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  • Level Up Los Angeles Esports Competition with Minecraft Education

Level Up Los Angeles Season 3 is set to launch in October 2024.
Complete this interest form to be notified when materials are available.

Congratulations to the 2024 Champions!

 

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In June 2024, the Climate Justices and Blazing BEVA Builders were invited to present and compete on the ISTELive 24 mainstage! The Climate Justices spoke on a student panel and the Blazing BEVA Builders won the first ever ISTELive Minecraft Education National Championship, Battle in the Rocks! Watch the ISTELive 24 Video Recap.

View the top submissions from the competition on the 2024 Level Up Los Angeles Recognition Deck.



About Level Up Los Angeles Esports Competition with Minecraft Education

Level Up Los Angeles Esports Competition with Minecraft Education, or Level Up Los Angeles, is an annual LAUSD esports competition for all students K-12. Students collaborate, compete, and reshape the future of Los Angeles in a build challenge focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each region’s top submissions qualify to advance to Level 2: Region Rumble, a single elimination tournament concluding in the championships.

More Information

How to Participate in the Challenge

  • All students and teachers have access to Minecraft Education and are invited to participate in the challenge. Teachers will have access to an educator’s guide, with accompanying Student Guide, Rubric and lesson materials for Social-Emotional Learning, Literacy and Numeracy, and ongoing professional learning sessions.
  • Once you have access to Minecraft Education, download and open the Los Angeles world to start your challenge journey. Here, students will find in-game characters that will assist them on their journey before they start building.
  • Review the rubric before you start so you understand what the judges are looking for.
  • Submit your project through a video recording that is no more than 3-minutes in length and clearly explains the following:
    • What climate issue is your team addressing?
    • The research into the problem
    • How your team designed your solution
    • How your solution solves the issue your team selected

What is Minecraft Education?

Minecraft is an open-world game that promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive environment where the only limit is your imagination. Minecraft Education differs from the regular video game version as it is aimed for use in the classroom and contains features such as classroom mode and assessment tools that enable powerful learning experiences. To learn more about Minecraft Education in the classroom, watch this video.

What is C40 Cities?

C40 is a network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading cities collaborating to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis. Mayors of C40 cities are deploying a science-based and collaborative climate action to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. To learn more about C40 Cities, watch this video.

What are SDGs?

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. To learn more about SDGs, visit their homepage.

Get Started with Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is available to all Los Angeles Unified students through their school student account.

  1. Open the Minecraft Education app
  2. Select Sign in
  3. Sign in with your LAUSD Single Sign on (SSO) email and password

Download the latest version of Minecraft Education on iPad, MacBook, or Chromebook. For technical support, please contact Information Technology Services (ITS) at lausd.org/its

Previous Years Level Up Los Angeles

Season 2: Level Up Los Angeles 2023-2024

In partnership with Microsoft, LAUSD has launched a two-level esports competition with Minecraft Education during the Fall/Winter of 2023. All PK-12 classrooms are invited to participate. Embark on an epic adventure and get ready to collaborate, compete, and reshape the future of Los Angeles to help our city thrive in the midst of climate change.


Important Dates

  • November 17, 2023 - February 2, 2024:
    Level 1 - Schools Reinventing Los Angeles (Asynchronous)
  • February 8, 2024: Level 1 - Finalists Announced
  • February 14-21, 2024: Level 2 - Region Rumble PLAYOFFs (Virtual)
  • February 28-March 5, 2024: Level 2 - Region Rumble SEMI-FINALs (Virtual)
  • March 13-March 14, 2024: Level 2 - Region Rumble Junior League FINALS (Virtual)
  • (IN-PERSON) March 21, 2024: Level 2 - Region Rumble Junior League Awarding Ceremony
  • (IN-PERSON) March 21, 2024: Level 2 - Region Rumble Varsity League FINALs and Awarding Ceremony


Materials

 

LAUSD Schoology Course

LAUSD educators, join our Level Up Los Angeles Schoology Course to view information and receive the latest updates about the Level Up Los Angeles eSports Competition with Minecraft Education. View information to join Schoology Course here.

The Challenge

ELEMENTARY PROMPT: Los Angeles is experiencing problems because of climate change. There are droughts, heatwaves, fires, and unhealthy air. Help our city become more climate friendly. Choose a climate problem and share your best idea with a Minecraft build that helps everyone in our neighborhoods adjust to climate change.

SECONDARY PROMPT: Los Angeles is facing climate change emergencies such as drought, extended heatwaves, wildfires, and unhealthy air quality. Together, we can make changes to help our city thrive in the midst of climate change. Identify a climate emergency and build an innovative solution for your community that can improve how people adjust to climate change.

About Level 1 & Level 2

About Level 1: Schools Reinventing Los Angeles

Schools Reinventing Los Angeles is part of the Schools Reinventing Cities program in partnership between Minecraft Education and C40 Cities. The program empowers school students across the globe to propose solutions for a more sustainable and resilient urban future, and to share these ideas with their class, teachers and city leaders.

All students are invited to participate in Level 1 by building a solution to climate change in the Level Up Los Angeles 2023-2024 world. They are tasked to craft a three-minute video showcasing their solution to tackle climate challenges that impact Los Angeles and submit their videos to be scored by a panel of judges. The top 4 teams from each region and league (Junior League - Elementary, Varsity League - Secondary) will qualify to advance to Level 2: Region Rumble.

About Level 2: Region Rumble

There will be eleven matches during Region Rumble. During the Playoffs, four teams from each region will compete against each other, eliminating two teams from each region. During the Semi-Finals, two teams from each region will compete for the finals, eliminating one team. During the Finals, one team from each region will compete for the title of Level Up Los Angeles 2024 Champions! See BRACKETS for more details.

Details and Qualifications

Level 1: Schools Reinventing Los Angeles
November 17, 2023 - February 2, 2024

  • Details
    • Level 1 will take place virtually and asynchronously.
    • Teams submit a video of their solutions (no longer than 3 minutes) to the Google Form.
    • The top four teams from each region (North, East, Virtual Academy, South, and West) will be selected from Level 1 submissions and invited to advance to Level 2: Region Rumble.
  • Qualifications:
    • Only teams of 4 or 5 students qualify to advance to Level 2: Region Rumble.
      • Should a team of 4 be selected to advance to Level 2: Region Rumble, the school agrees to find a fifth team member to maintain fairness and consistency in the competition.
    • All students participating must have a Publicity Authorization and Release form on file at the school that can be provided upon request.

Level 1: Schools Reinventing Los Angeles
Playoffs | February 14-21, 2024

  • Details
    • Playoffs will take place virtually and synchronously.
    • Teams will be given the prompt ahead of time and asked to sign up for a time for their 30 minute build challenge and 5 minute presentation recording.
  • Qualifications:

Level 1: Schools Reinventing Los Angeles
Semi-Finals | February 28 - March 5, 2024

  • Details
    • Semi-Finals will take place virtually and synchronously.
    • Teams will be given the prompt ahead of time and asked to sign up for a time for their 30 minute build challenge and 5 minute presentation recording.
  • Qualifications:

Level 1: Schools Reinventing Los Angeles
Finals | March 13-14 (Junior League) | March 21, 2024 (Varsity League)

  • Details
    • Finals will take place virtually for Junior League and in-person for Varsity League.
      • Teams will be given the prompt ahead of time.
      • Junior League teams will be asked to sign up for a time for their 30 minute build challenge and 5 minute presentation recording.
      • During the FINALS in-person event, Junior League team projects will be presented and champions identified.
      • During the FINALS in-person event, Varsity League teams will compete and present LIVE during the final match.
      • Team coaches will be asked to attend the in-person event with their students.
      • If a team cannot attend in-person, they are forfeiting their participation, and the next qualifying team will be invited to compete.
      • The champions from the Level 2: Region Rumble Varsity League may have an opportunity to compete at the national level.
  • Qualifications:

Season 1: Level Up Los Angeles 2022-2023

Level 2: Region Rumble

Level 2: Region Rumble will consist of three rounds where the 16 regional finalist teams will go head-to-head in live competitions, eliminating all but two teams who will compete in the finale on June 3 for the title of 2023 Level Up Los Angeles Champions.

Important Dates

  • May 17, 2023 (Virtual) - Level 2: Onboarding Session (will also be recorded); 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  • May 22, 2023 (Virtual) - Round 1: 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  • May 25, 2023 (Virtual) - Round 2: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  • June 3, 2023 (In Person) - Finale: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

2023 Regional Finalists - Level 1: Building a Better Tomorrow Materials

Congratulations to each and every student team who submitted a project for Level 1, we received over 300 video submissions with almost 800 students who participated! Though the judging process was difficult, we have identified 16 regional finalists who will advance to Level 2: Region Rumble. Preview the advancing teams’ videos below and stay tuned for Level 2: Region Rumble kicking off on May 22.

Level 1: Building a Better Tomorrow Materials

Level Up Los Angeles Minecraft Education Informational Launch

  • RECORDING: Informational Webinar
  • PRESENTATION: Informational Webinar
  • NOTE: Participation in Level Up Los Angeles is for LAUSD Educators and is voluntary without compensation. LAUSD Educators can join our Schoology Course for the latest updates. Click here for the Course Access Code.

 

Click on the image to view PDF

Beginning February 21, 2023, Los Angeles Unified will launch a city-wide Minecraft Education challenge providing students with an opportunity to navigate through a customized virtual representation of Los Angeles, interacting with experts as they consider, “How can we envision connected, equitable, inclusive and sustainable communities in Los Angeles that moves all our residents forward without leaving anyone behind?” and learning about sustainable city living through local experts. This prompt is aligned to the Instructional Technology Initiative’s efforts around leveraging Computer Science for good, along with global collaboration through the lens of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and more specifically the C40 Goals for Los Angeles as part of a network of global cities to confront the climate crisis.

​As teachers plan interdisciplinary tasks connected to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), students will build virtual proposals in Minecraft Education encapsulating their vision for Los Angeles’ future. These proposals will then be submitted for consideration by a panel of judges.

What is Minecraft Education?

Minecraft is an open-world game that promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive environment where the only limit is your imagination. Minecraft Education differs from the regular video game version as it is aimed for use in the classroom and contains features such as classroom mode and assessment tools that enable powerful learning experiences.

To learn more about Minecraft Education in the classroom, watch this video.

The Challenge

MAIN PROMPT: How can we envision connected, equitable, inclusive and sustainable communities in Los Angeles that moves all our residents forward without leaving anyone behind?

REGIONAL PROMPTS: Below you will find focus areas for each region that tie in to the main prompt. It is recommended that your students build for the Region where your school is located. If students have more time later, they can build for other regional prompts of their interest.

 

 

How to Participate in the Challenge

  • All students and teachers have access to Minecraft Education and are invited to participate in the challenge. Teachers will have access to an educator’s guide, with accompanying Student Guide , exemplars with connections to the curriculum, and ongoing professional learning sessions.
  • Once you have access to Minecraft Education, download and open the Los Angeles world to start your challenge journey. Here, students will find in-game characters that will assist them on their journey before they start building.
  • Review the rubric before you start so you understand what the judges are looking for.
  • Submit your project through a video recording that is no more than 1-minute and 30-seconds in length and clearly explains the following:
    • What problem are you addressing?
    • Your research into the problem
    • How you designed your solution
    • How your solutions solve the problem you selected
 

Important Dates

  • Informational launch: January 25, 2023; Register on MyPLN Key Words: Level Up
  • Challenge begins: February 21, 2023
  • Challenge ends: April 28, 2023
  • Finalists shared: April 12, 2023
 

What is C40 Cities?

C40 is a network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading cities collaborating to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis. Mayors of C40 cities are deploying a science-based and collaborative climate action to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. To learn more about C40 Cities, watch this video.

What are SDGs?

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. To learn more about SDGs, visit their homepage.

Get Started with Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is available to all Los Angeles Unified students through their school student account.

  1. Open the Minecraft Education app
  2. Select Sign in
  3. Sign in with your LAUSD Single Sign on (SSO) email and password

Download the latest version of Minecraft Education on iPad, MacBook, or Chromebook. For technical support, please contact ITD at lausd.org/its