This NAIDOC week (8 – 15 November 2020) over 1000 students across 25 schools have participated in Australia’s first NAIDOC Minecraft Education Challenge to explore the question: â€œHow might we build sustainable schools, cities, towns or communities in 2030 using Indigenous science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM)?”

Anchored in this year’s National NAIDOC theme ‘Always Was. Always Will Be’ and inspired by the Indigital Schools Program and platform, the Challenge invited students to research and learn about Indigenous knowledges, histories, and create stories unique to their local area.  Using Microsoft’s Paint 3D and Minecraft: Education Edition, students then designed and built new sustainable cities based on a futuristic interpretation of cultural knowledge, language and ways of knowing, being.

The winners will be announced at a special event streamed live from the National Library of Australia (NLA) via the Indigital Schools Facebook page and NLA Facebook page (@National.Library.of.Australia) between 1pm -1:45pm on the 18^th November 2020.

Click HERE to watch the event LIVE

The event will include a panel discussion with panel members Jane Mackarell (K12 Director, Microsoft Australia), Luke Briscoe (Manager, IDX), Matt Heffernan (Developer, Indigital), Dr Marie-Louise Ayres (Director-General, National Library of Australia), and John Paul Janke (Co-Chair, National NAIDOC Committee).

Follow the journey of Australia’s first NAIDOC Minecraft Education Challenge on the Indigital Schools Facebook page (@indigitaledutech).

We hope to see you all there!

The Indigital Schools Team