These are the students’ learning goals and activities over the course of five sessions:

— Day 1 - Set Up Introduction and Topics - Our primary goal for this day is to assist students in setting up Minecraft and to familiarize kids with our camp’s objectives. After a brief introduction, the class will explore different components in Theater and the type of genres in drama. The class will then vote on a topic and what roles they’d like to play.

— Day 2 - Idea Board - This is the session in which the real brainstorming begins! We’ll explore different acts in a play and write down ideas for our characters, settings, and plot. 

— Day 3 - Script and Plot - Students will flesh out the script and decide on how to adapt the play into Minecraft. Using a shared document, the kids will document the characters, plot, scenes, costumes, roles, and script they’ve created.

— Day 4 - Rehearsal - The stage is revealed! Students will get to rehearse their roles and set up the stage. Through collaboration and teamwork, we’ll rehearse for the big show that starts on the next day.

— Day 5 - Showtime! - As this is the final session, we’ll assist students in completing their final scenes and scripts. The class will then perform the play (in front of potential audiences)!

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 from one another. Our programs are designed based on the 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 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, and sports performance, and design 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.  

Learn more about our organization at:  https://connectedcamps.com/about