Dive Brief:
- In advance of the third annual “Hour of Code,” Microsoft, Mojang AB, and Code.org teamed up to release a free Minecraft-themed coding tutorial aimed at kids ages six and up.
- The guide outlines the basics of coding via two Minecraft characters, Steve and Alex.
- In order to appeal to young students, the tutorial’s creators stressed the importance of making it "natural, collaborative, and fun."
Dive Insight:
According to eSchoolNews, the tutorial introduces players to basic coding skills by “encouraging them to navigate, mine, craft and explore in a 2D Minecraft world by plugging together blocks to complete all actions and generate computer code.” By choosing Minecraft, the tutorial aims to engage kids in a topic they’re already interested in.
“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,” Code.org CEO Hadi Partovi told eSchoolNews.
The Hour of Code is a simultaneous series of grassroots coding events that happens in early December. Over 100 million students have participated, including a reported 33% of U.S. students. Free, downloadable, open-source guides similar to the new Minecraft tutorial are commonly used to guide Hour of Code events.
