Students at Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School are building and bonding in a new afterschool program taught by Nicholas Gerstung, known by students as Mr. G. Mr. G brought students together with the Minecraft Education Edition, a version of the popular video game that gives teachers classroom management controls and curriculum-based lesson plans while giving students engaging lessons in science, math, history, language arts, and programming.
“Minecraft Education Edition makes it easier for students to engage with complex topics in a fun, accessible way,” said Mr. G. “They work together to build, explore, and solve challenges that stretch their imagination and problem-solving skills.”
Additionally, Mr. G says that the club brings students together to engage with the game at school in a safe environment. They learn digital citizenship, which teaches them how to be safe online and respectfully interact with others. They put their heads together to solve problems in a creative way, using the medium of Minecraft, which many students are already familiar with. This allows them to grow their creativity, communication, spatial-reasoning, and critical thinking skills.
“Over the years, Minecraft Edu Club has become more than an after-school activity,” said Mr. G. “It’s a place where students learn to approach challenges, build meaningful connections, and recognize their own potential. Seeing them grow in confidence and creativity has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to continue supporting them as they discover how powerful their ideas can be.”
Teachers at Buncombe County Schools use unique learning experiences such as Minecraft Education Edition to meet students where they are, unlocking a new world of potential and leveling-up their skills. Sometimes, the students don’t even know they’re learning - to them, it’s just having fun and making friends. But to teachers like Mr. G, these 21st century teaching tools can tap into learning like never before.