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2024 Online Minecraft Coding Challenge:
Game Design Competition

Learn

Learning slash commands and block coding will be essential to build a game that meets the judging criteria successfully. Below is full access to the Learn to Code with Commands program.

Please note that although Python is accepted as a coding language, this program does not cover this area.

Lessons

Follow along with our comprehensive lesson plan filled with step-by-step activities and opportunities to display evidence of learning.

Teach students to learn commands by incorporating IF, THEN, AND, ELSE algorithms. Customise each page to suit your learners.

Lessons

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Learning Sequence

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Minecraft World

Use your coding card to build new ideas and problem-solve issues in student's algorithms.

Just like a training centre, students go through a series of

step-by-step activities.

A video tutorial supports each activity whilst students learn as they do. Using their coding cards will help them to problem-solve issues in their algorithms. The lesson plan supports each activity, and students can apply what they have learnt.

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Coding Card Activities

The coding cards are linked throughout the entire program. To start off you may like to use the unplugged activities made available when you purchase the cards to guide your students through learning about using commands as algorithms.

There are also opportunities for students to include images of different algorithms to visually display their understanding. Encourage your students to think and display their algorithms with the cards before moving into the game. You could also have students use their cards to create algorithms and then challenge other students to test. It is important that students move towards writing the algorithms to the specific context of their game.

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Summary Lessons

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Click to Watch

These activities are excellent ways to check for understanding. They are best delivered to the entire class or in small groups. We have also provided video versions that you can play for your class.

Watch & Play Videos

These videos help students to recognise the different statements and algorithms they have been learning. They work as an excellent starter or exit ticket. Simply click and play.

Beginners - Click to Watch

Intermediate - Click to Watch

Advanced - Click to Watch

CODE CRAFTER

Code Crafters is an unplugged card game designed to challenge your knowledge of Minecraft. This game leverages slash commands and algorithms in a fun and interactive way. This game is perfect when playing with friends and family.

For students participating in Code Crafter, teachers can rest assured that students enhance their computational thinking skills and develop a strong foundation in command-based coding.

Code Crafter is an excellent starter or earlier finisher activity students love to play.

How to Play

Knowledge Checks

These knowledge checks available via Microsoft Forms are an amazing way to see how your students are progressing.

Once you click the download button, select the duplicate it button to store your own copy you can then share it with your students.

Slash Commands

Triggers

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Branching

Block Coding

Beginners

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Intermediate

Download

Advanced

Download

Playbook

Software

You will need access to Minecraft Education and a presentation tool like PowerPoint.

If you don't have it already, we recommend downloading Minecraft

Education or talking to your school's IT support to ensure it is available on

your student's devices.

Download | Minecraft Education

To log into Minecraft Education, you will need to use your Microsoft 365 account details. If you are unsure if you have access to Minecraft Education, you can check your eligibility.

Teams

Teams may consist of 3 to 5 students.

This size encourages working together and lets everyone use their different talents.

Teams can choose jobs for each person if they want to. For example:

Principal Game Designer
Senior Programmer
Game Evaluation Specialist
Production Manager
Lead Presenter

Regulations

Use only what is available in the Minecraft Education software to build
your creations. Don't sneak in anything from outside the game.
Be creative! Make something new and unique. No copying other
games and passing them off as your own.
Play fair and be nice. If you're inconsiderate or unkind, you may be
removed from the competition.

Stages

The competition is broken into four stages. You may move through these stages at your own pace; however, we will remind you when you should be moving on to the next stage.

Stage 1:

Learn - 6th May - 20th May

Stage 2:

Develop - 21st May - 27th May

Stage 3:

Create and Code - 28th May - 6th June

Stage 4:

Refine, Present and Submit - 7th June - 14th June (Presentation Due)

Stage 5:

Judging and Announcement of Winners - 12th July (Winner Announced)

Refine, Present & Submit

Each team is required to submit a PowerPoint presentation showcasing their game as if they are pitching it to Mojang Studios.

For participants who use command blocks, you may include written statements, photos, or a 10-second video of your coding working. MakeCode can be shared via a URL link in your PowerPoint Presentation.

You must also submit an exported final version of your Minecraft world.

It is important to remember that we are judging your presentation and the way you present your build against the marking criteria.

You must use a presentation tool like PowerPoint or Keynote. If you are embedding videos, you can include a maximum of two videos, each lasting up to 30 seconds. These videos should showcase specific aspects of the game. Videos, if included, should be uploaded to a platform like YouTube, and the links provided in the submission.

You may choose to use the template provide to help you start this process.

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Tips and Tricks

Each team is required to submit a PowerPoint presentation showcasing their game. It is important to make sure your presentation addresses all the judging criteria to increase your chances of winning.

Submission

Deadline: Friday 14th June 2024

Develop

Welcome to the Minecraft Game Design Competition, where students can showcase their creativity and coding skills by designing and building their own games within Minecraft Education. This competition focuses on utilising Redstone mechanics, command blocks and/or block coding to bring innovative and engaging games to life.

Game Design Theme:

This year's challenge is to design and build a game based on the following themes:

Primary School - An obstacle course that combines speed with the dynamic and agile movements associated with parkour. The game must have a fast-paced nature and emphasise navigating obstacles with swift and precise movements.

Secondary - A journey or quest that progresses through various levels, creating a sense of adventure and accomplishment for players as they advance through the game.

Coding Languages

Students can code their games using slash commands, block coding, or Python. In step 4, we provide guidelines for communicating your coding. Please note that the learn to code with commands program does not cover how to code with Python.

Examples

In this game, the player needs to place a diamond block at world position 12 25 148. If they successfully do this, they will receive a diamond sword. Below is how this can be achieved via Slash Commands, Block Coding and Python.

Slash Commands -

ON a block of diamonds being placed, IF a player places a block of the diamond at 12 25 148, THEN give the nearest player a diamond sword.

Block Coding -

Python -

Judging Criteria:

Criteria	Points	Description
Theme Integration	15	The successful integration of the chosen theme into the game design will be considered.
Gameplay Experience	15	Dynamic and responsive gameplay elements achieved through both command blocks or block coding. This includes fluid movement, responsive obstacles, and a challenging yet enjoyable experience for players.
Creativity and Originality	20	The creativity and originality of the game concept, looking for innovative ideas that stand out.
Coding Proficiency	50	The participants' coding skills, considering the quality and complexity. The effectiveness and efficiency of achieving specific functionalities within the game. Coding language via slash commands, block coding or python.

Developing a Plan

We recommend conducting some research first. You may want to look into existing games aligned with your theme. Drawing out a plan is always a great idea and a good way to delegate which members of your team will be responsible for which parts.

Mud Map

Brainstorming

Create and Code

Competitors can build in any Minecraft Education world. This is not a build challenge. We will not be judging your build quality. You may start with a blank biome or download the void world below and expand on the provided platform.

Important: If you decide to use an existing/prebuilt world, check first that you have admin rights and can switch to world builder mode.

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Optional Void World

Exporting

To ensure you don't lose your work, we recommend doing a save and export from time to time.

Tips and Tricks

2024 Online Minecraft Coding Challenge:
Game Design Competition

2024 Online Minecraft Coding Challenge

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2024 Online Minecraft Coding Challenge: Game Design Competition

2024 Online Minecraft Coding Challenge:
Game Design Competition