Peer Review

Minecraft Pocket Edition App for iPad

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Feb 25, 2016 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Minecraft — Pocket Edition is a Universal App! Play on any iPhone and iPad. It’s constantly evolving thanks to our free updates.

Minecraft is about placing blocks to build things and going on adventures!

Pocket Edition includes randomly generated worlds, multiplayer over a local Wi-Fi network, and Survival and Creative modes. You can craft and create with your friends anywhere in the world so long as you have hands spare and battery to burn.

This app costs $6.99

Type of Material:

Simulation

Recommended Uses:

Technology class

Technical Requirements:

Requires iOS 5.1.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The purpose of Minecraft Pocket Edition is much like the actual software, Minecraft, to design and create complex tools, materials, and structures from basic resources. Collaboration, creative and critical thinking, and communication are also goals since up to five students can work together over local wifi to build things. This pocket version does not offer all the opportunities the full computer software does, but for a pocket edition it does well.

Target Student Population:

elementary students through adults;

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Understanding how Minecraft works on the computer is very helpful, but not required.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: This app provides an open sandbox that allows users to explore and decide what kind of learning gets incorporated into the building and game experience. This app really supports the development of imagination. Students who like to build and tinker can move from basic skills and problem solving to more complex and sophisticated constructions. Recipes for creating items are built into the interface of the app. There are two modes of play--creative and survival. Creative mode is open and exploratory.
Concerns:: Survival mode may be challenging for beginners, especially the first night.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: By its design of creating and building, this app can be adapted to a wide range of lesson objectives and subject matter. Students should be able to design structures and understand space and volume after using this app. These skills can easily be transferred into the curriculum. Because of the sandbox, exploration and discover, are necessary. These features align with the Common Core Standards. Users need to constantly explore, discover and make things. The block-like shapes make it fun (and almost addicting). High school and university instructors may find this a very useful introduction to virtual worlds and how we can use virtual worlds to create and collaborate with others near and far.
Concerns:: The app is rated 9+ on iTunes for Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence. It may be challenging for educators to develop lesson plans around the material because of its game-like qualities.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: This is the mobile version of the computer building game, Minecraft, and is made for the iPhone and iPad. Skills from that game readily transfer to this app. The game offers a choice of two modes for users. The creative mode targets building and imagination. The survival mode has monsters and things can become scarce. Monsters show up at night in this mode. Night is turned off in the creative mode. This allows for a wide range of users who can begin in one mode and move to another and back again as desired. There are several in-app purchases available that provide different virtual world settings to begin exploring. The app is updated often.
Concerns:: Things are just smaller than on a computer because it is the mobile version. This may make it just a bit more difficult to see, move controls, and play smoothly.

Other Issues and Comments:: An engaging and interactive simulation that offers insight into app manipulation. It allows for user collaboration. It could be used as an example for app building in technology class. It would be helpful to have additional materials to demonstrate usefulness in other content areas. For example there are teachers who have built own worlds to simulate ancient times to help students experience life during a different time period or place.
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