Microsoft Buildability - Minecraft

The "Buildability" experience in Minecraft is an initiative by Microsoft aimed at raising awareness among students about accessibility and creating inclusive spaces. The experience was developed in collaboration with the Peel District School Board (PDSB) in Ontario, Canada, which provided valuable insights and information for the development of the Minecraft world. The experience draws from real-life experiences of PDSB students who shared the obstacles they face in their schools and communities.

As part of the "Buildability" experience, students begin by learning about five types of accessibility barriers:

• Attitudinal barriers
• Information or communication barriers
• Organizational or systemic barriers
• Physical barriers
• Technological barriers

They then explore various community location simulations in Minecraft: Education Edition, where they encounter characters with diverse abilities. These characters task the students with building and rebuilding spaces to make them accessible to everyone. Locations to explore include a school, a shopping mall, and a street corner with a gas station and store. Students are encouraged to help reshape the map in ways that assist people facing various accessibility challenges. In addition to this, the world also includes a sandbox area for freer and more creative learning.

"Buildability" comes with an educators' guide that provides guided lessons and resources to support learning about accessibility barriers. The guide also suggests discussion topics and inquiry questions addressing accessibility and inclusion.

The goal of "Buildability" is to inspire students to examine their world to see how it is built with or without accessibility in mind. Students can extend their learning to the real world by identifying obstacles in their own schools and communities and proposing new ways to build spaces that are more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

It's important to note that while "Buildability" explores several accessibility barriers and disabilities, it is not exhaustive and does not represent all types of disabilities, especially those that are invisible to others.

Lastly, Microsoft also provided asynchronous resources and support for educators to set up the world for their classes, navigate Minecraft: Education Edition for the first time, learn more about lesson offerings, and provide a building incentive for their class after the lesson.