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New Dedicated Servers power global collaboration for Nord Anglia schools in first-of-its-kind quest

21 Apr 2026 Student uses a laptop showing a Minecraft screen with movement controls and a code builder option.

We recently released the Copper, Collaborate, and Compete update, which included the addition of Dedicated Server to Minecraft Education. Dedicated Server offers improved multiplayer performance by allowing schools to play multiplayer with a full classroom by hosting servers on their own hardware or in the cloud.

Nord Anglia Education, a leading international schools organization currently educating over 100,000 students globally, is using Dedicated Server to pilot a project involving students in Grades 4–6. In this first-of-its-kind global quest, students from Nord Anglia schools across Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and the United States are logging into the same shared Minecraft world at the same time.

Thanks to Dedicated Server technology, this cross-tenant collaboration means students from different school systems (and even countries) can build side-by-side as teammates. With improved performance and stability, an entire class of students can explore, create, and problem-solve together in a single world without lag slowing down the adventure.

And the best part? These worlds can persist over time, meaning student creations don’t disappear, enabling large-scale project-based learning.

Power-Ups Unlocked: What Dedicated Servers Bring to Your World

  • Smooth Gameplay Boost: Say goodbye to lag spikes! Dedicated Servers deliver stronger performance and stability, even with a full classroom online.
  • Build Without Borders: With the upcoming cross-tenant multiplayer feature, students will be able to collaborate across schools, districts, and even countries, like one giant creative guild.
  • Ultimate Builder Control Panel: Admins (and soon teachers!) get access to a powerful (and easy-to-use) web portal to manage worlds, permissions, and server settings—no command blocks required.
  • Safe Spawn Zones: Optional passcodes and admin controls keep every world secure and classroom-friendly.
  • Play Anywhere: Whether students are on Windows, Mac, iPad, Chromebook, or Android—everyone can join the same adventure.
  • Host Your Way: Host servers on-premises or in the cloud—whatever works best for your school's setup.

Administrators can easily configure and manage servers through a centralized web portal, controlling access, permissions, and availability across their entire school or network. Like any powerful tool, Dedicated Servers are managed by school IT teams or trusted partners, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Dedicated Servers also open the door to large-scale events and competitions, including cross-school esports experiences.

Two students look at a laptop screen showing a Minecraft server or world selection menu.

Nord Anglia’s Quest

In their pilot program, Nord Anglia Education is bringing Minecraft Education into their Global Campus platform: an online space for students to connect and collaborate globally on competitions, debates and other fun activities. Minecraft Education has now become a new way for students to complete their exclusive MIT challenges which are bespoke, real-world challenges designed by MIT experts as part of the Nord Anglia’s exclusive MIT-NAE STEAM Collaboration. For the first time, students in different schools, countries, and regions can enter the same Minecraft Education world simultaneously, collaborating in real time within a secure, teacher-monitored environment.

Classes participating were paired intentionally, so students can learn, co-design, problem-solve, and build meaningful solutions within their shared virtual world with peers they have never met, strengthening global collaboration and global citizenship. This unlocks entirely new ways to collaborate across the globe, while allowing educators to design safe, structured, cross-school learning experiences that were not previously possible.

Levelling Up Global Teachers

Before entering the world, educators at Nord Anglia completed their own training quests with three Professional Development sessions, which are also available on-demand, led by the Minecraft Education team. They started with Minecraft Education 101, an introductory course designed for new users interested in bringing game-based learning into the classroom, followed by Minecraft Education 401, a course focused on project-based learning that prepares educators to use Minecraft Education to teach real-world inquiry, creativity, and collaboration, and concluding with an open Q&A session.

By the time the pilot launched on March 23, these educators weren’t just participants—they were server-ready leaders, prepared to guide students through every build, brainstorm, and breakthrough.

Student points at a laptop screen showing a Minecraft challenge prompt.

Project-based Learning Across Geographies

Students work in small groups within each class to ensure every learner has an active role. Teams delegate responsibilities such as planning, designing, building, materials selection, communication, and quality checking, mirroring real project teams, while coordinating with their partner school inside the shared Minecraft world. As they collaborate, students unlock essential skills such as:

  • Effective communication
  • Negotiation and compromise
  • Decision making
  • Adaptability
  • Conflict resolution
  • Shared ownership of outcomes

These competencies come to life as students debate ideas, adjust plans, solve problems, and collaborate across cultures to deliver a shared final build.

Powering Teacher Collaboration

The pilot is also a meaningful professional development opportunity for teachers. Educators from each participating school are collaborating across countries to design and facilitate every stage of the experience. They have been trained in using Minecraft as a pedagogical tool and are working together to model the same cross-school collaboration expected of students. This approach reflects Nord Anglia’s commitment to fostering global connections not only for students, but for educators as well.

Student uses a laptop to play Minecraft during a classroom activity.

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning. With Dedicated Servers enabling persistent worlds and global access, Nord Anglia is preparing for even bigger adventures—like Earth Day builds and challenges inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Looking ahead, more schools will join the server, expanding this global network of creators. New worlds will be built; new ideas will emerge, showing that when students connect, collaborate, and create together—there’s no limit to what they can build.

Ready to start your own multiplayer adventure?
Explore what’s possible with Dedicated Server and check out our new Esports for Educators training to learn how to build a scholastic esports program.

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