— Day 1 - Set Up and Introduction to Paleontology: Our primary goal for this day is to assist students in setting up Minecraft and to familiarize kids with our course’s objectives. To start off this course, students will first learn about the history of the Paleontologist profession and identify their first fossils.

— Day 2 - Statigraphy and the Earth's Crust: Students will learn about how we use layers of the Earth's crust to identify how old a fossil or artifact is. Students will begin their deep dive into one giant dig site to see what they can uncover!

— Day 3 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates: Today's lesson will focus on the difference between vertebrate and invertebrate animal fossils and how to figure out what kind of animal you've found in the dig site. Students will continue adding their discoveries to their own personal museum exhibits.

— Day 4 - Micropaleontology and Paleobotany: Students will extend their knowledge of the Paleontology field by studying the history of plant life and microorganisms on Earth. We'll be using a supersized microscope that allows students to build their own tiny microorganisms from their own interests and knowledge!

— Day 5 - Paleontology in the Real World: On our final day, we'll cover how modern Paleontologists approach their work. This day will focus on allowing students to put the finishing touches on their personal museum exhibits and then showcase all of their discoveries to their peers.

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, who is pursuing a degree in Medical Anthropology, and Thomas, who is pursuing a degree in Evolutionary Anthropology. The learning experiences in this class are driven by their academic expertise in the field, along with their desire to share their 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.