Architecture History + Minecraft = AWESOME! (FLEX / 6-week version)

The "Minecraft + Architecture History = AWESOME!" course will teach students about 10 architectural styles to include ancient architecture (Native American, Egyptian, Roman, and Greek), Gothic, Renaissance, Victorian, early American, Modern, and Postmodern architecture.  

This course will follow a “flexible schedule” and does not have scheduled online meetings. This flexible schedule allows students to work at any time, 24/7 for the duration of the course. Thus, keeping all students working at a similar pace but not requiring them to attend online class meetings in Zoom at a set time. This "flex" course works great for families with varied schedules and allows students from any time zone to participate! 

On average, students will complete 4-6 hours of work per week during the course. Students can add to the Minecraft construction projects they create during the course in their own spare time. There is no limit on the number of architecturally inspired buildings they can create in Minecraft!

Each Monday morning (Pacific time zone) the tasks for the week will be unlocked and available to enrolled learners. The weekly tasks include reading notes, taking quizzes, watching video lessons, creating your Minecraft builds, and posting screenshots/pictures of your Minecraft builds so your classmates and teacher can see them. The teacher will provide feedback on your weekly tasks and can always be reached via the Outschool message/email system with any questions. To stay on track, students should use the provided pacing guide each week of which tasks should be completed each day (Mon-Fri). However, the weekly tasks and hours of work time can be spread out over many days or condensed to fewer days depending on the students’ personal schedule. Students should be sure to complete the weekly tasks before the next week of tasks are unlocked to stay on track. 

Regarding Minecraft:
Each student will need a Minecraft account. Class participants will do all Minecraft building on their own personal device. Any version of Minecraft (PC/Mac computer, Minecraft for Windows10, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, or other gaming consoles, Minecraft PE for iPad, Android tablets, etc.) will work for this course. The purchase of Minecraft must be made separately and prior to the start of class. Students with a few weeks of Minecraft experience through play or otherwise will have the skills needed to complete the builds in Minecraft. Minecraft is a building tool for this course (think of it as digital building blocks). The lessons and information in this course are not official Minecraft products and are not associated with Mojang.

What is NOT included:
This course will not include a group server or realm. Students can work together if their devices are compatible but partner/group projects are not required. Most learners will build in Minecraft on their own. This course will not include instructions on how to build in Minecraft. This is intentional so that learners can strengthen their creativity and exercise their minds to make their own creations.

The "Week 1: Ancient Architecture" unit will teach students about the ancient structures created by the Egyptians, Native Americans (North and Central America), Greeks, and Romans. Learn why these structures have withstood the test of time and how their designs have influenced buildings to this day. Then build your own pyramids, temples, and villas in Minecraft.

In "Week 2: Gargoyles and Angels" students will learn about Medieval and Renaissance era architects and the buildings of the 10th-17th centuries. Buildings of this time are known for their detail, decoration, ornamentation and the many years it took to build them. In Minecraft, students will build their own creations based on Medieval and Renaissance architecture.

During "Week 3: For the Queen!" students will learn the history and significance of Queen Anne, Victorian, and early American architecture of the 1700-1800s and create builds in Minecraft based on these styles. 

For the "Week 4: Make it Modern" unit, students will use Minecraft to create their own flat-roofed, and angular modern buildings based on the work of the mid-1900s, build skyscrapers like those of the late 20th-century or create futuristic models of places to live, work, and play based on 21st-century postmodern designs.  

"Week 5: The good, bad and ugly of postmodern and futurism" students will use Minecraft to create their own designs based on futurism and other postmodern styles. Students will learn that not every building is an architectural masterpiece, and sometimes that's OK! This week will also look at the current trends in architecture as we moved into the coming years and decades. 

"Week 6: Catch Up and Wrap Up" students will use this week to view the creations of their classmates, reply to any incomplete discussion posts, complete any missing quizzes or other work, finish any Minecraft builds that are not yet complete or create something new based on all of the information they have learned. 

All student participants must have a working version of Minecraft to participate. Any costs for Minecraft accounts are not included with the course fee.   

As a "Flex" course offering, this class does not include live class meetings in Zoom but teacher-to-learner and learner-to-learner interaction are expected from course participants in the online classroom. These interactions will take place using the Outschool message delivery system so learners and the teacher can interact on a one-on-one basis for questions and feedback. Group discussions will be visible to all learners in the course and students are expected to post, share, and comment on the Minecraft creations of their classmates.  

This course will follow Outschool’s “Flexible” refund policy. For more information on the Outschool refund policy, you can view the website here:   
https://support.outschool.com/about-outschool/refund-policies-and-happiness-guarantee 

(Class photo credit to student Matvei 2020)