The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) has launched a new initiative, "Schools Reinventing Counties," inviting students across Orange County to engage with local issues and develop solutions using Minecraft Education.
Students in grades three through 12 will have the opportunity to enter a custom-built Minecraft Education world. Within this virtual environment, they can explore challenges facing Orange County communities, consider various perspectives, and examine how local decisions affect the people who live in them. This experience is designed for integration into various educational settings, including classroom instruction, civic learning programs, STEAM initiatives, career and technical education, after-school programs, and esports activities.
As part of this initiative, an optional "Battle of the Counties" competition will challenge student teams to further their learning. Teams will be tasked with developing an innovative, evidence-based solution to an issue identified within their own community, and then bringing that proposal to life within Minecraft. This process aims to build skills in civic engagement, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, and teamwork.
Minecraft Education is utilized in over 40,000 school systems across 140 countries for educational purposes, providing immersive worlds and lessons in subjects such as computer science, math, and science. Similar civic-focused Minecraft challenges have been implemented in other cities. For instance, New York City's "Battle of the Boroughs" has engaged more than 15,000 public school students since its inception, with teams using Minecraft to address topics like sustainability and urban development.
John Fox, an OCDE STEM program specialist, expressed the goal that students will understand the significance of their ideas and perspectives. He hopes they recognize their meaningful voice in shaping their communities and their potential to actively contribute to building a stronger future.
Educators and school leaders interested in learning more about the "Battle of the Counties" competition can attend a free virtual kickoff event. This session is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is required. The informational meeting is open to teachers of grades three through 12, esports teams and their teachers, teachers on special assignment, administrators, and district leaders. Participants will receive details on competition registration and guidelines, project timelines, available educator resources, and the support provided by OCDE throughout the experience.
A separate hands-on virtual training session will follow on Oct. 14, also from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. This training will provide participants with an opportunity to learn how to navigate Minecraft Education, utilize its key tools, and practice building within the platform. No prior Minecraft experience is necessary, but attendees will need an active Minecraft Education account. Registration is also required for this training session.
For questions regarding the content of the program, inquiries can be directed to John Fox at [email protected]. Registration questions for the events should be sent to Jennifer Hughes at [email protected].
