Understand the transition from block-based programming to Python in M:EE’s computer science curriculum
In Introduce coding in Minecraft Education, educators learned that the Minecraft Education computer science curriculum spans primary to secondary grade bands. With a clear, cohesive progression that develops skills across stages and ages, it affords multiple entry points for teaching computer science. Educators also learned how Minecraft Education’s primary computer science units focus on foundational coding skills utilizing block-based programming.
The Minecraft Education computer science content is designed to ensure equity of access and to grow with learners. At the primary levels, learners use block-based programming to program their Agents to build and create. Minecraft Education’s secondary lessons help learners transition from block-based coding to Python, a text-based programming language.
As with the primary coding curriculum, Minecraft Education’s secondary curriculum uses the 4 Cs to provide learners with the necessary skills to address the complex societal issues of our time and their futures. The secondary lessons include computer science units of study that:
- Encourage a coding mindset.
- Teach computational thinking skills.
- Promote community.
Minecraft Education’s secondary coding lessons begin at the basics, allowing both learners with no coding experience and learners with prior coding experience to code with Python. The Python programming unit provides learners with a deep dive experience of learning the essentials of programming languages and Python syntax. They also learn how to develop programs by effectively utilizing:
- Sequences
- Loops
- Conditionals
- Lists
- Functions
Review the video to learn about programming languages and Python syntax: