Oct 08, 2016 10:06 AM EDT By Jane Reed, UniversityHerald Reporter

What is Minecraft? Minecraft is a sandbox video game that enables players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D environment.

Players can also explore the 3D world, gather resource, craft and combat other players. Minecraft is a game with multiple gameplays and it even has a survival mode where players must acquire resources to build the world while maintaining health. And for the imaginative ones, a creative mode is also available. And for those who just want to observe, a spectator mode is available for users who want to fly around and play with creations.

But what does this have to do with education? Minecraft Education is a thing now. Minecraft Education is now being used by students and teachers everywhere. This kind of technology is essential for today's modern world as a tool for learning. They are now turning an obsession into a resource, cites Ed Surge.

During the latest MINECON 2016, there were many attendees. Not just Minecraft players but parents, their kids and educators were also there. According to one spectator, "Minecraft is especially unique in the sense that it's a tool that brings together each of those three different groups of individuals, all in pursuit of creative expression, adventure, and fun."

Schools use Minecraft in their computer science classes. Teachers and students alike share and build applications. Even families who homeschool their kids attended MINECON because they use the game as a learning tool.

It is clearly important for educators and the education to realize that the obsession of kids now can be used as a means to teach them. Minecraft is just one tool out of the many games and apps out there that are quite popular. If many more systems realize this, they can turn an addictive obsession as a way to encourage learning and collaboration.

Do you know of an app or game that can help teach kids? Shout out in the comments section!

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