Minecraft Education Challenge: Minecraft: Education Edition

Calling All Students!

Join the Battle of the Boroughs Minecraft Education Build Challenge! Design and build a space in Minecraft: Education Edition that supports sustainable communities and reduces inequities for everyone in New York City; whether in your home borough, neighborhood, or throughout the city! Drawing from the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and NYC’s strategic plan OneNYC 2050, think about what you want to add or improve and why your concept will make for a better New York City tomorrow!

Let's Get Started!

The challenge is open to all NYC DOE students, but you must use your DOE student account. You will need your account to download Minecraft: Education Edition for free! Follow these steps to get started with Minecraft: Education Edition!

1. Download Minecraft: Education Edition for Windows, Mac, iPad, and Chromebook.
2. After you download the software, you will sign in using your NYCDOE student account.
3. If you have a DOE issued iPad, the Minecraft app should already be on your device.
4. If you have a school issued Chromebook (from 2019 or newer), you will need help from your school's technology teacher to download the software.

Next, begin your research by reviewing the SDGs and choose at least one SDG to focus your build. Check out these resources that will help with your research.

• When thinking about New York City, either the whole city, your borough, or neighborhood, also spend some time reviewing our city's strategic plan, OneNYC 2050 for more specific information about the city. Consider how the city's strategic plan overlaps with the SDGs. 
• Once you have access to Minecraft: Education Edition, open a new world using either a template world like Blocks of Grass or a Biome World.
• Review the rubric below you start so you understand what the judges are looking for.
  • Part 1 builds will be judged using the rubric below. Judges will add an additional rating to the builds with the highest scores from each grade to showcase the Best Pitch, Most Innovative, and Most Impactful.The rubric for Part 2 will be provided to students prior to the live esports competition.
• Work on your submission and design a solution using blocks and items in Minecraft to address a pressing issue facing New York City.
• Once you are ready to submit, each student (or team) should use Flipgrid to create a video touring their Minecraft build, with voiceover explaining their project. Make sure to include how your build addresses one of the SDGs and supports the needs of the community you are aiming to serve.
• Submit your project through a Flipgrid screen recording that is no more than 1-minute and 30-seconds in length.
• Middle and high school students: Don't miss the chance to be selected to compete in the LIVE-build Battle of the Boroughs eSPORTS competition! Submit your build by Friday, May 14, 2021 to be considered for your borough's team to compete against student-teams from other boroughs in the live-build esports single-elimination bracket tournament!