Merging Minecraft with Augmented Reality using the MERGE Cube

Woah! #MinecraftEdu meets #MergeCube ! Mind blown! I built a model of a 🏠 in real life. Then I rebuilt it in Minecraft. Next I exported a 3D model of it. Finally, I was able to view in as AugmentedReality on a Mergecube. @PlayCraftLearn @Merge #MSFTEduChat #microsoftedu @alcdsb pic.twitter.com/o8pOAy4qko

— Kurtis Hartnell (@profhartnell) May 8, 2019

I recently found out that the MERGE Cube could be used to view 3D exports from Minecraft and had to try it out for myself.

Here's a STEP by STEP walk through about to view Minecraft structures with a MERGE cube.

You'll need to export your structure with a structure block from Minecraft. If you need help with that, check out Microsoft's blog post on how to use structure blocks to export 3D images. https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2017/10/12/this-is-how-you-turn-your-minecraft-creations-into-3d-models/

It should save as a .GLB file. Open the file with Paint 3D. Go to Menu, then select "Save As" and save the file as a "3D model".

Next, you will want to save the file as a .FBX file.

Now that the file is saved with the correct format, go the MERGE Miniverse to upload your image. (I had difficulty with Chrome as my browser so I used Microsoft Edge). https://miniverse.io/objects

Sign in and click on MY OBJECTS.

Select your file. It should generate a 6 digit code.

Now it's time to get the MERGE Cube out and view your object!

You'll need the app "Object Viewer for MERGE Cube". Select "Phone Mode"

Enter the object code and select "Load".

Now you can check out your object in augmented reality!

Don't have a MERGE Cube yet? Not a problem! 

You can make the MERGE Cube yourself, using Gabe Haydu's printout (used with permission from MERGE): https://sites.google.com/view/gabehaydu/resources

Or, you can purchase your own MERGE Cube from their website (if you are in the US), or, for Canadian buyers, from Amazon.ca.
https://shop.mergevr.com/products/merge-cube
https://www.amazon.ca/Merge-VR-ARC01-Augmented-Smartphones/dp/B076PQV3CB

Tag me on Twitter to let me know what you come up with! @profhartnell

A huge shout out to Kristine Holloway @mspaperless for explaining how to save the file properly!

We followed the instructions created by @nelly_hamed https://t.co/1zyawkRsHq but were confused about saving as an .fbx file. First export .glb file in Minecraft using Structure blocks, then import into @Paint3Dedu and save as an .fbx file then get the @MergeVR Museum Viewer code

— Kristine Holloway (@mspaperless) April 29, 2019

Getting Started with Minecraft

Click on the following link to view a Microsoft OneNote about how to get started with Minecraft: Education Edition with your students:

Microsoft OneNote: Minecraft Education Edition How To

Minecraft in the French Immersion Classroom

I've created a Minecraft : Education Edition world called Francoville for my Grade 3 French Immersion students to work in.

In Francoville, you will find a city, surrounded by forests, where there are building plots for each student: Students are building structures that have at least 8 unique features that they will be creating a video about.

There is a large castle in the middle of the town, which I've created as an exemplar for my students as to what is possible to create in Minecraft. The castle will also play an important narrative role in an upcoming project. It's a fully functioning castle; students can explore the different rooms, towers, and dungeons, etc. More details to come... 

I've also created a learning hub, where students can go to be teleported to a classroom in the sky. There, they can work on goal-based projects or tutorials to help them hone skills they will be using. Students find the project or tutorial that they want to access, push the button, and are transported to the corresponding classroom. 

Here are their classrooms in the sky: 

Here is one of my tutorial classrooms where they are learning the important skills needed to build homes. They are practicing themes, wall heights, construction methods/plans, roof styles, interior decoration, and finally ways to combine all of these skills. 

Cross-Curricular Projects in Minecraft

Recently my students have been working on an art, math and French project in Minecraft. We explored different examples of pixel art and then created our own on paper, using different colours of wool found in Minecraft.

 Then, during Math class, students collected the data for their art work and wrote out all of the coordinates for each colour.

I have two classes of twenty students. Students were paired up and randomly given the coordinates for a work of pixel art that was completed by a student in the opposite class. Students do not know whose work they received, or what the picture is of. The only information that they have received is coordinates for colours of wool.

The next step is to go into Minecraft, to the classroom "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" and find an area to work, where they will build the picture. Here is the door to their classroom:

Students take turns being the one to read the coordinates off for each colour in French and being the person who actually builds the pixel art by listening to the coordinates for each colour and building the design.

The result is pretty incredible!