digital skills Archives

AppWizard

November 8, 2025

Building blocks of history: Flint Castle gets Minecraft makeover

School children visited Flint Castle and engaged with its history through Minecraft Education, marking the launch of Cadw’s fourth Welsh heritage site in the game. Pupils from Ysgol Flint Gwynedd and Ysgol Cornist Park participated in interactive learning experiences at the 13th-century fortress, which is significant as the first fortress built by King Edward I in 1277. The initiative, which began at Conwy Castle in December 2024, has seen over 7,000 downloads of bilingual resources by educators in Wales. The Minecraft experience allows learners aged 8 to 14 to explore the castle, follow a "Conflict Trail," and create historical films. Minister for Culture Jack Sargeant attended the launch, emphasizing the project's role in engaging young people with Welsh history and developing digital skills. The initiative plans to include around 20 Cadw-managed heritage sites in Minecraft over the next year, with resources available in both Welsh and English.

AppWizard

November 8, 2025

Flint Castle recreated in Minecraft for new Cadw learning project

Flint Castle has been revitalized in Minecraft through an educational initiative by Cadw, allowing students from Ysgol Flint Gwynedd and Ysgol Cornist Park to explore a digital replica of the historic site. This is the fourth Welsh heritage site recreated in Minecraft, following Conwy Castle, Caernarfon Castle, and Harlech Castle. Since its launch in December 2024, the bilingual Minecraft resources have been downloaded over 7,000 times by educators in Wales. Flint Castle, built by King Edward I in 1277, played significant roles in British history, including the capture of King Richard II in 1399 and involvement in Owain Glyndŵr’s rebellion in 1400. The Minecraft world allows learners aged 8 to 14 to explore the castle and engage with the interactive Conflict Trail. Cadw plans to add around 20 more locations to the Minecraft world in the coming year, with resources available in Welsh and English.

AppWizard

August 2, 2025

Eisteddfod village recreated in Minecraft by Wrexham Uni academics

Computing academics from Wrexham University have created a Minecraft world that represents the Welsh cultural festival, the Eisteddfod, allowing children and teenagers to engage with Welsh culture in a digital format. Dr. Shafiul Monir, the associate dean at the university, stated that the project aims to promote digital skills and access for young people while celebrating Welsh culture. Children can contribute by adding activities and landmarks in the Minecraft world. Additionally, a "time machine" installation at the Eisteddfod site invites attendees to record their predictions for the future of the Welsh language, with messages archived digitally. The time machine is made from recycled materials and will be featured during the festival's closing event. After the festival, it will be housed in Wrexham University’s Creative Industries Building for future use by students. The Minecraft village is accessible via the server details: Server Name: Eisteddfod, IP Address: 198.244.179.144, Port: 2117.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

The power of game-based learning with Minecraft Education

Game-based learning through Minecraft Education effectively engages students across various subjects, promoting critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity while equipping them with essential digital skills. The platform offers ready-to-use, standards-aligned resources in subjects like coding, AI, science, history, and math, transforming education into an enjoyable experience. Minecraft Education prepares students for a digital world by providing hands-on experiences that enhance digital citizenship, responsible AI usage, and coding fluency. Specific programs include "CyberSafe AI," which focuses on digital citizenship and AI literacy; "Hour of Code," which involves solving coding puzzles in a theater setting; and "GameCode," where students create their own mini-games. The platform also addresses core subjects and STEM education through immersive experiences like "Ocean Heroes," which teaches marine conservation; "Data Explorers," which emphasizes data collection and analysis; "Ratio Riddles," which engages students with foundational math concepts; "Peter is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage," which explores architectural history; and the "James Webb Space Telescope Challenge," which invites students to explore the universe. Minecraft Education fosters creative classroom environments through activities like "Wheel of Steve," which enhances collaboration and critical thinking, and "Renewtopia," which teaches about renewable energy sources. The platform supports educators with resources and a community to integrate game-based learning effectively.