MOD the Metaverse — an online camp for playing with game design, AI, computational thinking and Web3

Let’sMOD Camp is an online program from July 19 to August 27 with three 1 hour online sessions per week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:30 am PST). Kids from around the world, aged 8–16 are invited to apply here; there are limited spaces available and the first responders will be able to receive a scholarship to participate for free.

The camp’s goal is for each participant to create a game, animation, simulation, or interactive story. During camp, these projects are called MODs. Participants can create the Camp MOD individually or as a team (teams are called “startups”).

Let’sMOD Camp’s online sessions are designed to engage and guide kids 8 to 16 years old (no prior experience necessary in coding, animation, AI, computational thinking, or Web3) to create amazing MODs through the following sequenced curriculum:

• Week 1: Onboarding — July 19, 21, and 23: Once they’ve signed up for camp, campers will get onboarded to the Let’sMOD platform. On the platform, they’ll find a set of Onboarding MODs (programmable 3D games, animations, and simulations) to play with. Onboarding activities will cover the Let’sMOD platform and the ways in which math, computational thinking, and robotics can be used by the kids to code their own MODS in math. Onboarding will support kids’ particular skill levels (including with respect to number sense, simple robotics, variables, and conditionals); kids at every level will enjoy a “just right” level of learning and challenge.
• Week 2: Creativity — July 26, 28, and 30: Campers will be introduced to the Turtle Geometry “Seed MOD.” A seed MOD is a programmable asset that can be customized by campers to create their own MODs. To help campers get the most from playing with the seed MOD, we’ll cover geometry, creativity, and design thinking in addition to Computational Thinking, math, and robotics. Depending on the campers’ skills, activities can range from simple iteration up to geometry and recursion.
• Week 3, 4, and 5: Game Design — August 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, and 20: Each week, a new Seed MOD — designed to be suitable for a variety of skill levels — is provided. Campers can use parts of the seed MODs to improve their personal camp MOD. Campers are further engaged in l design thinking, systems thinking, collaboration, communication, leadership, and more math and computer science through the practice of creating innovative solutions with their MOD.
• Week 6 part 1: AI — August 23: We’ll provide seed MODs with a simple AI that campers can copy into their Camp MOD and learn the basics of Artificial Intelligence.
• Week 6 part 2: Web3 — August 25: We will review the principles of the metaverse, blockchain, and NFTs. Children will learn the basics with hands-on activities to finish and submit their Camp MOD.
• Last day for Camp MOD submission — August 27: In this session, all the questions about improving the camp MOD before submission by end of the day are discussed and answered.

Each week some Onboarding or Seed MODs are provided for hands-on learning and use in their Camp MOD. Depending on the kid’s age/grade/skills, they can leverage the Seed MODs that are appropriate for their skill level. The Camp MOD can tell the story about anything a camper or her team is interested to tell. The only restriction is to leverage parts of Seed MODs in their submitted Camp MOD. Here is the application for the limited number of scholarships to get into the camp for free.