Microsoft acquires MinecraftEdu; to invest in new, expanded version of Minecraft for the classroom

Microsoft has been making steady progress in the field of education via Minecraft. As this blog explains, by creating a virtual world and then advancing in it, students can learn digital citizenship, empathy, social skills and even improve their literacy – while getting real time feedback on their problem solving skills from the teacher. More than 7,000 classrooms in more than 40 countries around the world are already using Minecraft.Building on this natural use of Minecraft in the classroom, Microsoft has announced it is acquiring MinecraftEdu and investing in a new and expanded version of Minecraft for the classroom called Minecraft Education Edition. Building on the title from Teacher Gaming LLC, this new title – available for free trial this summer – will offer an expanded set of features to empower educators to foster deeper student engagement and collaboration. Minecraft Education Edition will be shaped by a community of educators throughout its development.In addition, Microsoft has also announced that it is opening public preview of Learning Tools for OneNote. It is designed specifically to improve reading and writing experiences for all students, including for those with learning disabilities like dyslexia. Learning Tools incorporates special text formatting and other features that can make classroom activities easier, including advanced dictation, focus mode, and immersive reading.