Prompt considerations
While we already considered what makes a good prompt for a Build Challenge, there are unique considerations when planning and preparing for a Build Battle world, head-to-head challenge.
When preparing a prompt for a Minecraft Education Build Battle world, teachers should consider several factors to ensure the activity is both engaging and achievable for students:
Time: Since head-to-head Build Challenges typically take place in-person and in a single session, consider the time it takes for students to complete the project. This includes brainstorming, planning, building, and presenting their work. Make sure to allocate enough time for each phase of the project and consider projects that are achievable within the time provided. This is typically 30-90 minutes.
Space to build: The size of the build area in the game should be appropriate for the complexity of the project. A larger area might be needed for more complex builds while a smaller area could be sufficient for simpler projects. The build areas in a Make and Model world are set and the players can't build outside of their own build space. Large scale builds may not fit, so plan your prompts for the space provided.
Prior knowledge: It's important to consider the students' prior knowledge of Minecraft and their building skills. The complexity of the project should match their abilities. For beginners, start with simpler projects and gradually increase the complexity as they gain more experience. Since time is a factor, students building something they know nothing about reduces the time they have to build after researching the topic.