Understand the progression of programming skills in M:EE’s computer science curriculum
As previously noted, Minecraft Education’s computer science curriculum spans across all age groups. With a clear progression that develops skills across stages and ages, it affords multiple entry points for teaching computer science and allows learners to start at different ages.
The introductory lessons introduce learners to computational thinking concepts. Of the three units in the lower primary curriculum, the Coding with Minecraft unit teaches learners to program. The lessons teach learners how to program with the Agent and expose learners to foundational coding skills, including:
- Algorithms
- Sequencing
- Loops
- Testing programs
- Coding with math blocks
- Using functions to code
- Animations
These coding skills are developmentally appropriate and properly paced for lower primary learners.
In the upper primary curriculum, however, three units focus on programming skills. The lessons move at a faster pace and teach more advanced coding skills. Within these units, learners use block-based programming to learn about:
- Algorithms
- Sequencing
- Loops
- Conditionals
- Nested loops
- Nested loops with conditional statements
- Testing and debugging programs
- Using Boolean operators in conditional statements
- Events and event handlers
- Variables
- Functions
The curriculum also expands into the area of artificial intelligence (AI). In the artificial intelligence unit, educators and learners explore the value of artificial intelligence by first examining how AI can be used for good and then by exploring five examples of how AI can be beneficial to help communities and positively impact the future.
Minecraft Education's curriculum uses the 4Cs to provide learners with the necessary skills to address the complex societal issues of our time and their futures. Similar to the lower primary lessons, the upper primary units include computer science units of study that:
- Digital fluency skills
- Promote community
- Encourage a coding mindset
- Teach computational thinking skills
Moreover, as noted previously, learners use Microsoft MakeCode within Minecraft Education to program their Agents to build and create in the game. While Microsoft MakeCode also offers three programming environments—drag-and-drop, block-based; JavaScript; and Python code editors—Minecraft Education’s primary level lessons utilize block-based coding using MakeCode to introduce programming concepts to young learners. Review the video to learn about the benefits of using block-based programming with young learners.