Discover Blocksmith

• Grades: 4-12
• Number of Students: 30, 75, or 150
• Number of Lessons: 12
• Contact Hours: 12+
• Additional Resources: Curriculum Sample

 

Highlights:

Discover Blocksmith: 3D Coding & Design comes with a library of lessons in programming and video game design. Using the Blocksmith XR Builder software either in the classroom or remotely, learners create 3D games and scenarios through step-by-step scaffolded lessons, bringing their creations to life through Virtual Reality headsets. With the Blocksmith Group license, instructors have full domain control to create a secure and distraction-free environment to trade and share VR experiences. A fun and exciting journey for students and educators alike, Blocksmith allows any learning environment to create, share and experience the wide world of video game design and VR.

 

Recommended Settings:

• Summer Camps
• Classrooms
• Before & After-School Programs
• Homeschools

 

How It Works:

Your Blocksmith Group License comes with three main components:

• Access to the latest version of the Blocksmith XR Builder.
• Access to the Blocksmith Curriculum and Premium Content Library.
• Printed Educator Guide from PCS Edventures.

Your license comes with access to all Blocksmith curriculum tracks and pre-made educational experiences. Students then use the Blocksmith XR Builder to model objects and bring scenarios to life. These can be played immediately from the builder, or uploaded to the class workspace and downloaded to VR/AR viewers.

The print curriculum supports the tutorials in the Blocksmith Library: Classic Games, Farm Sim and Royale Battles. While each course has a slightly different scope and sequence, any one of these three options can serve as an introduction to the Blocksmith XR Builder, giving students the skills they need to pursue open-ended projects or more advanced curriculum tracks.

• Classic Games: Re-live and re-make classic arcade games, but in 3D! Remake classic games like Frogger, Mario and Super Dodge Ball, and then customize them with ideas and game mechanics of your own.
• Farm Sim: Learn how to build a Farming Simulator with a series of four games that let your players plant seeds, grow, harvest and take them to market. Students learn the basic concepts behind beloved economy games like Stardew Valley and Farm Simulator.
• Royale Battles: Create a Battle Royale game in your own world! Learn how to make a 3D level, your own water pistols and eventually a completely customized multiplayer game.

These program bundles come with detailed step-by-step instructions for students that can be viewed directly in the Blocksmith XR Builder, while the accompanying printed Educator Guide includes key terms, background information, intros, closing activities for each lesson, information on standards alignment and additional technical information for instructors.

 

Curriculum or Lesson Topics:

Subject Targets:

• Technology
• Robotics
• Coding

 

Curriculum Topics:

1. Intro to 3D Design
2. Basic Animations & Events
3. Special Effects & Sound Effects
4. Object Spawners & Held Items
5. Hitpoints & Advanced Held Items
6. Intermediate Game Development, Events & Scenes
7. Collectible Items & Intermediate Level Design
8. Variables & Advanced 3D Design
9. Interior Level Design
10. Advanced Spawners & Nested Animation
11. Multiplayer Mastery
12. Community Engagement & Advanced Game Development

 

Standard Alignments:

Habits of Mind:

16 thinking habits developed by Art Costa and Bena Kallick to empower students to succeed in a 21st-century learning environment.

• Creating, Imagining, Innovating
• Persisting

 

21st Century Skills:

A set of widely-applicable abilities essential for success in the information age.

• Creativity and Innovation
• Information, Media and Technology Literacy
• Initiative and Self-Direction

© 2019 Battelle for Kids. battelleforkids.org. All Rights Reserved. Battelle for Kids was not involved in the production of this product and does not endorse it.

 

International Society for Technology in Education:

• ISTE 1d. Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.

ISTE Standards for Students, ©2016, ISTE® (International Society for Technology in Education), iste.org. All rights reserved. ISTE was not involved in the production of this product and does not endorse it.

 

What's Included:

Blocksmith Licenses Include:

• 1 Blocksmith Group License (30, 75, or 150 user accounts) with access code for Blocksmith account setup. 1-Year and 3-Year licenses are available.
• 1 Blocksmith Educator Guide

Blocksmith VR LAB Includes:

• 1 Blocksmith 75-Group, 1-Year License with an access code for Blocksmith account setup, printed on a colored sheet of paper.
• 3 VR Headsets
• 3 Headset Cases
• 1 Blocksmith Educator Guide

Your Blocksmith Access:

Your group license includes access to Blocksmith, good for either 1 or 3 years. As long as your license remains active, you’ll have access to all curriculum tracks, premium assets and educational experiences. Expired accounts are downgraded to the free version and lose access to all curriculum and workspace features.

 

Technical Requirements:

1 device per student is recommended. Blocksmith XR Builder software is compatible with Windows, macOS and Chrome OS devices.

For Builder Software:

• Memory: min 2GB, recommended 4GB
• CPU: Intel Celeron 2GHz class, recommended Intel i5/i7 class. AMD fully supported for PC’s
• GPU: Intel HD, recommended Nvidia 900/1000 class
• Windows: 7, recommended 10
• Mac: OS X
• Chrome: Chrome OS (with a strong recommendation to use Chromebooks with Intel Chipset)

Supported Viewer apps:

• Android 5 (higher for Daydream & ARCore). Phones need to have gyroscopes to support Cardboard or any VR system
• iOS 9 (iOS 11 for ARKit)
• Visit blocksmith.com/download for more viewer options

 

Important Notes and Considerations:

Reusability and Expansion:

• 100% Reusable: The materials in this program are 100% reusable. Just clean and reuse again and again.
• Annual License: Some features in this program require a license that must be renewed periodically.

 

FAQ:

Does my Blocksmith Group license need to be renewed each year?

Yes. After your license expires, you will need to renew your license to continue using curriculum tracks, premium assets, educational experiences and workspace features.

If your Blocksmith license is not renewed, you and your students’ accounts will be downgraded to the free version. Students can continue to use the Blocksmith XR Builder, but they will not have access to premium features or curriculum tracks.

How many student accounts are included in the license?

Group licenses are available in 30, 75, and 150 account groups. The Admin account does not count towards the total. Extra accounts may be added onto any base package in groups of 10 for an extra fee. Individual accounts may also be added on month-to-month for a small fee through Blocksmith’s site.

Only currently active accounts count against your total. You can reuse the same Blocksmith account again and again with each new group of students by switching out their accounts in your Workspace Dashboard.

For example, you can teach a Blocksmith course during Fall semester with Class A, and then during Spring semester you can remove Class A from your Workspace and replace them with Class B to teach the course again.

Do I need programming or video game development experience to teach a Blocksmith course?

Not at all. Discover Blocksmith includes built-in, student-led curriculum tracks that allow instructors to learn alongside their students, regardless of their experience level. You will also receive an Instructor Guide with additional instructions, activities and support to help you get started.

Do I need VR equipment to use Blocksmith?

Not at all. Experiences can be played in first-person view through the Blocksmith XR Builder.

However, using a VR viewer adds a whole new level of engagement, so we highly recommend giving it a try!

What will my students learn from Blocksmith?

Discover Blocksmith teaches students many skills with real-world applications, including programming concepts (ie. logic, variables, spawners), user interface and user experience design concepts (UI and UX design), video game development, VR and AR applications, 3D modeling and more computer science topics.

For more information on STEAM careers that include skills that can be learned from Discover Blocksmith, check out our STEAM Career Exploration blog series!

Do any curriculum tracks include violence?

Blocksmith and PCS Edventures take great care to ensure curriculum tracks are appropriate for grades 4-12 — dodgeball is the most "intense" game in the Discover Blocksmith curriculum.

The existing curriculum cannot be altered, but educators can make their own VR/AR experiences and curriculum tracks or import experiences created by others. Educators can choose what experiences to make available to their students in their Workspace.

Not every experience created by other users will be suitable for your class. We recommend playing through new experiences before making them available to your students.

Is Blocksmith compatible with Merge Goggles and Merge Mini Goggles?

The Blocksmith XR Builder is compatible with the Merge series goggles.

Merge headsets use smartphones for VR viewing. Install the Blocksmith Cardboard Viewer app from Google Play or the App Store. Then, tap the VR button in the app to switch to VR viewing mode and insert your phone into the headset.