On Monday, 20th October, RBAI welcomed 16 Primary 6 pupils from Inchmarlo to take part in a Digital Technology Workshop. As part of building closer ties between the Main School and the Preparatory School, the P6 pupils from Inchmarlo were paired with Year 8 students from the Main School to participate in a Minecraft competition run by Microsoft Dreamspace and W5.
The theme of this year’s competition was “Shelter Crafters: Protecting Communities.” Each team was challenged to design and build a shelter that could protect a family from a chosen natural disaster, as well as to create a device that could be used to help rescue people displaced by the event.
During the session, the boys were divided into their groups and, with guidance from the Student Digital Leaders, began developing ideas for their shelter designs. They considered which materials would be most suitable, how the structure could withstand a natural disaster, and how their designs could provide safety and comfort for a family in need. With support from the Digital Leaders, the pupils were able to collaborate effectively, discuss and share ideas, and sketch out initial design concepts before beginning the construction phase in Minecraft.
Through this experience, the pupils developed a range of valuable skills, including:
· Creative problem-solving – designing practical and imaginative shelters for real-world scenarios.
· Digital literacy – using Minecraft as a design and simulation tool.
· Collaboration and communication – working in mixed-age teams and sharing ideas constructively.
· Critical thinking – evaluating how their structures would perform under different disaster conditions.
· STEM awareness – exploring engineering, design, and environmental considerations through technology.
The competition deadline is Friday, 23rd January, and additional sessions will be organised to ensure that all entries are finalised.
A special thank you to Mr Moreland for accompanying the boys to the Main School and supporting the session.
