Bridging Cities with Minecraft

Ann Heusser from Sister Cities of America presented us a brand new project that encourages youths from international cities to work together and construct architectural landmarks in their cities virtually. Bridging Cities with Minecraft organizes a team of 16 students from each sister city, ages 7 to 17, to build structures in the Education version of Minecraft. The culminating project is to connect the Minecraft cities with a virtual structure that the two teams build together, which literally bridges the gap of the digital divide. The students must work together, overcoming language barriers and cultural differences.

This project could plant a seed of understanding and collaboration which can blossom into long-term friendships and cross-cultural relationships and thwart potential conflicts in the future. Simultaneously, students will also learn about utilization of sustainable materials within the Minecraft world and practice responsible stewardship of existing resources.

As disclosure, Les Young is a co-founder of this project.