Minecraft in the Art Room. Creepers gotta creep!

In case you didn't know, I am a gamer. I have been since video games were invented. I play a lot of games, from Scrabble to World of Warcraft. I believe there are strong benefits to gaming, and I am seeking awesome games to bring into the Art Room. (For more information about the benefits of gaming and how gaming can change the world, check out Jane McGonigal)

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With the kids bringing their iPads to Art, I made some necessary additions to my Free Choice Centers (what the kids choose to do when they finish their project). Adding to origami, stamping, weaving, free draw, and assorted games/puzzles, we now can use the iPad as a Center!

No, they didn't rush through their work to get here :)

Some guidelines:

• Art Apps only
• 3 Questions (these are posted and repeated):
• Are you being creative?
• Are you thinking like and artist?
• Is it appropriate?

I explained the 3 Questions to the kids.Here is how the conversation went:

Me: Is Candy Crush allowed?
Kids: Noooo.
Me: Plants vs Zombies?
Kids: NO!
Me: Minecraft?
Kids: No. Wait. Yes? YES!?

So why would I let the kids play Minecraft? Why wouldn't I!

First of all, it is a highly creative and (don't tell) educational game. Talk about STEAM. (ah, that is STEM with a healthy dose of ART). Second, many kids play, it is highly engaging and super fun.  Try this: ask a couple of classes how many kids play and note how many hands shoot up.

Ok, here are my Minecraft guidelines:

• Creative mode only. There are no creepers in creative mode!
• Students must be thinking and acting as an artist at all times.
• Students understand they will not be playing every time they come to art, or even when they have Centers. They will draw, weave, etc. We are seeking balance!
• If these privileges are abused in any way, this goes bye-bye.

Our kids LOVE Minecraft. Why not meet them halfway?

Fuzzy questions: 

• what about other games like Minecraft? 
• What about other creative games?

 This is where the 3 Questions have to be answered. If a kid is "making" goods for the sheer purpose of "selling" them, I don't see the creativity and artistry in that at all.

Teachers and Parents, if you really want to explore gaming, have your kids show you Minecraft. I promise you will at least you will have fun with your kids!

Using Minecraft in the Art Room

Using Minecraft in the Art Room! baby steps...

         and here's a link to Kyle D's castle!
Scott and Kyle S's castle

This was a sketchbook homework assignment for 5th grade.

Create a 3D castle (sand, Medieval, fantasy, outer space...) showing all the parts of a castle. Must include the elements of texture and value.

3 options to create:

• Minecraft,
• Google Sketchup 
• or traditionally drawn in sketchbook

Minds were blown. About half of my 5th graders (boys and girls) chose Minecraft. They spent hours creating their original castles and were so excited to share the final product with me.

Here are some ways they shared. The kids came up with these methods, btw. 

• sharing the screen via Skype (fyi: parents were present at home, and I had another teacher in the room with me)
• Video capture via Frap, delivered on a Flash drive
• Print screen images emailed to me
• photos printed out and hand delivered (less popular option)
• filmed on a tablet and phone which was brought to me for viewing

Some responses to Reflective Questions I asked:

Patrick's Magic Tower

• "If you had drawn this in your sketchbook, would you have spent this much time on it?"  Nope.
• "Would you have included all this detail and thought?" Nope.
• "How many hours did you spend on this?" Everyday for a week, for a few hours each day. 
• how much of that was chasing Creepers? I don't know...

Connor at work