On today’s show… Esports is exploding in popularity all over the world. We’re going to talk about how educators are using esports to engage students and how you can use Minecraft Education Edition to do that. Two groups playing a big part in how the future of academic esports unfolds are Liminal Esports, and Stephen Reid and Immersive Minds. I spoke to them both about their work in academic esports.

• Explore Esports with New Minecraft: Education Edition Lessons and Teaching Guide: https://education.minecraft.net/blog/explore-esports-with-new-minecraft-education-edition-lessons-and-teaching-guide
• Bring esports to your classroom with new Minecraft: Education Edition esports worlds, lesson plans and an educator framework created by Immersive Minds: https://education.minecraft.net/stem-esports-challenges
• With Minecraft: Education Edition, Microsoft Looks To Blend Esports And EDU: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2020/06/29/with-minecraft-education-edition-microsoft-looks-to-blend-esports-and-edu/?fbclid=IwAR0NIN4pIj448ak4mzMGVgs48ylNuvVuBSrNDiVYeHJVi5jqLBh4jB4u7DU#42394e1b5138

Join the Minecraft Education Challenge! This virtual build challenge invites students around the world to learn about issues related to sustainability and inclusion, then design solutions with Minecraft: Education Edition.

Create your own prompt that invites students to address a local issue impacting your school, community or region. This could be something like designing a more accessible version of your classroom in Minecraft. Think about people with different learning styles and disabilities, so the space is a safe and inspiring environment for everyone to be healthy. 

Or build a more sustainable version of your school in Minecraft. Consider a holistic definition of sustainability, which may involve rethinking energy systems, recycling, transportation, and how nature plays a role.

Share progress and stories of your Challenge experience via Twitter and Facebook, and tag us using our Twitter handle @PlayCraftLearn and the hashtag #MinecraftChallenge, and then post your results on the Minecraft Challenge Flipgrid page.