2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest

Build a digital Rube Goldberg Machine in Minecraft Education that completes a simple task in the most fun and overly complicated way possible. In the creative environment of Minecraft, first learn how to create working simple machines in bi-weekly tutorials, then string those simple machines together to create a wacky chain-reaction contraption to compete in the first ever digital Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. Rube Goldberg Machine Contests inspire communication, problem-solving and teamwork while honing skills like math, physics and chemistry. What separates a Rube Goldberg Machine Contest from other chain reaction competitions is artistry, storytelling, and a sense of humor.

What is the NASEF 2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest?

The 2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest is a STEAM competition where students from grades 3-12 compete with machines that they have imagined, designed in Minecraft Education Edition, and created in a fun and competitive forum. The competitions encourage teamwork and out-of-the-box problem solving, in a fresh learning environment and level playing field. Best of all, this year’s Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Contest with Minecraft Education Edition is FREE for all teams!

RGMC Participation Team Guide

Big Build Challenge Team Guide

Education Standards

IT'S TIME TO START! THE BIG BUILD CHALLENGE IS LIVE!

We will be uploading the official 2021 RGMC Big Build Challenge Announcement Stream VOD to YouTube. In the meantime, the VOD is be available on Twitch via our partner InsideParticipate. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and tune into our playlist to view all of our past RGMC streams!

Our Big Build Challenge: Add “sprinkles” atop a cake!

Big Build Challenge Submission Requirements

About Our Team

Please confirm your team’s profile on the NASEF RGMC Dashboard is up-to-date and accurate before submitting. Flipgrid videos must be submitted to the Team’s corresponding division (Junior, Senior, @Home). Team names submitted to FlipGrid should match the NASEF RGMC site.

YOUR MACHINE RUN VIDEOS, due to Flipgrid

Your Team will need to include TWO Machine Run Videos
Your Team’s Machine Run Videos must be of two different runs

These may NOT be two videos of the same machine run from different angles.
For the machine run specifically, the machine must have the machine in view at all times with NO video editing or breaks. Any evidence of editing during the actual Machine Run will result in disqualification.
Title Cards and Credits are allowed and recommended.
Verbal Presentations may be edited in, or recorded in connection with the Machine Run.

Machine Run Videos must include:

VERBAL PRESENTATION: 2 minutes maximum
MACHINE RUN: 1 minute minimum, 5 minutes maximum

Machine Run Videos may not exceed seven minutes.
When submitting your videos to Flipgrid

Titles must include Team Name + Submission #, followed by your Team Machine’s Title.
Submissions must be submitted to the corresponding division as the Adult Sponsor has identified on the NASEF RGMC Dashboard.

YOUR MACHINE STEP LIST, due to Flipgrid

Step lists should be in order and accurate.
Please list Simple Machines (wedge, wheel + axle, screw, inclined plane, lever, pulley) in BOLD CAPS
Specifically point out the transfer of motion in (Parenthesis) like this example:
- The cart rolls down the INCLINED PLANE and pushes a pressure plate. (cart to pressure plate)
- The cart pushes a weight off a ledge. (cart to pressure plate)
Step lists will need to be external links (Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft) set to public. The files should be submitted in PDF format.

YOUR SCREENSHOTS, due to Flipgrid

In addition to the FlipGrid video submissions, Teams must submit 3 screenshots of the machine in different angles, with two (2) required to be full, wide shots of the Machine.
Screenshots will need to be external links (Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft) set to public. The files should be submitted in any image or PDF format.

YOUR WORLD FILE (First Place Teams only)

The winning teams of each division (Junior, Senior, @Home) will be asked to submit their world file upon selection. Winning teams are required to submit their world file in order to accept their win.
Adult Sponsors will be notified via email upon selection of winners.

For the complete Big Build Challenge requirements and details, please review the Big Build Challenge Team Guide. If you have any questions, please contact info@NASEF.org.

Click for 2021 NASEF RGMC Big Build Challenge Team Guide

Timeline

Registration opens: Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Preseason: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - Wednesday, December 11, 2020
Big Build finals challenge announcement: Wednesday, January 20, 2021 @ 12:00pm PT | 1:00pm MT | 2:00pm CT | 3:00pm ET | 10:00am GMT
Rosters + Registration close: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 @ 5:00pm PDT | 8:00pm EDT | 11:59pm GMT (UTC)
Final submission: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 @ 5:00pm PDT | 8:00pm EDT | 11:59pm GMT (UTC)
Finals Announcement Stream: Saturday, April 10, 2021 @ To Be Announced

Contest Eligibility

To be eligible for the 2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest, all team members must meet the basic requirements:

Complete registration at the NASEF website. The registration form must be completed by an Adult Sponsor (educator, parent or guardian). The Adult Sponsor will be responsible for the registration of the entire Team.
Each team member must be between 8-18 years old at the time of registration for the Junior and Senior Divisions. For the @Home Division, all ages are permitted, including adults with children.
Teams must have a minimum of two members. Teams with less than two members are not eligible to compete based on the requirements of the Contest.
Each team member must reside in the same country to register and compete together.
Each team member must read and agree to the Team Guide.
Throughout the competition:

Must be your own original work.
Must not contain any content that is obscene or offensive.

Each team member must have parent approval in order to be eligible to compete for their team.

Team Requirements

Teams will be required to have at least two and no more than four eligible Players on its roster.

Divisions

Junior Division: 8-13 years
Senior Division: 13-18 years
@Home Division: All ages (adults can register as part of the team)

Registration Process

An Adult Sponsor can be an educator, parent or guardian, coach, etc. They must be older than 18 years of age at the time of registration. All Team members must have a completed parent consent form in order to compete.

Refer to our Team Guide for more information.

Awards

Preseason Challenges

For each of the six preseason challenges, five teams will win 10 HyperX headsets for their classroom/program/family and their video will be showcased on the North America Scholastic Esports Federation website and social media. Winners will be selected through a random drawing.

1st Place Junior Division | Senior Division | @Home Division

Each Team will receive:

(1) $500 Amazon Gift Card (or equivalent at relevant online retailer)
(1) 30 minute mentoring session with a Minecraft Expert
(1) Team admission for 2022 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Individual official 2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest certificates
Showcased on the North America Scholastic Esports Federation website and social media

2nd Place Junior Division | Senior Division | @Home Division

Each Team will receive:

(1) $250 Amazon Gift Card (or equivalent at relevant online retailer)
(1) 30 minute mentoring session with a Minecraft Expert
Individual official 2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest certificates
Showcased on the North America Scholastic Esports Federation website and social media

3rd Place Junior Division | Senior Division | @Home Division

Each Team will receive:

(1) $100 Amazon Gift Card (or equivalent at relevant online retailer)
(1) Mentoring session with a Minecraft Expert
Individual official 2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest certificates
Showcased on the North America Scholastic Esports Federation website and social media

Top 50 Across All Divisions

Each Team will receive:

Individual official 2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest certificates
Showcased on the North America Scholastic Esports Federation website and social media

How to Videos

HOW TO CREATE INCLINE PLANE IN MINECRAFT

HOW TO CREATE PULLEYS IN MINECRAFT

HOW TO CREATE SCREWS IN MINECRAFT

HOW TO CREATE WEDGES IN MINECRAFT

HOW TO CREATE WHEEL & AXLES IN MINECRAFT

HOW TO CREATE LEVERS IN MINECRAFT

Preseason

In preparation for the 2021 Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest finals, NASEF hosted the RGMC Preseason mini-challenges, teaching teams how to create the six simple machines in Minecraft. These mini challenges were opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to collaboratively build the simple machines in the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest Minecraft worlds.

Incline Plane: Launch September 16th | Due September 25th

Thank you to all who participated in Challenge 1: Incline Plane!

Submissions were accepted from 9/16-9/25 and is now closed.

Congratulations to our raffle winners:

Team: Lemon Men | Ohio | Senior Division | 4 Members | See their video

Team: The Pistons | New Jersey | Junior Division | 5 Members | See their video

Team: Sushi Bread | Arkansas | Junior Division | 4 Members | See their video

Team: Team Spark | Florida | Junior Division | 4 Members | See their video

Team: ABWCS | Florida | Senior Division | 4 Members | See their video

To view all video submissions.

Pulley - Launch September 30th | Due October 9th

Thank you to all who participated in Challenge 2: Pulley!