>At that point you're not really learning anything except how to play Minecraft.< True...many students do stop there...but others may be inclined to follow up

>At that point you're not really learning anything except how to play Minecraft.< True...many students do stop there...but others may be inclined to follow up based on interest, or curiosity...children's minds veer off in unpredictable ways, just as adult's minds do...exposure to new concepts is ultimately what education is all about... I think your question is valid...I'd love to see what would happen if a class of 8th graders were given a Raspberry Pi at the beginning of a semester and asked,"What can we do with this? Then give them the whole semester to answer...