Friday, August 30, 2013

Teaching with Minecraft -- Part Five, safe places to play and learn

This post is a little different. I know that all parents are concerned with safety these days, both out in the real world and here, in the virtual world. So, while searching for lesson plans and blogs, I found myself encountering some interesting sites -- sites aimed specifically at that issue. I am listing them here and intend to check them out. I will say, up front, that I have not done so yet.

1)Massively Minecraft  -- this is the first place that I have encountered. I have registered for it. It is a whitelisted server and claims to be a 'safe place for kids and parents'.  I found the following review of it: 

"There are definitely kid-safe public and semi-public Minecraft servers (called “whitelisted” servers because would-be players have to apply to join). One I know well is the Australia-based Massively @ Jokaydia (formerly Massively Minecraft). With 500 registered users worldwide, it’s run by educators who call it a Minecraft Guild for parents as well as kids (aged 4-16). Parents are welcome to participate, and everybody learns. See the citizenship and social- and media-literacy skills represented in this list of 10 kinds of learning that this server aims to help players develop in Minecraft). But this is informal learning for parents and young people (“no teaching or lessons allowed in the game”). It’s also free (donations “gratefully accepted”), but there’s an application that people fill out to join" Net Family News

2) For those who have children interested in playing other servers, here is a list of white list servers -- whitelist servers are those for which you have to apply.  Applicants are vetted and approved. There are usually rules by which players are expected to abide -- no griefing being primary. As always, parental oversight is advisedWhitelist Minecraft Servers

3) Here is an article listing several family friendly Minecraft servers.

4) Minecraft and Internet Safety

5) Interncraften

Happy Crafting!!

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