Professional Development Catalog
Minecraft Education professional learning helps educators build the skills and knowledge
to integrate Minecraft into their teaching practice effectively. The goal is a more effective,
engaging, and empowering learning experience for all your students—topped off with a
healthy dose of fun!
This catalog takes you for a stroll through the professional development content that’s
available to support your teaching with Minecraft Education. It covers the different
delivery methods available and shares guidance on which training format is best for you
and your organization.
First, let’s look at what’s possible when you invest in professional development to build
your Minecraft Education teaching practice. Check out these three case studies:
How Cherokee County School District teachers use Minecraft Education in K—12
classrooms
How Wales created a national professional development program with Minecraft
This district rolled out Minecraft, and teacher collaboration skyrocketed
It’s easy to see the benefits of game-based learning with Minecraft Education. Now it’s just
a matter of getting up to speed. The treasure chest of training content in this catalog will
help you start that journey.
HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS CATALOG:
1. Training content overview:
a. Minecraft Teacher Academy
b. Block Coding Academy
c. Python Coding Academy
d. Cybersecurity Academy
e. Minecraft Trainer Academy
f. Microsoft Esports Teacher Academy
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g. Minecraft Student Ambassador Program
2. Content delivery methods:
a. Asynchronous learning on Microsoft Learn
b. Live training cohort models
c. One-to-one training with a Microsoft Global Training Partner
3. FAQ – Which training method is best for me?
TRAINING CONTENT OVERVIEW
1) Minecraft Teacher Academy (3 hours): This is our hero learning path—the place to
step up and step out into Minecraft Education. It incorporates three levels: Minecraft
101, 201, and 301. Each section focuses on using Minecraft Education as a teaching
and learning tool to support strong pedagogical practices.
Minecraft 101: Let’s Build Individually (1 hour): New to Minecraft Education?
We recommend starting here. Minecraft 101 focuses on asynchronous building,
where students work in their own worlds. Many educators start with Minecraft 101,
deliver their first lesson with students, then come back to the other courses when
they feel ready. If you’re confident using Minecraft in your classroom after this first
level, go ahead and dive in! But to strengthen your knowledge and confidence, we
recommend coming back to complete Minecraft 201 and 301.
Minecraft 201: Let’s Modify Together (1 hour): Once teachers feel confident
leading a lesson where each of their students builds something related to their
curriculum, they might be ready to expand their skill set. During Minecraft 201,
teachers learn how to assess their students’ work with in-game tools and host a
multiplayer world for collaborative gameplay. It’s helpful to practice these skills
after you take the training. Then, once you’ve spent some time teaching with these
methods, you’ll be ready to level up with advanced courses.
Minecraft 301: Let’s Build Worlds Together (1 Hour): This advanced course
explores how to build or modify your own worlds as an educator. You’ll learn how
to use Worldbuilder mode, add non-player characters (NPCs) to add context and
assignments in-world, and explore small-group multiplayer instructions. For
collectors and completionists, this course caps off the full set of Teacher Academy
badges!
2) Minecraft Block Coding Academy (6 hours)
The Block Coding Academy modules focus on using Minecraft Education to teach
programming skills and concepts to learners at all levels. The course breaks down into
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two sections: Block-based coding in MakeCode and a transition from MakeCode to
Python. Most educators start with block coding and come back to the Transition to
Python course later. After completing each section, you’ll add the Block Coding and
Coding and Beyond badges to your collection.
Prerequisite: Complete the Minecraft 101 module in the Minecraft Teacher
Academy to build up to the Block Coding Academy.
3) Minecraft Python Coding Academy (6 hours)
The modules in the Python Coding Academy focus on supercharging students’ coding
skills using Python, a real-world text-based programming language. We’ve broken this
course into two sections: Python in MakeCode and a transition to writing Python in
Azure Notebooks. When you’re done, you’ll pin the Python Coding and Advanced
Python badges to your digital jacket.
Prerequisite: Complete the Minecraft 101 course or equivalent training before
click-clacking your way into the Python Coding Academy.
4) Cybersecurity Academy (1 hour):
The Cybersecurity Academy module explores the full cybersecurity pathway in
Minecraft Education, which consists of a range of learning content and educational
materials intended to support educators in facilitating cybersecurity education with
students ages 8-18. After completing the module, you’ll earn the Cybersecurity badge
to add to your collection, and you’ll be ready to equip your students with crucial skills
for navigating our increasingly networked world.
Prerequisite: Complete the Minecraft 101 course or equivalent training before
you start your Cybersecurity journey.
5) Minecraft Trainer Academy (1 hour):
You’ve taught students. Now teach teachers! The Minecraft Trainer Academy walks
educators through best practices for preparing and facilitating a Minecraft Education
training for their organization. This course provides training materials and inspires you
with ideas to create a training environment that excites and empowers your colleagues
to use Minecraft Education. It’s especially powerful for technology coaches who want
to support their school’s or district’s Minecraft Education implementation and help
their educators get started.
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Prerequisite: Complete Minecraft 101–301 before leveling up into the Minecraft
Trainer Academy.
6) Microsoft Esports Teacher Academy (3 hours):
New to esports? Microsoft Esports Teacher Academy (META) highlights the role esports
play in teaching and learning, potential career pathways, how to integrate them into
educational settings, and guidance for building a thriving esports program in a school.
Prerequisite: Complete Minecraft 101 and 201 before kicking off the Minecraft
Esports Teacher Academy.
7) Minecraft Student Ambassador Program (4 hours):
Do you have students who are absolute Minecraft fanatics? Provide them with a
leadership opportunity to help other students—or even teachers—get started! By
implementing a Minecraft Student Ambassador Program, schools can also connect
with parents and the wider community by showcasing Minecraft’s positive impact on
student learning and development. At the end of this learning path, you’ll become a
Certified Minecraft Student Ambassador Sponsor.
Prerequisite: Complete Minecraft 101 and 201 before you assemble your team
through the Minecraft Student Ambassador Program course.
TRAINING DELIVERY METHODS:
Students learn in diverse and wonderful ways, and educators are no different! There are
three ways to complete the Minecraft Education training content. Which one you
choose will depend on your needs and learning style.
Whether you have a few teachers who want to get started right away or you’re hoping to
build and scale a community of practice within your school district, there’s something for
everyone.
There are three different formats for jumping into this material:
1. Asynchronous learning on Microsoft Learn
2. Live training cohort model
3. One-to-one training with a Microsoft Global Training Partner
1. ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING ON MICROSOFT LEARN
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Any educator can complete our training pathways on Microsoft Learn at their own pace—
completely free! All of these courses put you in control of your own learning, so you can
dig into the areas that are most relevant to your teaching practice and interests. Each
course you complete lands you a shiny, sharable badge on Microsoft Learn.
These links will take you to every course we have available:
Minecraft Teacher Academy
o Minecraft 101: Aka.ms/minecraft101
o Minecraft 201: Aka.ms/minecraft201
o Minecraft 301: Aka.ms/minecraft301
Minecraft Block Coding Academy: aka.ms/mcedu-blockcodingacademy
Minecraft Python Coding Academy: aka.ms/mcedu-pythoncodingacademy
Minecraft Cybersecurity Academy: aka.ms/CyberTraining
Minecraft Trainer Academy: aka.ms/minecraft-trainer-academy
Microsoft Esports Teacher Academy: aka.ms/microsoftesports
Minecraft Student Ambassador Program: aka.ms/MCEDUStudentAmbassador
2. LIVE TRAINING COHORT MODEL
Taking asynchronous courses on your own isn’t everyone’s style. That’s why we offer
regular, recurring, live training cohorts you can join with educators from all around the
world! Every cohort meets regularly over three to four weeks to complete the courses
together. Minecraft Certified Trainers lead the sessions to make sure you’re getting the
absolute most out of the experience. Just like the asynchronous learning model, these
cohorts are available to all educators completely free.
Each cohort lasts around six hours in total. That’s about one-and-a-half to two hours a
week for three or four weeks. Attendees are responsible for previewing the week’s content
on Microsoft Learn before each session, and we’ll use the time to practice, play, and ask
questions.
This model is best for those who like completing courses with a group and having the
opportunity to learn from others and ask questions along the way. It’s also a great way to
build community!
Do you have a group of educators in your district who want to get started with Minecraft
Education? Encourage them to sign up for an upcoming cohort as a group. Then you’ll be
able to support each other throughout your journey and build a community of practice.
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Register for all events at aka.ms/meeevents.
“I really enjoyed the collaborative sharing. It allowed us to see the commonalities and
challenges we face both internationally and stateside. The collaborative nature of Minecraft
truly supports the 21st-century mindset.”
– Minecraft Teacher Academy Cohort participant
The live cohort training progression through Minecraft 101–103, capped off with a curriculum party.
3. ONE-TO-ONE TRAINING WITH A MICROSOFT GLOBAL TRAINING
PARTNER
If you’d like to schedule a customized Minecraft Education training for your school system,
find a Microsoft Global Training Partner in your area and get a quote for any of this
content.
Training partners can deliver all academies virtually or onsite, as a cohort model, or over
one or two full days. If you share the goals you’re trying to achieve, the training partner
can customize their instruction to match your audience’s needs, including tailoring their
sessions to certain subjects or grade levels.
Reach out to a Microsoft Global Training Partner and request a quote here: Find A Trainer.
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FAQs
Review the FAQs below to understand what training content or delivery method is best for
your teaching and learning needs.
1. How do I get set up with Minecraft Education?
First, you’ll need a valid Minecraft Education subscription. Start by checking if your
school already has licenses available by asking your IT administrator. If you don’t,
you can learn more about our free trial and licensing options.
After you download the game, we recommend going through Minecraft 101 on
Microsoft Learn to understand how to bring this tool into the classroom. If you
have any issues or questions, connect with our support team for help.
2. Why should I take a Minecraft Education training course before delivering a
lesson to my students?
Teachers who train to use Minecraft Education will be able to navigate the platform
with ease, understand its features, and provide students with guidance and
support. Training helps educators understand how to design tasks, set objectives,
and assess learning outcomes effectively. Trained teachers also learn techniques
for managing student behavior, setting guidelines for appropriate use, and
ensuring students stay on task.
There are almost unlimited ways to teach with Minecraft Education! You can have
your students use a blank world to build and demonstrate knowledge of a certain
topic, or you can select an existing world paired with a lesson plan through the in-
game library. How you manage lessons and assessments depends on your
teaching goals, and the training will get you familiar with both the mechanics of
assigning a lesson and documenting student learning outcomes.
3. I’m an instructional technology, curriculum, or professional learning leader in
my school organization, and I’m trying to map out a training plan for coaches
or teachers in my district who want to bring Minecraft Education into their
classrooms. Where should I start?
If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to begin with our Minecraft 101 course and
then add what feels best for your teaching audience. We recommend having a
group of teachers go through the Minecraft Teacher Academy together, either
asynchronously or through a virtual cohort.
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By working together, they’ll build community and support structures organically. If
you have more advanced users, you might want to explore Minecraft 201 to add
multiplayer and further assessment methods to your team’s toolkit, or even expand
their inventory with our esports and coding courses.
4. I’m brand new to Minecraft Education, and my students seem to know more
about the game than I do. How can I feel confident enough to deliver a lesson
to my class?
Don’t worry: We’ve all felt this way at some point! Harness that student excitement
to your advantage. It’s one of the biggest benefits of teaching with Minecraft!
Know that you don’t have to be an expert gamer to teach with this tool. You just
need to design and facilitate the learning experience. We created Minecraft 101 to
get you up and running for your first lesson. That way, you can sit back, reflect, and
design your next lesson to build more confidence. You got this!
5. Some of my students have never played Minecraft before. How do I help them
get started?
You’re bound to have a few student experts who can help. When you introduce
Minecraft to your class for the first time, ask them to raise their hand if they’re a
Minecraft expert. We’re confident a few arms will rocket into the air! Those
students can be your class leaders and help other learners if they get stuck or need
guidance.
We also have tutorials on movement, breaking and placing blocks, assessment
features, and more in the How to Play category in Minecraft Education’s in-game
library. Guide students to those tutorials, and they can build their confidence
around playing with a keyboard and mouse or a touchpad.
6. Will I learn how to assess student learning during my Minecraft teacher
training?
You most certainly will! Minecraft 101, 201, and 301 represent a spiraling
curriculum. That means they model a real-life classroom lesson you can teach
directly to your students according to a teach-release-reflect method of instruction.
In each course, you’ll teach students how to build something, release them to make
it, and then reflect on the experience with an assessment.
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That assessment can be very simple, like taking a screenshot of their creation. Or it
can be more advanced: Imagine students screen-recording walkthroughs of their
Minecraft worlds—a method many of them will know and love.
7. I’ve completed the Minecraft Teacher Academy, and I’m trying to take my
experience to the next level. What do you recommend?
Nicely done! You might be ready to consider esports, designing a lesson where
students compete and build with and against each other for fun. Or you could
embark on Minecraft Education’s entire coding progression. Or maybe you want to
start a Minecraft Student Ambassador program at your school. You can also check
out if there are any upcoming training cohorts on our events page.
8. Tech can be tricky. How can I overcome any technical issues or glitches that
might arise while I’m using Minecraft Education?
We know that integrating new technology can be daunting, especially when you’re
busy keeping your classroom running smoothly. Our Support Center has
documented the most common issues—and a whole bunch of rarities—so you can
troubleshoot the problem yourself. You can also drop a question in our Support
Forums. If you can’t find the answer, you can always submit a support ticket at
aka.ms/fileaticket.
9. What’s the educational benefit of starting a Minecraft Student Ambassador
program at my school?
Your students love Minecraft, and they’re extremely knowledgeable. At the same
time, we know teachers who are new to Minecraft can be a little nervous.
Leveraging your students’ excitement and giving them a leadership opportunity
based on the game they love is a great way to build community and foster
teamwork.
Our Student Ambassador course showcases the success of Atlanta Public Schools
and details how you can recruit students. It highlights ways your learners can
engage, like acting as lesson helpers, throwing events at your school, and more.
Now that you know what’s available, it’s time to get in the game, get building, and inspire
some students! Head to education.minecraft.net to start your journey.
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