The company also added several new features to the game that make it easier for teachers to give feedback, as well as classroom collaboration tools and a simpler setup process.Ī full version of Microsoft: Education Edition will go on sale in September and costs school districts an average of $1 to $5 per player each year. On Thursday, Microsoft announced that schools and teachers can download a special education version of the game for free. The game's massive popularity with kids (and adults) is one of the major reasons that the software giant bought Mojang, Minecraft's developer, for $2.5 billion two years ago. Microsoft ( MSFT) is pinning a lot of hope on Minecraft as a way to break into the education sector. Related: Minecraft developer explains why the game is cool Elena Rezac, of William Annin Middle School, has been beta testing Microsoft's Minecraft: Education Edition. Competition among classmates doesn't really exist either because everyone builds their own version. Rezac says she doesn't think too much about how to get a good grade. Then they spend several weeks creating the game and get points for what they build. Students who take his elective have to write a design document that outlines the objectives and rules of their MInecraft game. 'They can find an area where they can succeed,' said Isaacs, a 24-year teaching veteran. His class was one of the beta testers for Microsoft's new program Minecraft: Education Edition.

Her teacher Steve Isaacs agrees and says he likes Minecraft because it allows students to be inventive.

But computer science is 'a lot more fun because you can do whatever you want.' She said, for example, that in art, she would only be able to paint a picture. Rezac really wanted to take game design and development as an elective because it would allow her to work on multiple things at a time. The main character of her game is Ella, one of 10 human survivors trying to protect the earth's plants from being destroyed by aliens.

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