Communications of the ACM
Microsoft, Code.org Target Beginner Coders With Minecraft Program
Microsoft and Code.org have developed Minecraft Hour of Code Designer, a coding tutorial for students and educators to use during this year's Hour of Code campaign.
Credit: Fortune.com
Microsoft and Code.org have released a new tutorial for Hour of Code, an annual campaign held during Computer Science Education Week to encourage more students to develop an interest in coding.
The free online tutorial, called Minecraft Hour of Code Designer, lets a user program their own Minecraft game and learn basic computing concepts. Players face 12 challenges, culminating in the creation of a simple game they can share with friends. The program builds on the success of last year's tutorial, which was played by more than 30 million students worldwide.
With the immense popularity of Minecraft, Microsoft and Code.org believe the tutorial has the potential to inspire millions more to try coding. Female players compose nearly half of the game's fan base, reflecting Microsoft's efforts to promote computer science among traditionally underrepresented groups in the field, particularly women and minorities.
"I am inspired by the 'Minecraft' generation who view themselves not as players of a game, but as creators of the new worlds they dream up," says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "This is the generation that will imagine, build, and create our future, and together we can equip them with the computational thinking and problem-solving skills to seize the opportunities ahead."
From The Guardian
View Full Article
Abstracts Copyright © 2016 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
No entries found