OSEA Hosts Annual Minecraft Championship for Students in Grades 5 to 8
TORONTO, ON - April 19, 2024 - The Ontario School Esports Association (OSEA) is excited to announce the collaboration of key partners as it prepares to host the Provincial Minecraft Finals for Grade 5 to 8 students. This event, which integrates educational elements into the world of esports, showcases the innovative talents of young gamers across Ontario. “We're thrilled to see such a strong response from students and schools across Ontario,” says Matt Kovacs, OSEA Chair. “This event not only celebrates a passion for gaming but also highlights the educational value of esports, promoting creativity, teamwork, problem-solving skills and STEM learning.”
To qualify for the provincial championship, teams were given three months to research, design and build an escape room game using Minecraft Education that incorporated or connected to multiple curriculum expectations across strands. Teams had to learn about and apply principles of game design and storytelling in order to create a compelling game narrative with increasingly complex obstacles and challenges for the player. This year, teams submitted games that demonstrated learning in a number of subjects, including space exploration, literature, biodiversity, sustainability, and more! Out of the all the submissions received, the top 20 teams have been selected to compete in an in-person showdown at the Microsoft Canada Headquarters in Toronto on Saturday, April 27, 2024. The finals will consist of four intense build challenges focused on solving a variety of real-world problems, such as the future transportation and the importance of sustainable building practices.
OSEA is also proud to welcome Humber College Esports and Dell Technologies Girls Who Game as partners for this event. “Our extracurricular program, Girls Who Game, is just one of the ways we are inspiring young girl gamers and fostering inclusivity within the esports community,” said Katina Papulkas, Sr. Education Strategist at Dell Technologies. "We are excited to collaborate with OSEA to empower the next generation of leaders in gaming and to provide a platform for them to showcase their skills and creativity on a provincial stage."
The competition will be livestreamed by the production team at Humber College Esports, which will provide an opportunity for parents and community members to witness the excitement. "At Humber Esports, we're thrilled to extend support for the OSEA Provincial Minecraft Championship by leveraging our students’ expertise in content and production,” says Bernard Mafei, Senior Administrator of Esports at Humber College. “This partnership exemplifies our commitment to elevating esports experiences for students of all ages, connecting with the next generation of creators, and amplifying the voices of passionate gamers worldwide." Parents, schools, and the general public can tune in to watch the action unfold and cheer for their favorite teams as they compete for glory at www.osea.gg/live.
For more information about the Ontario School Esports Association and the Provincial Minecraft Finals, please visit www.osea.gg.
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