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Code Builder for Minecraft: Education Edition Now Available in Beta

Minecraft: Education Edition is also expected to be updated to version 1.0.1 later this spring, incorporating several new features — from texture pack support to Command Blocks to ... llamas.

Code Builder is coming to Minecraft: Education Edition, with a beta available today. The announcement was made as part of a batch of education initiatives revealed by Microsoft Tuesday.

Code Builder is an in-game feature for Minecraft that lets users perform typical Minecraft functions through code. It connects to ScratchX, Tynker, and Microsoft's new open source development tool, MakeCode. Code.org's Code Studio is expected to be available for Code Builder later this year.

The video below (provided by Microsoft) shows some of Code Builder's capabilities.

The Code Builder beta can be downloaded for Windows and macOS now at education.minecraft.net. Microsoft MakeCode is available at makecode.com.

Microsoft also announced that a new version of Minecraft: Education Edition will be released this spring. Version 1.0.1 will include "Command Blocks, additional languages, texture pack support, villager trading, adventure mode, concrete and terracotta blocks, and - wait for it - llamas!" according to a blog post on Minecraft's education site. The post also noted that Minecraft's Classroom Mode is being updated "with additional toggles to support teaching and learning. Educators can now manage chat, blocks that cause damage like lava and TNT, weather and mobs."

As part of the announcement of Windows 10 S and Windows 10 S devices, Microsoft (parent company of Minecraft) announced that those purchasing a Windows 10 S computer or tablet will be eligible for a free one-year subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition. Details of that offer can be found on Microsoft's Windows 10 blog.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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