# Creating an avatar
### A perfect first activity for teachers and students who are new to Bloxels. 

#### DURATION: 30 Minutes
#### MATERIALS: Sketch grids, Markers, Bloxels Boards and Blocks



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There's no wrong way to create an avatar, and many students will naturally figure out how to do it. But to make this exercise a little more intentional, here are some ideas to bring to the activity:

- Have students make a list of their personality traits and/or things that they like. Once this is done, they can then begin to turn one or more items from that list into a sketch that represents them.
- When they have a sketch/idea that they are happy with, it’s now time to pull out the sketch grids and markers to turn the sketch into a 13x13 piece of pixel art that can be built on the Bloxels board. 
- After that, have the students build their art on the Gameboard and then bring it into the Bloxels EDU app (as a character) via the camera on the mobile device. Their avatar can be further edited in the app to change colors or fix any mistakes.
- Once they’re finished, the pixel art can be used as their very own avatar for their Bloxels EDU profile.

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#### Brainstorm

What about you makes you unique? What do you love more than anything?
Make a list of things that make you YOU.

#### Sketch

Now, what on that list will make a fun, funny, or cool image? Do you love hot
dogs more than anything on the planet? Then sketch some hot dogs. Do you
wish you were a superhero? Draw yourself in your superhero costume.

#### Sketch Grid

Now that you’ve got your sketch, it’s time to simplify it into pixel art. Use
the sketch grids to pixelize your sketch. Don’t be afraid to mess up! That’s
the point of this step. It usually takes a few tries to turn a sketch into the
perfect piece of pixel art.

#### Bloxels Board

Using your finished sketch grid pixel art drawing, take the blocks and
build it on the Gameboard. At this point it should be as simple as copying
what you’ve already made on the paper.

#### Capture
Once built, you can bring it into the Bloxels EDU app by capturing the Gameboard
on your mobile device. Make sure you capture it using the ‘Character Builder’
mode. Only characters can be used as avatars in Bloxels EDU.

#### Editing

The Bloxels EDU app can be used to edit your captured avatar Gameboard.
You can change colors, move blocks around, add or subtract blocks, and
fix any mistakes you may have made. This step is where you make sure
everything is exactly the way you want it. When you’re done you should
have a finished avatar.

#### Last step: Set Your Avatar

Now all you have to do is actually make it your avatar! Just tap on the
current avatar being used to bring up the menu. Once the menu is in view,
tap the avatar image again to bring up a list of all of your characters. Find
the character you just built and tap it! Now it’s your avatar!

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Create an Avatar

Creating an avatar is a perfect first activity for teachers and students who are new to Bloxels!

Bloxels

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## What's a student account?

With an account, students can access the Bloxels app, personalize their avatars, access their creations across multiple devices, and share content with their peers. Teachers create the student accounts and distribute the login information to students. This also allows teachers to monitor and assess what students are creating and sharing.

 

## Is it a software license?

Not exactly. You can think of student accounts like "seats." When a student account is archived or released, it then opens up the seat for another student to use. The number of seats that a teacher has depends on their plan, which may be managed by an administrator. To see how many student accounts you have in your plan, visit your account page.

 


## Can student accounts be an email address? How does rostering work?

Currently, no email is associated with a student account. Student usernames and passwords are created in the Hub, and can be done in a batch via copy and paste. Usernames can be generic/anonymous, instead of being tied to personal names.

 

## Can the same student be in multiple groups/classes?

Yes. Keep in mind that for every class a student is in, it counts as a "seat" in use. 




## How do I Release Student Accounts?

When you release a student’s account to a parent or guardian, it becomes a personal account, which they can use on their own to keep building.

This also frees up a seat for you to use for another student. And when parents purchase the account, you will get an additional student account added to your current plan for free.

## Reuse Student Accounts

Student accounts are **not** permanently assigned to individual students. You can use the accounts with new students throughout the year. For example, if you have 25 student accounts (or "seats"), you could use them with a group of 25 students for the first part of the year, and then reuse them with another group of 25 for the second half of the year.

To do this, you can archive accounts that are no longer in use (or release them to parents) and create new ones for new students. Archived student accounts can be unarchived at a later date if you choose to bring the students and their work back into an active status.
  
 

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Student Accounts FAQ

Bloxels student accounts can be reused, released, and more. All your questions about student accounts, answered.

# Top Ways Teachers are Using Bloxels EDU

With Bloxels, students are empowered to create their own games and stories. It has “low floors, high ceilings, and wide walls” — in other words, simple enough to be used by novices (low floors), in complex ways by experts (high ceilings), and in inventive ways (wide walls) by all.

So as a teacher, where do you start?

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Where you and your students take Bloxels is up to you- and this can be a bit daunting. We’ve collected these top ways educators are using Bloxels as a way to inspire and help formulate your own approach.

Before we dive into examples, it’s good to start with an end in mind. What’s the outcome you’re looking for?

### Teach Traditional Literacies
When writing narrative into their games, students practice writing, reading, and analyzing different forms of narrative, including non-linear text.

### Level up creative expression and digital literacy
Games are a unique, creative medium. Creating games integrates many other mediums: art, animation, storytelling, sound, and the anticipation of interaction with the audience. 

### Practice 21st Century skills
Although an individual student can make a game on their own, Bloxels thrives on teamwork. Making a game as a team means practicing the 4Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and of course, creativity. These are great skills no matter the century!

### Ignite interest in computer science
Bloxels is an empowering experience in which all kids can quickly make a digital game. This is a great first step in building the confidence and interest in exploring computer science at any age.

### Expand student choices for creation and demonstration of knowledge
Bloxels EDU games, stories, and the related student artifacts (storyboards, sketches, workbooks) can be incorporated into any approach. This can be particularly effective in reaching students where traditional means fall short (writing a report, taking a test.)

Here are a few ways you can make Bloxels fit in with your lesson plans while still leaving room for self-expression in your student’s work.



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### Story Blocks

Students use the white Story blocks to put text into their games. These messages can be facts, dialogue, or questions you can present to the player of your Bloxels games. These blocks are the simplest connection to traditional writing and language arts- check out some of the ways in the examples below.

### SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW
Using story blocks, your students can enter in facts about whatever topic you’re teaching. This can apply to any class subject. Take a look at this game, for example:

Of course this game goes above just using story blocks - a few customized bits of art make this game more effective than if it did not feature Abraham Lincoln as the protagonist, his log cabin, or pennies. But this is not always necessary. 

Students can make games to “show what they know” about a topic… or you can make one to teach them something in a memorable way using this approach.

Using the same approach, here is a game about a completely different subject:


This game takes the player through outer space, covering facts about Mercury, Venus, asteroids and more. This example, however, introduces challenges to the player, making it much more interesting to play. If the player touches the hot surface of Venus, they will take damage. 

In this way, the game goes beyond just embedding facts, and starts to connect the concepts of space into the game itself. It’s also pretty fun to play!

### ENIVIRONMENTAL STORYTELLING
A unique aspect of Bloxels compared to other tools is that it requires you to design a level in order to tell your story, but the design of the level alone can tell a story. As students build a world, they can apply what they have learned in interesting ways beyond words - think of the level itself like an interactive visual aid. Using the different block types and custom art in creative ways, students are able to create immersive and engaging games that are also educational. Take a look at this game about the respiratory system created by a student:


This student could have just told the player where an air molecule goes while simply having them move left to right, but instead the creator makes the player takes control of an air molecule and actually has to make its way through the trachea, lungs and eventually reach the blood all while avoiding tar and other harmful things. This is a great application of these concepts, and this game shows a great job showing this student’s understanding about a number of things related to the respiratory system.

Tar as enemies enforces the dangerous effects of smoking

“Healthy Foods” as healing items enforces the importance of eating well and how it helps the respiratory system

Branching path in the level design shows this student understands that there are two lungs

The end goal of the level is to reach the blood - once the oxygen molecule has finally reached the blood after going through the alveoli, the player has “won.”

### PICK-A-PATH QUIZ
Similar to telling a story through the layout of a level, you can build “true” and “false” options into your level. Many math classes have used this technique, such as in the example below created by a student: 


The student has designed this game so that the correct path will allow the player to continue through until the end. The incorrect answer will lead them down a hazardous pit, forcing the player to start over and try again. This is a great way to test your player’s knowledge while introducing real risk/reward. After getting all answers correct, the player reaches the end. To top it all off, the student was able to have fun and express themselves by creating a silly backstory to this quiz that has nothing to do with math while still staying on topic.

This doesn’t apply to just math classes. Students have also used this method to test fellow classmates’ knowledge on book characters they have read about, or to test their memory about events that have happened in history.

### INTERACTIVE BOOK REPORT
You can create a full-fledged book report or recreation of a classic story in game form. By building a game, you’re able to recreate not just the dialogue, but the setting and the characters. This allows students to analyze a character in a way that they may not have been possible through writing a paper. Pay attention to their design decisions. Does Captian Ahab throw fireballs just because they thought it looked cool, or did the student cleverly give Ahab this ability to symbolize his burning desire to get revenge on the white whale? Much like you would expect your students to analyze these stories, you can just as well open up a discussion with your students about their creative game design decisions. 

Many students have created games based on books they have read, such as Hatchet, Captain Underpants, Lord of the Rings, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Percy Jackson and many, many more. There are also many books based on epic poems, fables, and mythology.

### CREATIVE WRITING
This one is the most common type of game in Bloxels. Many kids love creating their own characters and their own stories. Sometimes their stories are based on things that have happened to them, other times it will be about a superhero character they have imagined. There is no shortage of creativity in the Bloxels community. Some of the most impressive Bloxels games were created when kids were given self-directing freedom to create what they wanted.

### HAVE A NEW IDEA? LET US KNOW!
We would love to hear more about how you and your students are extending these basic ways to use Bloxels. Let us know at [education@bloxelsbuilder.com](mailto:education@bloxelsbuilder.com) and we’d love to add your story to the list!


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Activity Ideas with Bloxels

Ideas for using Bloxels with your students

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Release Student Accounts

You can let students take home their Bloxels EDU creations, and earn free seats in the process.


Bloxels is a popular resource in libraries and makerspaces. **Here's a look at how to use Bloxels effectively in circulation:**







### Bloxels Kits and Plan 

Ensure you have the necessary Bloxels kits, which include physical blocks and a game board. You will also need a Bloxels EDU subscription plan, which will enable you to manage and monitor Bloxels accounts. These can be purchased separately or as a bundle in the Bloxels [store.](https://store.bloxelsbuilder.com)


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### Setup Bloxels Accounts for Checkout

Getting set up starts in the EDU [Hub.](https://hub.bloxels.com) In the Hub you can manage accounts, reset passwords, and view and moderate content. Once you register your subscription with the Hub, you can create a “Class” and add accounts to allow patrons to login. It's recommended to use generic names for the accounts. See this [tutorial](https://scribehow.com/shared/Creating_a_New_Quick_Class__1KlmXe8OSGCUxQwDUgDqBw) for step-by-step details on creating a class.

A Class has a Class Code, which is a six-digit code used to login to the app. You can change it if you like. Each user account has a 4-digit PIN, which you can also change if you like.

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### Checkout and Return Process

When checking out a Bloxels kit, you will need to provide the Class Code, User name, and PIN to your patron so that they can login and use the Bloxels app. The login sheets also include information on how the patron can access the app on the Web or on a device. In the Hub, you can print login sheets with this information to distribute with the kits on checkout.

On return, you can reuse the login info for the next patron, or create new users for the new patrons as needed. This will give them a “clean slate” to start with and they will be the only patron with access to their session. 

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If a patron would like to continue building after they return the kit, you also have the option to “release” their account. This will create a PDF of instructions for them to take over (purchase) their account. [Learn more](https://www.bloxels.com/education/student-take-home-program) about the 'take home' program.

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Bloxels in Circulation

Bloxels is a popular resource in libraries and makerspaces. With
a Bloxels EDU subscription, you have the ability to checkout
Bloxels kits and host programming for patrons. Here’s a look at how it works.

## We’ve been telling stories all the time, from the start of time. 

We tell stories not just to entertain, but to survive and thrive. They help us pass on knowledge, and to imagine the future. 

Storytelling grows and changes with every new medium that we create. We innately understand that mediums like books, films, and music are story containers. But what about video games? As a relatively new medium, games can create stories in ways completely different than what’s come before. We're examining storytelling in games in four parts:

  Part 1: Meet the Players

  [Part 2: Mechanics: Telling a Story with Verbs](https://www.bloxels.com/education/storytelling-in-games-part-two)

  [Part 3:  Environmental Narrative: Storytelling in the World](https://www.bloxels.com/education/storytelling-in-games-part-three)

  [Part 4: Emergent Narrative: The Story About the Story](https://www.bloxels.com/education/storytelling-in-games-part-four)


With these ideas in play, you can expect to create wonderful and compelling stories within your game world. But not only that; there will also be the opportunity to bring to life brand new experiences for players everywhere to enjoy and share with each other. 


## PART ONE: MEET THE PLAYERS


The most fundamental difference between games and other mediums is that games don’t have readers or viewers or an audience— they have players. 

When you listen to a song, watch a film, or read a book, there’s really not much to “do.” There are no choices to make along the way; the storyteller sets the pace and guides you along. 

A game, on the other hand, can be seen as a set of meaningful choices. As the player explores the game and makes those choices, stories emerge in many different ways. 

To a game designer keen on telling a traditional, linear story, this can be challenging, as players will do unexpected things. They might skip a cutscene that shows a vital piece of story development. They might uncover important clues to a mystery in an unpredictable order. When a game’s story “wants” them to leave the village and fight the dragon, they might choose to spend all day picking flowers instead.
 
So it’s important to understand the players. These are the people who in many ways will become the main characters themselves, and are partners in creating the story of the game. 
 
Of course, they all want different things.
 
Every player comes to a game with different motivations and goals. Some want to build, some want to destroy; others want to set a new record, and there are some that just want to hang out and chat. 
 
There are many novel ways to look at the types of players, but a simple categorization is Bartle’s Taxonomy, created by Richard Bartle in 1996. It describes four basic types of players, based on how they interact with a game and each other. Bartle’s Taxonomy names them as “Achievers”, “Explorers”, “Killers”, and “Socializers”. 

“Achievers” are the ones who are looking to be on top of the leaderboard. These will be the “completionists”, the “speed runners”, who will face every challenge you place in their path. If it’s possible, the “Achievers” will be the ones to accomplish the goal. They are playing to win, and they’re going to win everywhere they can. 


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“Explorers” are what they sound like. They enjoy immersing themselves in the game’s world and discovering its secrets. They will be the players who will find your most well-hidden easter-egg no matter the cost. If there’s a side-quest, they’ll chase it, leaving the main storyline of a game in the background. No part of your game world isn’t worth exploring for them. 


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“Killers” are competitive players. Despite their grim name, they're fun to play games with. Unlike the Achiever, whose interest is in beating the game, this type is most interested in proving their skills against other players directly. They also naturally are drawn to ways to experiment with the game and alter the world around them. 


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“Socializers” are the ones who love to engage with other players. They want to share their resources with others and want to make alliances. At the same time, they’ll be the players who enjoy games with fascinating characters for them to talk to and understand.


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Real life players are more complex than these simple types, of course. But these are still a good starting point for looking at how each type engages with a game’s story, and what they value about it. 
 
Just like how we have our personal preferences of movies genres, like “action flicks” or “romcoms,” it follows that these player types gravitate toward certain types of games. For instance, a fast-paced racing game is going to appeal more to Achievers and Killers than an Explorer or a Socializer. If you can also wreck and ram the course and other players, you have hooked the Killer type. If there’s a way to customize your car and send emotes to other players, it’s more interesting to the Socializer. If the racing courses all have hidden secret paths and easter eggs, the Explorer is more likely to play. 
 
Typically a game will have a mix of these elements and a game designer must make choices about what to include and what to leave out. This applies to a game’s story as well.  
 
We’ll take a closer look at how that’s done in the next article, starting with the one of the most basic building blocks of games: [Mechanics](https://www.bloxels.com/education/storytelling-in-games-part-two). In the meantime, why not take the [official quiz](https://matthewbarr.co.uk/bartle/) to find out what your [Bartle type](https://matthewbarr.co.uk/bartle/) is. 

 [Part 2: Mechanics: Telling a Story with Verbs](https://www.bloxels.com/education/storytelling-in-games-part-two)


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Storytelling in Games

As a relatively new medium, games can create stories in ways completely different than what’s come before. 

Your students have put in the work and made some incredible games. Now it's time to show them off- and one of the best ways is by hosting an Arcade night!

What does it look like? Check out some real-world inspiration from teachers sharing their own arcades:






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At an Arcade night, the school community can come together to play student games and celebrate their accomplishments.  This can be a standalone event or part of an overall STEAM showcase. How it fits in your school and community is up to you, but here are some tips on running your own from real-life events:


### DIY Arcade Cabinets

As a final step in the game-making journey, students can design and decorate their own arcade cabinets. This brings their hard work on the digital side back into the physical world in a creative, hands-on way. 

Cabinets can add information to showcase. Beyond the name of the game and its creator, students can add background information, hints, and other tangible objects and art that bring the idea behind their game into real-life. 

With just some cardboard and art supplies, students can craft these however they like. The Bloxels Arcade Cabinet Plans work with just regular letter-sized paper, and are a free download. Check them out [here](https://bloxels-web-resources.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hub/Bloxels_DIY_Arcade_Tablet_Template.pdf). 

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### During the Event

#### Set the Atmosphere
Think about ways to make the environment tie into games, such as retro arcade elements or pixel art signage. Changing the lighting or background music can help. If available, make your Class arcade page available to play any of the games on a big screen. The more immersive the better! 

#### Show the Process and Student Presentations
It's just as important to showcase the process and hard work that students put into their games as it is the final product. Students can volunteer to give short presentations to explain their game development process and answer questions from players. Artifacts from the brainstorming process such as student workbooks can demonstrate a lot, and can find a home next to the relevant games, can be displayed on walls, or shown on a rotating slideshow.

#### Encourage Playing and Feedback
Provide simple feedback forms or sticky notes for players to leave comments or suggestions for the game creators. If you want to add a competitive element, you can ask for votes on superlative categories, like "Best Gameplay" and "Best Character Design" or even "Most Difficult (but fun)" games, and announce the winners at the end of the event.

Here are some more tips on [playtesting](https://bloxels-web-resources.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hub/Bloxels_Playtesting_Guide.pdf).

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### Use Your Class Arcade Page

Each class has its own custom Arcade page, available at a public URL on the Web. You can add a description for the class and share it with your community before, during, and after the event. You can set this up on the class Hub page- here's a tutorial on [how to set it up](https://scribehow.com/shared/Create_and_Customize_a_Class_Arcade_Page__fNZP6A1hRNWwLQXJi1aaLg).

### Celebrate and Share

Through showcasing students' creativity and celebrating their hard work, you can create an Arcade night that people will be sure to remember. They'll also want to share the memory with others, so remember to capture big moments with photos and videos to share after the event. Whether it's on a private school site, or responsibly through social media, take the opportunity to share back with the students and the community as the Arcade night will become an experience that they will never forget. 









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Host an Arcade Night

Invite your community to a showcase of student games- complete with DIY arcade cabinets!

Resources

Getting Started Guide

Featured Resources