Add as a preferred source on Google


Minecraft: Education Edition Now Out in Full Release

The full version of Minecraft: Education Edition is now available, adding new features not seen in the preview release, including a "Classroom Mode."

Today also marks the cut-off for users of the free early access edition. More than 50,000 students and teachers participated in the early access program, according to Mojang, Minecraft's publisher.

Pricing for the full release version is $5 per user, according to the company. District-level licensing plans are also available.

New features debuting in the full release include:

  • Classroom Mode, enabled through a companion app that allows educators to "manage world settings, communicate with students, give items and teleport students in the Minecraft world. It displays a map view of the Minecraft world, a list of all the students in the world, a set of world management settings and a chat window. There is even a Minecraft clock to show time of day in the world. Classroom Mode offers educators the ability to interact with students and manage settings from a central user interface," according to Mojang.
  • The Education Edition also incorporates features found in the general release of Minecraft: "All the latest updates to Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta will be included, such as leads and horses, additional player skins, pistons and the remainder of Redstone functionality and an updated user interface."

Minecraft Education Edition 

Lesson plans, starter worlds and tutorials are accessible at education.minecraft.net, as is the Minecraft Mentors program, a community for educators who use Minecraft.

System requirements for Minecraft: Education Edition include Windows 10 or macOS El Capitan and an Office 365 Education e-mail address (available free from Microsoft, which owns Mojang).

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • magnifying glass with AI icon in the center

    Google Releases Learning-Themed AI Mode Features for Search

    Ahead of back-to-school season, Google has introduced new AI Mode features in Search, including image and PDF queries on desktop, a Canvas tool for planning, real-time help with Search Live, and Lens integration in Chrome.

  • student holding a smartphone with thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons, surrounded by abstract digital media symbols and interface elements

    Teaching Media Literacy? Start by Teaching Decision-Making

    Decision-making is a skill that must be developed — not assumed. Students need opportunities to learn the tools and practices of effective decision-making so they can apply what they know in meaningful, real-world contexts.

  • open laptop with various educational materials like charts, quizzes, and documents emerging from the screen

    Pear Deck Learning Debuts New AI Features

    GoGuardian recently introduced new artificial intelligence features within its Pear Deck Learning curriculum and instruction platform, designed to aid educators throughout their teaching journey — from lesson planning to assessment.

  • cloud with binary code and technology imagery

    Hybrid and AI Expansion Outpacing Cloud Security

    A survey from the Cloud Security Alliance and Tenable finds that rapid adoption of hybrid, multi-cloud and AI systems is outpacing the security measures meant to protect them, leaving organizations exposed to preventable breaches and identity-related risks.