STEM Education

Minecraft Ed Edition Releases Free Hour of Code Lesson

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 11/16/21

Minecraft Education Edition has released a new, free Hour of Code. "Timecraft" lets students learn basic coding concepts while correcting "mysterious mishaps" throughout history. Players connect with great innovators and inventors in science, architecture, music, engineering and other disciplines, exploring major moments in human achievement, while using coding to save the future!

Students can work with code blocks or Python to complete their mission.

The learning objectives cover:

• Understanding the importance and benefits of computer science;

• Analyzing and problem-solving using algorithmic thinking and problem decomposition;

• Practicing CS concepts such as sequences, events, loops and debugging;

• Creating coding solutions to complete a task or solve a problem; and

• Recognizing various careers that CS offers.

Educator resources include an introductory video, an educator guide, student-facing presentation slides, coding solutions, extension activities for integrated CS lesson plans and Kahoot quizzes.

The lesson is available in three different modes: one for in-class with a teacher facilitator, another for in-class as a self-guided experience, and a third for virtual learning. Each mode requires different levels of teacher support and modification for student success and participation.

The latest hour of code lesson is available on the Minecraft Education Edition website.