New lessons will be learnt through square eyes as the next generation of education steps out of the virtual world and into the reality of the classroom.
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The bridge between education and computer gaming was made many years ago, but the link between the two has not always been sound.
Games have either lost their appeal through blatant (and boring) learning activities or with cheap and unattractive graphics.
Funding for such programs has been notoriously scarce.
The challenge of creating a game that is engaging as well as educational seemed all but impossible.
However, the games-in-education mindframe is shifting. And there are examples in Tasmania.
The merit of programs designed purely for entertainment is starting to be recognised and apparently showing results.
A group of grade 9 students at Riverside High School has managed to create a unique half-year subject in their school based on one of their favourite pastimes, the virtual world of Minecraft.
Minecraft is a game developed by Swedish programmer Markus Persson. The multi-award winning game was launched in 2011.
It has the ability to be played solo or with a group of people, each on their own computer, and has been described as the computer game equivalent of Lego.
In the Minecraft world you can create houses, mine-cart roller coasters and arrange coloured blocks into everything from favourite cartoon characters to full-scale models of the Starship Enterprise - as one avid fan has done.
The learning aspect of the game comes into play in more ways than just creating houses and works of art from blocks.
Riverside teacher Donelle Batty said through playing the game the students learnt how to moderate in-game behaviour and manage an online server.
She said they also discovered the importance of community and communication through collaborative creativity.
University of Tasmania English education senior lecturer Angela Thomas said there were many possible uses for Minecraft in schools.
``Minecraft is a computer game with a difference - it has a focus on creativity from its players, as it starts with a blank virtual world and asks players to create their own,'' Dr Thomas said.
She said teachers could use students' experience with different media platforms to promote innovative and positive challenges in the classroom.
PhD student Damon Thomas said the game was finding its way into classrooms around the world.
``Minecraft is essentially a 21st century virtual sandpit, which provides players with an entire world of building blocks that can be easily manipulated to create practically anything,'' Mr Thomas said.
``Unlike most games, Minecraft's creative mode does not task players with a set mission to accomplish, but rather offers them a creative tool set to play with however they see fit.''
Presentations from the Riverside group have been made at various teacher conferences and student workshops.
