Rationale

My idea for lesson two was formulated quicker than my first lesson because I had already decided that I was going to use my topics from my Researching Projects module.

I also began to think of school this fall and what content area am I lacking in. Writing has always been difficult for me because I do not like to write, let alone teach it.

I did not want to use virtual field trips for writing because I really wanted to include computational thinking and coding within this content area. I want to start to make a connection that computational thinking and coding can be integrated into any subject area; not just the math and sciences.

I wanted to give the students some starting points in Minecraft because the National Writing Project partnered with Minecraft and created lessons that focus on the writing process. I also wanted my students to create a story in Scratch.

This lesson was born out of my desire to combine Minecraft and Scratch with my weakness in teaching writing.

Lesson Two

1. A brief description of lesson plan #2

The purpose of this lesson is to give students an in-depth and engaging way to learn about the writing process. This lesson focuses on settings and characters. Students will be able to use computational thinking, game-based learning, and coding to create a narrative writing piece.

Students will be engaged in 2 different activities in Minecraft. They will learn about story settings and characters. Then the students will create their story in Scratch (block-based coding). Finally, students will publish their story.

2. The technology and resources involved

In order to complete this project, each student will need a device and internet access.

1. Students will need to have a Minecraft for Education login (teachers set this up when they set up their classes). If Minecraft for Education is not downloaded, each device will require downloading the app.

2. Students will need to have a Scratch login (teachers set this up when they set up their classes).

3. Optional: Headphones for the Minecraft & Scratch part of the project.

3. What skills, knowledge, and pedagogy are required of teachers

Teachers need to learn how to teach Minecraft for Education. Minecraft offers modules for teachers. Minecraft Training Modules. Teachers should also click the following link to download the "MINECRAFT First Lesson Kit". Teachers will need to go through this OneNote notebook and practice the first lesson with students. This is extremely important since there are many components of MINECRAFT that students will need to know and practice. An example of this is how to "control" the view in Minecraft. You have to use both hands but, the left hand is used on the keyboard and the right-hand uses the mouse. If a teacher is teaching remotely, click the following link to access the Remote Learning Guide.

Teachers need to learn how to teach Scratch. Scratch offers numerous tutorials and guides. Teachers should download these guides on the Scratch Resources page. The Getting Started Guide and the Educator Guide are great guides to help get teachers started.

The teacher should view the technology involved as a way to engage, enhance, and extend student learning. They should have the view that the student's process through Minecraft is an essential step to giving students autonomy with their learning.

4. What prior skills and knowledge are required of students

Students will need to have a working knowledge of Minecraft for Education. They will need to know how to access worlds, create skins and using both hands as the controller. The left-hand uses the keyboard and the right-hand uses the mouse.

Students will also need to understand the basics of Scratch. The tutorial guides listed above are meant for teachers to use to give students the skills needed.

5. What are students asked to do exactly

Students are asked to work through two lessons in Minecraft. One lesson is on settings and the other lesson is on characters.

1. The first lesson in Minecraft is about story settings. Students will enter the Story Setting World. Then they will be given a link to a "Note Catcher". This will be used for students to take notes while they will tour 4 different settings/environments. The note catcher includes the following topics for students to think about and take notes as they tour the 4 environments: Rules, Day to Day Life, Technology, and History of a fictional world. The end of the lesson includes students building their own world with the setting of their choice.

2. The second lesson in Minecraft is about characters. Students will enter the Character World. A guide will meet them and give instructions. Then students will meet three characters throughout the game. They will explore each character's houses and surroundings. There are in-game questions that will guide the students in understanding the personality of each of the characters.

Students will then begin to develop characters they want to include in their own story.

3. Once students have completed both Minecraft lessons, they will move into Scratch. Teachers should download the "Create a Story Guide". This guide will walk them through this Scratch lesson. They should also download the "Create a Story Cards" for those students who prefer the physical cards instead of the online tutorial.

4. Students will begin by either viewing the online "Create a Story" tutorial or exploring the "Create a Story" coding cards (Teachers should be sure to demonstrate the first few steps of the tutorial so that students are able to see how to get started.

5. Students work through the tutorial by creating a backdrop (setting), characters, dialogue, and animations. They will then share it to a Scratch studio.

6. Finally, students will publish their created story.

6. What are the procedures of the project (steps to teach the technology skills)

1. The first step is to focus on introducing students to Minecraft.

• Downloading and logging in to Minecraft: Education Edition.

• Teaching how to customize game skins.

• Teaching game settings that support the new user.

• Teaching movement, placing and breaking in a Minecraft flat world.

• Teaching how to use inventory and the hotbar to choose items for building.

2. The next step is to focus on introducing students to Scratch.

• Snapping blocks together

• How to make things move

• How to make things speak

• How to setup the scene

• How to add a backdrop

• How to add a sprite

7. What are the advantages of the project

The advantages of the project include:

• Engagement: Students are highly engaged in game-based learning

• Authentic Learning

• Creativity: Students have the ability to be creative with their final story.

• Management of Resources: Students make decisions on how to manage the resources in Minecraft.

• Computational Thinking & Coding

• Critical Thinking

• This project includes 21st Century Learning Skills (Future Ready)

8. What are the disadvantages of the project

The biggest disadvantage of this project is learning Minecraft and all the "onboarding" that goes with it. Teachers must do a lot of prep work with students before beginning this project. Teachers themselves will most likely have to watch some tutorial videos and practice Minecraft themselves before introducing it to students.

Another disadvantage of the project is learning how to code in Scratch. Teachers will have to use the "Getting Started" tutorial with students before beginning the project.

9. What types of effective instructional strategies are included

• Inquiry Based Learning

• Cooperative Learning

• Project Based Learning

• Student Voice and Choice

• Higher Order Thinking Skills

• Formative and Summative Assessment

• Reflection

• Problem-Solving

10. What are the possibilities that the innovation can be transferred to other teachers, subject content, and different school settings

The possibilities of this project are numerous.

Transferred to other teachers:

The students' Minecraft accounts are connected to their Microsoft accounts. If the students move to a different teacher within the district, their Minecraft account will continue with them.

Scratch is free to any educator so any other teacher can create an account.

Subject Content:

Minecraft has lessons that teachers can search for in any subject area and even choose a specific standard.

Scratch also has numerous lessons that can be used in any subject area.

Different School Settings:

If the different school setting is a Microsoft school, then the students will still be able to use Minecraft.

Scratch is a website that can be accessed by anyone anywhere no matter the setting.