Digital Learning Events.

Book a place on a training session.

Further support

Knowledge base for Minecraft: Education Edition:

https://education.minecraft.net/support/knowledgebase/

Minecraft: Education Edition support requests:

https://education.minecraft.net/support/contact-us/

Ideas for teaching with Minecraft: Education Edition:

https://minecrafteducation.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/360000266988-Teaching-With-Minecraft