More than 1,000 primary students in Aragon improve their digital skills with ‘Minecraft Education’
More than 1,000 Aragonese students of 5th and 6th grade have improved their competences within the framework of the project ‘Awakening Stem vocations through Minecraft Education’. The program, promoted by the Department of Education of the DGA, Ibercaja, Tecnara and Microsoft Foundation, has consisted of more than 50 workshops that have been carried out in 25 centers from Zaragoza, La Monla and Villamayor de Gállego.
This initiative seeks to bring community students closer to Steam Methodology (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). The concrete program ‘Minecraft Education’, which is part of the one has been developed by Letcraft and friends, with the collaboration of the City of Zaragoza.
Through the educational version of the popular Microsoft video game‘Minecraft Education’, activities that have deepened in issues such as cybersecurity or digital and cultural well -being have been raised.
In addition to the different proposals developed during the school year, a Online ‘day for families and teachers with educational talks and experiences to disseminate the responsible use since childhood of technology. Likewise, the participating centers have access to a free web portal with resources, guides and pills of the good use of technology.
Contest ‘Art in the Cloud’
One of the proposals that have been part of the project is the School contest ‘art in the cloud. Exploring Goya in Minecraft ‘whose awards were given in the Infanta courtyard last Friday, in a gala that was attended by participating students and their teachers. The contest proposed to the students to put in the skin of Francisco de Goya and visit different places in the city and municipalities of Zaragoza related to their life and work such as the Goya Museum of Ibercaja Foundation or the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar, through Minecraft Education.
During this adventure, students had to solve different challenges and missions with those who could learn the importance of this author in our history and in the world. In addition, the contest offered a creative space where students had to Build different places of artistic heritage of the province of Zaragoza in Minecraft.
Awarded projects
The winners at the gala, which was attended by the Minister of Education, Tomasa Hernández, were the La Purísima school from Zaragoza for deaf children from Zaragoza, with its project ‘Colegio Goya’ (inclusive award); Jaca pious schools for the work monastery San Juan de la Peña (avant -garde award), and Pompilian Escolapias de Zaragoza With the La SEO Cathedral project (investigating award).
In addition, those made by the Clara Campoamor Institute Rodríguez de Zaragoza for his work on the central market, the CONDES SCHOOL OF ARAGONalso from the Aragonese capital, for the Goya temple project, and the Zaragoza Elalios Institute for the proposal on the Aljafía Palace.
On the other hand, and as part of this collaboration, during the summer months, the Summer Camp 2025 in Young Space of Ibercaja Foundation. “It is a different way of raising the summer colonies, with affordable prices for all families and in which art, creativity, senses and technology will join,” they explain from the Department of Education of the DGA.
The goal is Develop in an innovative way emotions and senses through technology, To show how the digital world also contributes to human development. They will be carried out throughout the months of June, July and the first half of September, with a set raised for more than 250 children.
“The goal is to discover their true vocation”
The Minister of Education, Culture and Sports of the Government of Aragon, Tomasa Hernández, highlights that this project is a magnificent example of how it is worth joining forces in education; “Collaboration between public and private institutions Under the same objective, the improvement of educational quality generates such innovative and creative initiatives as this“
“We firmly believe that essential Awakening and maintaining interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics From the earliest ages, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of the future, “he says.
Ana Liesa, Community Affairs manager of Microsoft Spain underlines the company’s commitment “in positively contributing in the communities” where it operates with initiatives such as these workshops and the contest on the figure of Goya. “We will continue supporting projects that promote technological learning and knowledge in artificial intelligenceessential to work in any sector, “he says.
Mayte Santos, head of the Professional Development Area of Ibercaja Foundation, emphasizes that schoolchildren have had the opportunity to work “their Steam competencies, completely important to face the challenges of the future” and “discover what they like and what they are good.” “The objective of this project is that discover their true vocation and that in parallel integrate technology and the rest of the Steam competitions, thus achieving a more comprehensive training, ”he concludes.
