Microsoft Brings Code Writing to Minecraft: Education Edition

Microsoft Brings Code Writing to Minecraft: Education Edition

At its educational event today in New York City, Microsoft announced new functionality for Minecraft: Education Edition. Key among them is support for Code Builder, which will allow students and teachers to explore, create, and play in virtual worlds by writing software code.

“What continues to amaze me about Minecraft is that a game that strikes such a deep connection with children has become such an important learning tool to teach teamwork, logical thinking, and problem-solving,” Microsoft executive vice president Terry Myerson wrote in a prepared statement. “Minecraft is not just one of the most popular video games in history, it is also revolutionizing education, with schools in more than 100 countries using Minecraft: Education Edition to promote creativity and collaboration in the classroom.”

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Microsoft says that Code Builder for Minecraft: Education Edition is designed to inspire students to learn the basics and the power of coding by combining the open worlds of Minecraft with popular learn-to-code platforms. Microsoft has created a new open source learn-to-code platform called MakeCode, but it also supports existing solutions like Tynker and ScratchX.

Code Builder for Minecraft: Education Edition is now available in open beta on Windows 10 and macOS. If you’re interested in checking it out, you can do so via the Minecraft: Education Edition Downloads site.

But that wasn’t the only Minecraft: Education Edition announcement today.

Later this Spring, Microsoft will launch Minecraft: Education Edition 1.01, an update that includes Command Blocks, additional languages, texture pack support, villager trading, adventure mode, concrete and terracotta blocks, and—yes, seriously—llamas. Also in version 1.01, Classroom Mode is being updated so that educators can manage chat, blocks that cause damage like lava and TNT, weather, and mobs, Microsoft says.

Also, starting today, qualifying purchases of Windows 10 computers and tablets will include a free, one-year subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition. These devices must be purchased for a K-12 school and the offer will be redeemable starting in July. (But it includes device purchases that occur now.)

 

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Conversation 9 comments

  • Shel Dyck

    02 May, 2017 - 5:30 pm

    <p>Visual Studio Code will need to be run through Centennial if they want to teach coding to students. Games aren't quite enough to get it done.</p>

    • Waethorn

      03 May, 2017 - 11:34 am

      <blockquote><a href="#110399"><em>In reply to Shel Dyck:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yeah, that's not happening.</p>

    • Brian Burke

      04 May, 2017 - 12:29 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#110399">In reply to Shel Dyck:</a></em></blockquote><p>No 7 year old would be excited for for coding if they were given Visual Studio as a first step. Kids learn from play for a reason. It gets them to comply without twisting arms which creates negative connections to that activity. </p>

  • bbold

    02 May, 2017 - 10:35 pm

    <p>Awesome! My 8 year old niece lives, eats and breathes Minecraft, so this is some great news for young ones (new lifelong Microsoft customers, ie Edu market.) The appeal of Minecraft is lost on me, but I'm already a MS user, they already won me with Surface and productivity.</p>

    • ErichK

      Premium Member
      03 May, 2017 - 12:29 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#110785"><em>In reply to bbold:</em></a></blockquote><p>My nephew's the same way. I wonder if he would be intrigued by this new development.</p>

  • aa111

    03 May, 2017 - 7:06 am

    <p>So this is only available to education institutions? Just wondering if I could use it to teach my own Minecraft-obsessed kids some coding?</p>

    • Brian Burke

      04 May, 2017 - 12:25 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#111177">In reply to aa111:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yeah I looked into it and was disappointed as hell because there aren't options to get a login without having a school email address. Maybe you're lucky enough to have a district that has IT stuff like that going on but mine isn't. Not sure how much it would cost even if they offered it to the public. You can try to install it but it seems to verify your MS account and if it isn't verified then it fails install. This looks so cool compared to regular minecraft from what I've seen.</p><p><br></p><p>https://education.minecraft.net/get-started/download/</p><p><br></p&gt;

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  • Carlouiss123

    28 April, 2018 - 11:23 am

    <p>As Microsoft&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(51, 122, 183);">explains it</span>, Code Builder is a new extension for Minecraft: Education Edition that allows educators and students to explore, create, and play in an immersive Minecraft world, all by writing code. “Connecting to learn-to-code packages like ScratchX, Tynker, and a new open source platform called Microsoft MakeCode, players start with familiar tools, templates, and tutorials,” the software giant writes. “And, Code.org will bring Code Studio to Code Builder later this year to support even more learning opportunities.” Just like the game <a href="http://www.skiphiresglasgow.co.uk&quot; target="_blank">Skip hire Glasgow</a></p><p>Microsoft now provides a full set of training materials available on its&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(51, 122, 183);">Minecraft: Education Edition community site</span>&nbsp;if you want to learn more.</p><p>In addition to Code Builder, Microsoft is also releasing the following updates for Minecraft: Education Edition:</p><p><strong>Command Blocks.</strong>&nbsp;Command Blocks allow players to attach Minecraft commands to activated blocks within the game, providing the ability to create teleport stations, give items, change the weather, and more.</p><p><strong>Worldbuilder.</strong>&nbsp;Worldbuilder comes to Education Edition with a shortened (/wb) command, new blocks like Terracotta, which allows for new designs, and villager trading, which enhances the economic possibilities of the game.</p>

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