STEM

Minecraft for Chromebooks Arrives

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 08/14/20

As Microsoft promised a few weeks ago, the company has announced general availability of Minecraft: Education Edition for Chromebook devices, just in time for the start of school. The release comes with two new features for all users:

• 11 new STEM lessons, including a Minecraft world developed with help from the American Beekeeping Federation's Kids and Bees program, to introduce students to honeybees and pollination; and

• Improvements to the lesson library, with tagging of learning activities to make searching easier;

Schools with a license to Microsoft 365 for Education already have access to the newest version of Minecraft. However, the gaming platform can also be licensed through an annual subscription in the Microsoft Store for Education. Currently, a Microsoft account is required; but soon, the company reported, users with a Google account will be able to log in as well.

Minecraft: Education Edition for Chromebook details on provided a dedicated landing page.

The Minecraft education download page is the starting place for all versions of the product.

Microsoft has also developed a "learning at home" set of free resources to help teachers and families stay connected through educational play.