Microsoft Licensing for Minecraft: Education Edition
- Requires Microsoft 365 or Office 365 Education
- Available via annual subscriptions or volume licenses
- Licensing options: direct purchase, education partner
- Minimum purchase: 30 licenses
- Affordable pricing for educational institutions
Microsoft Licensing for Minecraft: Education Edition
Minecraft: Education Edition is a game-based learning platform that engages students in a collaborative and creative environment, fostering learning across multiple subjects, including STEM, history, and language arts.
Microsoft has transformed this popular game into a powerful educational tool, and understanding the licensing process is vital for schools and organizations looking to use this resource effectively.
This comprehensive guide will explore the different licensing options, eligibility requirements, license management processes, technical requirements, distribution methods, features, and best practices.
This guide aims to help educational institutions and non-academic organizations make informed decisions about incorporating Minecraft: Education Edition into their learning environments and maximizing its educational potential.
Licensing Options
1. Educational Institutions
Educational institutions interested in using Minecraft: Education Edition have two primary paths for licensing:
- Volume Licensing: Qualified educational institutions can obtain licenses through Microsoft channel partners under the Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) program. This option best suits schools looking to purchase licenses for more students and teachers, allowing centralized management and often benefiting from volume discounts. Volume licensing also provides greater flexibility for institutions that must manage multiple campuses or departments, making it easier to allocate resources where needed most.
- Direct Purchase: School administrators can purchase individual subscriptions for $5.04 per user per year, with an annual commitment. This option is more flexible for smaller schools or institutions that want to start with fewer users and scale up as needed. It is also ideal for schools with a limited budget and needing to assess the platform’s impact before committing to a larger-scale deployment.
Example: A small school with 50 students may opt for a direct purchase to begin using Minecraft: Education Edition, whereas a large school district with multiple campuses may benefit from the Volume Licensing option to streamline administrative tasks and save on licensing costs. The large district can also provide consistent access across all campuses by using volume licensing, ensuring that every student can benefit from the platform.
2. Non-Educational Organizations
Microsoft offers commercial licenses for Minecraft: Education Edition for $12.00 per user per year, with an annual commitment to camps, clubs, and other non-academic organizations. These licenses are designed for entities not qualifying as academic institutions but still want to use the platform’s educational benefits. This option particularly benefits after-school programs, community organizations, and summer camps that want to incorporate game-based learning into their activities.
Example: A summer coding camp that wants to teach programming skills through Minecraft can purchase Commercial licenses for its participants. The camp can create customized coding lessons using Minecraft, making the learning process fun and interactive while also introducing participants to important programming concepts engagingly.
Eligibility Requirements
Academic Eligibility
Organizations must be verified as Microsoft-recognized academic institutions to qualify for educational pricing. This verification process includes the following steps:
- Email Verification: Organizations must use an official educational email address to sign up through the Office 365 Education page. This ensures that only qualified institutions have access to educational pricing.
- Academic Eligibility Review: Microsoft reviews institutions to determine whether they meet the criteria for academic pricing. This review process helps maintain the integrity of the educational licensing program by ensuring that only eligible organizations receive discounted rates.
- Maintaining Academic Status: Organizations must maintain valid academic status with Microsoft to continue enjoying educational pricing benefits. Regular account information and documentation updates may be required to ensure eligibility is maintained over time.
Example: To qualify for educational pricing, a high school that wishes to use Minecraft: Education Edition must provide proof of its academic status, such as accreditation or official registration documents. Once verified, the school can take advantage of the lower pricing and access educational resources available only to academic institutions.
Trial Access
Microsoft also offers trial access to help institutions explore Minecraft: Education Edition before committing to a paid subscription. The trial details are as follows:
- Verified Academic Organizations: These organizations receive 25 free faculty logins and 10 free student logins. This allows educators to explore the platform’s features and determine how best to integrate them into their curriculum without an immediate financial commitment.
- Non-Verified Organizations: Non-verified organizations receive ten free logins, allowing them to explore the platform before purchasing a license. This trial access allows for assessing the platform’s potential and gathering feedback from students and instructors.
Example: A middle school that wants to test Minecraft: Education Edition before purchasing can use the trial to evaluate how the platform fits into its curriculum. Teachers can use the free logins to create sample lessons, experiment with different activities, and determine whether Minecraft fits their students’ learning needs.
License Management
Administrative Control
Managing licenses for Minecraft: Education Edition is done through the Microsoft 365 admin center.
To access and assign licenses, an administrator needs specific roles within the organization:
- Global Admin: This role has full access to all administrative features and settings. It is typically assigned to IT directors or senior administrators who oversee technology management across the institution.
- License Admin: This role manages licenses, including assigning and revoking them. It is ideal for IT staff, who must ensure students and educators access the appropriate software.
- User Admin: Manages user accounts and permissions, ensuring students and teachers have access. This role helps maintain security and proper access levels within the organization.
License Assignment Process
Assigning licenses involves the following steps:
- Access the Microsoft 365 Admin Center: Log in to the admin center using an account with appropriate privileges.
- Select Users: Navigate to the Users list to find and select the users who need a Minecraft license. The admin center provides filtering and search options to help you find specific users.
- Add Licenses: Add the Minecraft: Education Edition license to the selected users. Depending on the organization’s needs, this process can be done in bulk or individually for multiple users.
- Toggle Features: Administrators can toggle features on or off to customize the user experience. This flexibility allows administrators to enable or disable specific features based on the learning objectives or institutional policies.
Example: An IT admin at a high school may need to assign licenses to newly enrolled students at the beginning of each semester, ensuring all students have access to Minecraft. The admin can quickly assign licenses in bulk, allowing students to start using the platform as soon as possible.
Technical Requirements
System Specifications
To run Minecraft: Education Edition effectively, it is important to meet the minimum system requirements:
- Windows:
- Windows 10 or later
- Intel Core i3-4150 or AMD A8-6600K processor
- 2GB RAM
- Intel HD Graphics 4400 or AMD Radeon R5 series
- 2GB disk space
- macOS:
- Big Sur 11 or later
- Similar hardware requirements to Windows
Meeting these requirements ensures students have a seamless and enjoyable experience using Minecraft in their learning activities. Schools should also consider upgrading hardware if existing devices do not meet the minimum specifications, as this will improve the overall user experience and prevent technical issues during lessons.
Example: A school planning to use Minecraft: Education Edition in a computer lab should ensure that all computers meet or exceed these requirements to provide a smooth learning experience. This will allow teachers to focus on delivering engaging lessons without being interrupted by technical difficulties.
Distribution Methods
Minecraft: Education Edition can be deployed through several methods, depending on the size and needs of the institution:
- Manual Installation: Ideal for smaller deployments, individual devices can be set up manually by downloading the software from the Microsoft Store. This option is best suited for schools with a limited number of devices or for pilot programs where only a few classrooms are using the platform.
- Automated Deployment: Microsoft Intune can be used system-wide for larger deployments, ensuring all devices have the necessary software installed without manual intervention. Automated deployment saves time and reduces the likelihood of errors, making it an efficient option for larger institutions or school districts.
Example: A large school district can use Microsoft Intune to simultaneously deploy Minecraft: Education Edition to hundreds of devices, saving time and effort compared to manual installation. By automating the deployment process, IT staff can focus on other important tasks, such as network maintenance and user support.
Features and Benefits
Educational Tools
Minecraft: Education Edition includes numerous features designed to enhance the learning experience, making it a powerful tool for educators:
- Standards-Aligned Lessons: Over 600 lessons aligned with various educational standards, spanning science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), humanities, and more. Educators design these lessons to help teachers meet learning objectives while keeping students engaged.
- Cross-Curriculum Content: Educational content suitable for teaching different subjects encourages students to think creatively and solve problems collaboratively. Teachers can use Minecraft to teach various topics, from mathematics and physics to history and language arts.
- Educator Tutorials and Starter Worlds: These resources include tutorials to help educators learn how to use Minecraft in the classroom and starter worlds to facilitate easy setup. They are designed to make it easy for teachers to get started, even if unfamiliar with Minecraft.
- Enhanced Multiplayer: Supports up to 30 students in a single game, promoting teamwork and social learning. Multiplayer features allow students to collaborate on projects, build together, and learn from one another.
- Built-In Assessment Tools: Tools like the Camera and Portfolio help educators assess students’ progress and document learning outcomes. These tools make it easy for teachers to track student achievements and provide feedback.
- Integration with Microsoft 365: Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 tools like Teams and OneNote makes it easier to manage classroom activities. Teachers can use Teams to organize lessons, share assignments, and communicate with students, while OneNote can create and distribute lesson materials.
Example: A high school teacher can use Minecraft: Education Edition to teach students about ancient civilizations. The teacher can let the students recreate historical landmarks and use the built-in assessment tools to document their learning process. The teacher can then use OneNote to provide additional resources and Teams to facilitate discussions about the project.
Educational Bundles
Some Microsoft 365 education subscriptions include access to Minecraft: Education Edition. Depending on the subscription level, different features may be included:
- A1 Licenses may include basic access to Minecraft: Education Edition, allowing educators to start without purchasing an additional license. This is ideal for schools that want to explore the platform without a significant financial commitment.
- Higher-Tier Subscriptions (A3/A5): Often include full access to Minecraft: Education Edition, along with additional features and benefits. These subscriptions provide comprehensive access to Microsoft tools, making it easier for schools to integrate Minecraft into their educational technology strategy.
- Volume Licensing Agreements: Institutions with volume licensing agreements may receive additional benefits, such as discounts or enhanced support. Volume licensing is a cost-effective way for large institutions to provide access to Minecraft across multiple campuses or departments.
For example, a university with an A5 student and faculty subscription may already have access to Minecraft: Education Edition. This allows professors to incorporate the platform into their courses without incurring additional costs, which can be particularly useful for education, computer science, or architecture courses.
Commercial vs. Educational Licensing
Key Differences
There are several key differences between Commercial and Educational licenses for Minecraft: Education Edition:
- Purchase Eligibility: Educational licenses are only available to Microsoft-verified academic institutions, while Commercial licenses are available to camps, clubs, and non-academic organizations. Educational institutions must meet specific criteria to qualify for the lower educational pricing.
- Pricing Structure: Educational licenses cost $5.04 per user per year, whereas Commercial licenses cost $12.00 per user per year. This difference in pricing reflects Microsoft’s commitment to making the platform affordable for academic use.
- License Management: Educational licenses are managed through the Microsoft 365 admin center, which offers tools specific to academic institutions. These tools make it easier for schools to manage users, assign licenses, and track usage.
- Features and Support: Educational licenses may have additional educational resources and integration options compared to Commercial licenses. Educational users can also access lesson plans, tutorials, and support designed for academic settings.
Example: A coding camp looking to teach participants can purchase Commercial licenses, while a school can benefit from educational pricing and access to additional academic resources. The coding camp can still take advantage of Minecraft’s educational features but at a higher cost than academic institutions.
Partner Sales Process
CSP Program Requirements
Partners involved in selling Minecraft: Education Edition licenses must meet certain requirements:
- Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Program: Partners must enroll in the CSP program to sell Minecraft Education subscriptions. This program allows partners to offer customers a range of Microsoft products, including Minecraft: Education Edition.
- Customer Eligibility: Customers must qualify as Educational Users to be eligible for educational pricing. CSP partners must verify that their customers meet the criteria for educational use before purchasing licenses on their behalf.
- Purchasing on Behalf of Customers: CSP partners purchase subscriptions on behalf of educational institutions, while customers retain control of managing software distribution through their Microsoft 365 admin center. This arrangement allows institutions to benefit from the expertise of CSP partners while maintaining control over their software environment.
Example: A Microsoft partner assisting schools with their software needs can purchase Minecraft licenses as part of a broader bundle, providing a one-stop solution for all their technology requirements. This approach simplifies the purchasing process for schools and ensures they have access to the right tools for their educational needs.
Read about Microsoft Surface for Education.
Future Considerations
License Management
Educational institutions and organizations using Minecraft: Education Edition should consider the following for effective license management:
- Regular License Auditing: Licenses should be regularly audited to ensure only active users are assigned licenses, which helps reduce costs. This is particularly important for schools that experience frequent changes in student enrollment.
- User Lifecycle Management: Develop processes to manage user accounts, such as revoking licenses for students who leave the institution. Effective user lifecycle management ensures licenses are available for new students and helps maintain compliance with licensing terms.
- Budget Planning: Allocate the budget for renewals well in advance to avoid service disruptions. Budget planning should also consider the potential need for additional licenses as the institution grows or expands its platform use.
- Compliance Monitoring: Ensure all usage complies with Microsoft’s licensing terms to avoid penalties. Compliance monitoring includes reviewing user access, license assignments, and usage reports regularly.
- Feature Utilization Tracking: Monitor which features are used and adjust training or resources to ensure educators fully use the platform. Tracking feature utilization can help identify areas where additional training is needed or where the platform could be used more effectively.
Example: A school district can schedule bi-annual license audits to determine if licenses are underutilized. This will allow the district to adjust the number of licenses and reduce unnecessary spending. The district can then optimize its budget and ensure resources are allocated where needed.
Best Practices
Implementation Strategy
For successful implementation of Minecraft: Education Edition, educational institutions should consider the following best practices:
- Assess Technical Infrastructure: Ensure all devices meet the minimum system requirements and the network can support multiplayer activities. Schools should also consider the availability of IT support to assist with installation and troubleshooting.
- User Training and Support: Provide training sessions for educators to become comfortable with the platform and understand how to integrate it effectively into their curriculum. The training should include technical aspects and pedagogical strategies for using Minecraft to achieve learning objectives.
- Usage Policies: Establish clear guidelines on how Minecraft: Education Edition will support learning, including acceptable use policies. These policies should outline expectations for students and teachers and help ensure the platform is used appropriately.
- Monitor Utilization: Regularly review how the platform is used to identify improvement opportunities or additional training. Utilization monitoring can help administrators understand which features are most popular and where additional support may be needed.
- Communication with Microsoft Support: Regularly communicate with Microsoft or CSP partners for any licensing questions, technical issues, or upcoming updates that might affect usage. Staying informed about updates and new features can help schools take full advantage of the platform.
Example: A district-wide deployment might involve providing a training workshop for teachers, setting up an acceptable use policy for students, and regularly checking in with IT support to resolve technical challenges. The district can ensure a smooth implementation and maximize Minecraft’s educational benefits by following these best practices.
FAQ: Microsoft Licensing for Minecraft: Education Edition
What are the licensing options for Minecraft: Education Edition? There are annual subscriptions and volume licensing options available for educational institutions.
Who is eligible to purchase Minecraft: Education Edition licenses? Only academic institutions with Microsoft 365 or Office 365 for Education can purchase the licenses.
Is there a minimum number of licenses required for purchase? Yes, a minimum purchase requirement is 30 licenses for Minecraft: Education Edition.
Can I buy licenses directly from Microsoft? Yes, licenses can be purchased directly through Microsoft or authorized education resellers.
Do I need Microsoft 365 or Office 365 to use Minecraft: Education Edition? Institutions must have an active Microsoft 365 or Office 365 Education subscription to be eligible.
How do I assign licenses to students and educators? You can use account management tools to assign licenses through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
Can I use Minecraft: Education Edition with a single license on multiple devices? Each license is tied to an individual user, not a specific device, allowing for flexibility across devices.
Is there a discount for large-volume purchases? Yes, volume-based discounts are often available for schools purchasing many licenses.
How can I determine if my institution is eligible for volume licensing? Eligibility can be confirmed through Microsoft’s Volume Licensing Service Center or by contacting a Microsoft partner.
Are licenses transferable between students? Licenses can be reassigned when students leave, allowing them to be reused within the institution.
Is there a free trial available for Minecraft: Education Edition? Yes, a free trial offers a limited number of logins for teachers and students to try the platform.
Can homeschool groups access Minecraft: Education Edition? Currently, it is available only to accredited educational institutions.
Are there special licensing terms for non-profit organizations? Non-profit educational institutions may have access to discounted pricing. Contact Microsoft for specific eligibility details.
What technical requirements are needed to use Minecraft: Education Edition? A modern PC, Mac, or iPad with internet access and the Microsoft Store or Apple App Store for installation are required.
Can licenses be purchased for individual educators? Minecraft: Education Edition licenses are sold in packs with a minimum requirement, typically intended for institutions rather than individuals.
