Microsoft has teamed up with Mojang AB and Code.org to unveil a new Minecraft coding tutorial for students and educators. It was created for the Hour of Code campaign that encourages global participation in computer science – part of Computer Science Week, which runs December 7 – 13.
You don’t have to wait for that week to check out the tutorial, however. It’s available today at code.org/mc.
The tutorial provides an introduction to basic coding within the Minecraft environment. It was created by Minecraft game designers with Code.org. It features Steve and Alex from Minecraft and includes Minecraft-inspired challenges, which Microsoft says will be familiar to its over 100 million players. It’s designed for ages 6 and up.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says, “A core part of our mission to empower every person on the planet is equipping youth with computational thinking and problem-solving skills to succeed in an increasingly digital world. With ‘Minecraft’ and Code.org, we aim to spark creativity in the next generation of innovators in a way that is natural, collaborative and fun.”
Code.org CEO and co-founder Hadi Partovi added, “‘Minecraft’ is a special game that girls and boys alike often can’t be pried away from. Microsoft continues to be Code.org’s most generous donor and one of the largest supporters of the worldwide movement to give every student the opportunity to learn computer science. This year’s ‘Minecraft’ tutorial will empower millions of learners around the world to explore how a game they love actually works and will inspire them to impact the world by creating their own technology or apps.”
According to to the announcement, over 100 million students across 180 countries and 40 languages have participated in the Hour of Code, and the upcoming event will only be the third one.
Image via Code.org