What is Minecraft?  A game and a simulation builder that allows students to build anything they can imagine with blocks. 

"The core gameplay revolves around building and breaking blocks. The game world is essentially composed of rough 3D objects — mainly cubes — that are arranged in a fixed grid pattern and represent different materials, such as dirt, stone, various ores, water, and tree trunks. While players can move freely across the world, objects and items can only be placed at fixed locations.  Players can gather these material blocks and place them elsewhere, thus allowing various constructions.

The game starts by placing players on the surface of a randomly generated and virtually infinite game world. Throughout the course of the game, players encounter various non-player characters.[i] "

Minecraft  is not only a game!  Here is what Minecraft can be used for:

It can also be used to build scenes, (http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/17/how-to-teach-history-and-lots-more-with-minecraft/  )

Create useful tools (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Minecraft-Calculator-Graphing-MaxSGB-Scientific,15109.html)

Create digital music videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO3jygyexAo). 

The possibilities are endless.  Minecraft is a versatile  program that can be used by both students and teachers in every subject.

Science teachers will be able to create virtual environments like the one shown in the following YOUTUBE video where a teacher shows how neurotransmitters work. 

See:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om40LEypGbA

Math students  are able to build a virtual calculator with Minecraft.  See:

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Minecraft-Calculator-Graphing-MaxSGB-Scientific,15109.html

History teachers and students can create simulated environments with Minecraft.

 See: http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/17/how-to-teach-history-and-lots-more-with-minecraft/ 

English students can create a  module based on a book like this one based on the book “East of Eden.”

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27hUDPnPNs

Engineering See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HuRpoBNSg0

Minecraft is presently used by the United Nations to encourage local participation in development projects.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20492908

How does Minecraft support a vibrant library media program? 

Minecraft is  a resource.  Teaching students to use Minecraft can  be an instructional activity.  Mincraft can be used for assessment

 Minecraft is a tool that I use to promote multiple literacies (21^st Century skills)

               Informational literacy

               Media literacy

               Visual literacy

               Technology literacy

Teaching  for Learning:

With Minecraft, we are providing another opportunity for teachers and students to use technology for the furtherance of their education .

With Minecraft library staff work collaboratively with teachers  to achieve content areas learning outcomes.  (See examples of MC being used in the various content areas.)

With Minecraft,  we encourage reading, both in the content area and in non-fiction areas.  Example:  a student in a U.S. History class may want to build a model of a Japanese internment  camp with Minecraft.  The student will need to read about the camps from books and Web sites and then design the camp on Minecraft.

With Minecraft, we can provide for differentiated learning.  Students build their models based on their abilities and learning styles.  Those who are most interested in working with software to show understanding will be able to do so with MC. 

Minecraft products built by students can be assessed by teachers  and products can be used  as evidence of student learning.  Furthermore, a  student who uses MC generally engages in self-assessment as he/she evaluates the product they are building with the game ware.

We know that learning and achievement improve when information is presented through a variety of approaches.  Technology helps students comprehend.

Learning Environment

Minecraft is a virtual space that is provided to all who come to the library and use our computers and thus is an educational tool that is equitably distributed.

Minecraft is a virtual resource that we  selected based on research that it will encourage student involvement in their own education and thus help improve student performance in school.

Leadership

Adding Minecraft to our resources helps the library information specialist explore new technologies and model the use of those technologies for learning. 

If the library purchases  Minecraft, the librarian can show other teachers  how MC promotes best practices in teaching.  I could collaborate with other teacher to develop specific curriculum that uses this

Minecraft is one of many games being used by a growing number of educators who see the value of integrating gaming into the curriculum.