Anthropology Course in Minecraft: Development of Human Cultures (5-Session)
Excavate the origins, cultures, rituals of the past in Minecraft and explore how those ideas shaped current day society (Minecraft Java Edition for PC / Mac Only. NO iPad or Tablet).
Connected Camps
Average rating:
4.7
Number of reviews:(4,022)
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What's included
5 live meetings
7 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
This class does not require any out-of-class work. We do offer optional challenges that students can work on as an extension of what is taught in class. We provide guidance and instructions for students who are inspired to delve deeper into the topic. The purpose of these challenges is to give students the opportunity to supplement their learning with additional material that aligns with their passions and goals. Students may then integrate their learnings into their project and showcase their accomplishments to their classmates. With this approach, students can explore the subject on their own. We give students the opportunity to share what they’ve explored independently with the class.Assessment
At Connected Camps, we assess each student’s progress by engaging them in reflection of their own work and the work of their classmates. By building in Minecraft and applying concepts taught in class, our students are able to solidify their learnings through hands-on application. Our counselors’ focus is to provide qualitative feedback to further each students’ individual goals and interests, and we do not use letter or number grades. In addition to our in-class reflections, our counselors also provide post-session recaps that offer a summary of what is accomplished each day. Through these summary reflections, students are able to review the material and share with their parents what they did in class. We find this approach allows kids of different interests and abilities to engage with our teachings in a way that is particularly relevant to them.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
PLATFORM: (Minecraft Java Edition for PC / Mac Only! Not compatible with Ipads, Kindles, Tablets, Phones, and Game Consoles.) SKILL LEVEL: This program is meant for Basic level players. This program requires Moderate reading comprehension, Basic proficiency with computers, and no prior experience with Minecraft. PROGRAM OVERVIEW: With just a fragment of history in our hands, anthropology gives us the ability to assess and make scientific guesses on what kind of lives people led in the past. In this class, you’ll unearth the remains of ancient human culture and society using the methods that anthropologists do. Like all Connected Camps programs, this class offers a project-based, exploratory classroom environment that sits at the intersection of learning and playing. After all, kids learn the most when they're having fun! We’ll take you to the far reaching corners of different civilizations in Minecraft to analyze the artifacts and structures left behind by the past. As we examine history together, you’ll also discover how the past influences and shapes modern day culture and norms. Over the course of 5 sessions, you will: - Identify the four branches of anthropology and methods of communication, note taking, and scientific observation. - Excavate and explore historical origins, cultures, and rituals in Minecraft simulations. - Learn how to make educated guesses on historical sites despite environmental and regional influences. - Identify cultural relativism and what we can do to avoid cultural bias by using science as an explanatory framework. From surviving artifacts to urban legends, much of what’s left behind gives us a broad idea of what people’s framework, religion, and spirituality was from centuries ago. You will discover with each new session what it means to be an anthropologist through group collaboration and activities. As all human experiences are shared, by the end of this class you will be able to share your newfound knowledge with others and receive feedback on your historical journey. PARENTS: This is a class that encourages students to form scientific hypotheses through objective and holistic lens. Your child will work collaboratively with other students to generate new knowledge and identify personal biases associated with their current worldview. Through the interactive virtual world of Minecraft, students are able to explore the practice of anthropology and how history affects modern day society. This is a 5-session course that balances discussion time with plenty of hands-on experience so students can cement what they’re learning and explore the topics they're interested in. We combine Minecraft with education so your child can engage their passions as they learn in a positive, interest-driven environment. Please note that we will be asking for your camper's in-game username so that we can add them to our server's safelist.
Learning Goals
— Day 1 - Introduction to Anthropology: What exactly is anthropology? In our first session, we’ll explore how anthropology helps us understand history and our own current culture and civilization. In Minecraft, we’ll visit an archaeological dig site and see how objects unearthed in present day can differ from the past.
— Day 2 - Human Culture, Stories, and Origins: Physical artifacts including structural remnants and written texts can give us a hint to the past but can’t fully paint the picture. Students will have a chance to explore a desert temple and its surroundings to formulate hypotheses about the long lost Minecraft Civilization.
— Day 3 - Underwater Anthropology/Environmental Shifting: Cultures adapt and change over time while being influenced by the environment. In a time travel activity, we will analyze the impact of ecological succession and natural disaster on anthropology studies and what tools anthropologists use to investigate historical sites.
— Day 4 - Cultural Changes and Folklore: Cultural relativism plays a big role in how we interpret our findings. As people create frameworks to understand the world, it is important to identify folklore and its significance in human culture. Students will travel to a distant Minecraft land and use keys to translate the messages that the “aliens” left behind.
— Day 5 - Ethics in Anthropology: What is ethics and how does it relate to anthropology? As we explore ethical ways to conduct research, our group of young anthropologists/archeologists will gather information from Minecraft locals to properly fill out descriptions in each exhibit at a historical museum.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Internet safety is a top priority for us and our goal is to create a safe, connected community of learners that is moderated by our instructors. Throughout our programs we strive to educate our learners on internet safety and best practices for connecting online.
In our programs, our learners are often making friendships and connections with others in class. While we encourage positive online friendships, we think it’s important to practice these principles of internet safety:
— Do NOT ask others to connect online outside of our programs without first confirming with your parents. Our programs are a safe, moderated space for learners to engage but we can’t moderate connections outside of our classes.
— Do NOT give away personal information which includes but is not limited to: your name, address, phone number, passwords, location, email address, and parental information.
— If an individual asks for personal information, you should inform a counselor or your parent for guidance.
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Common Sense Media Resources for Parents:
https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/keeping-games-fun-and-friendly
Keeping Games Fun and Friendly: learn how to keep your child's experiences positive and fun when communicating in online games with others.
https://www.commonsense.org/education/video/modal/4141366#
The Power of Words: help your child learn that words exchanged online are indeed powerful, and offer strategies to use when confronted with cyberbullying.
https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/private-and-personal-information
Private and Personal Information: learn the difference between what personal things your child can safely share online and private information that should not be shared.
Supply List
A Minecraft Java Edition account must be purchased by the learner. Participants will receive access to the Connected Camps Minecraft Server where the program will be run. To access the server, each learner will need the Java edition of Minecraft and will need to set their version release to 1.15.2. Other Minecraft versions like the "Minecraft for Windows 10 version", console editions, and pocket editions for mobile devices will not work for this course. A pair of headphones and microphone are also needed for communication with the class.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Not an official Minecraft product. Not approved or associated with Mojang.
Joined June, 2020
4.7
4022reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
Connected Camps is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2015 with the mission to build a global online community where kids build, code, play, and learn alongside one another. Our programs are designed based on extensive research in the learning sciences. The founders and leaders of Connected Camps, Mimi Ito and Katie Salen, are professors at the University of California, Irvine, who specialize in the design of online learning experiences that are fun, social, and directly tied to academic outcomes. Learn more about the research behind Connected Camps at the Connected Learning Alliance resource site: https://clalliance.org/
One thing that makes our programs unique is our near-peer mentorship model. Our programs are led by young adults and college students, often with the help of high school volunteers. We hire counselors and coaches from top universities in computer science, game development, economics, social studies, and the arts, and train them on how to facilitate project-based learning with younger kids. Our young instructors have the same passion for technology, games, and digital making as our learners, and take on the role of instructors, as well as fellow enthusiasts and relatable role models.
The curriculum for this program was designed by Amy, a counselor on our team who is pursuing a degree in Medical Anthropology. The learning experiences in this class are driven by Amy’s academic expertise in the field, along with her desire to share her passion for the subject with a group of excited learners. All of Connected Camps’ curricula are vetted by the organization’s Product Manager, Matthew, who possesses a Masters in Secondary Education and a deep belief in the power of collaborative virtual learning.Reviews
Live Group Class
$105
for 5 classes1x per week, 5 weeks
90 min
Completed by 24 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
3-10 learners per class
