REDMOND, Wash. \u2014 Nov. 15, 2016 \u2014 Microsoft Corp. and Code.org on Tuesday unveiled the Minecraft Hour of Code Designer, a coding tutorial for students and educators created for Hour of Code , an annual, global campaign held during Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 5 \u2013 11. The new web-based tutorial \u2014 available for free at http:\/\/code.org\/minecraft \u2014 enables beginner coders to create and share their own simple \u201cMinecraft\u201d game, and is designed to empower anyone to begin learning the problem-solving and critical thinking skills required in today\u2019s tech-fueled world.
Created by \u201cMinecraft\u201d game designers at Mojang and Microsoft, in partnership with Code.org, the fun and easy-to-learn one-hour experience builds on the success of last year\u2019s record-breaking \u201cMinecraft\u201d tutorial, which reached more than 30 million students worldwide. With the goal of inspiring millions more to try coding for the first time \u2014 and to keep going on their journey of learning computer science \u2014 as of today\u2019s launch, the tutorial is available in 10 languages, including Spanish. It is scheduled to be available in 50 languages by Dec. 5.
With the immense popularity of \u201cMinecraft\u201d around the world, Microsoft and Code.org believe the tutorial has the potential to reach people of all ages and likeness. Women and girls already compose nearly half of the game\u2019s global fan base. The tutorial also underscores Microsoft\u2019s commitment to ensuring all young people have the opportunity to learn computer science, an economic and social imperative in this era of digital transformation, which is expected to generate 1.4 million computing jobs in the U. S. alone by 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the U. S., 40 percent of schools do not teach computer science, and Microsoft aims to reach students most likely to be among those without access, particularly girls and minorities.
\u201cWe are partnering with Code.org again this year to make computer science more accessible to millions of youth around the world with \u2018Minecraft\u2019 and Hour of Code,\u201d said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. \u201cI am inspired by the \u2018Minecraft\u2019 generation who view themselves not as players of a game, but as creators of the new worlds they dream up. This is the generation that will imagine, build and create our future, and together we can equip them with the computational thinking and problem-solving skills to seize the opportunities ahead.\u201d
Designed for ages 6 and up, the Minecraft Hour of Code Designer teaches students to create their own \u201cMinecraft\u201d experience where they can program the rules. They can make chickens that drop gold, or zombies that run away instead of attacking. Along the way, students use Code.org\u2019s familiar drag-and-drop coding interface to learn computer science concepts such as object-oriented programming, event handlers and repeat loops. Players face a series of 12 challenges, culminating in creating their own simple game, which they can share with friends.
\u201cThe 2016 Minecraft Hour of Code tutorial builds on the success of the original in a great way,\u201d said Mike Harvey, technology teacher from Falmouth, Maine. \u201cBy programming familiar game events themselves, learners will be able to experience computer science in a way that is authentic as well as fun. The open-ended challenges help to show that our favorite games (like \u2018Minecraft\u2019) are ultimately created with code.\u201d
\u201cCode.org was founded with the vision that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science \u2014 not only because it\u2019s foundational for any career, but because students love it,\u201d said Hadi Partovi, co-founder and CEO, Code.org. \u201c\u2018Minecraft\u2019 is a special game that appeals to a diverse global community. We\u2019re delighted to have the chance to teach students coding with the fun familiarity of \u2018Minecraft,\u2019 to engage students of all backgrounds and skill levels.\u201d
In support of Code.org and the global Hour of Code campaign, Microsoft will also lead thousands of youth coding events in more than 60 countries. During Computer Science Education Week, this includes hundreds of free workshops hosted by Microsoft Stores across the globe. Students can reserve a spot in a store workshop by visiting microsoft.com\/youthsparkprograms and also visit their local Microsoft Store to learn more.
In addition to the latest tutorial and coding events, Microsoft has also been receiving rave reviews from educators on the newly launched \u201cMinecraft: Education Edition\u201d title, a fully featured title that brings the magic of \u201cMinecraft\u201d to the classroom for more immersive, long- term lesson plans.
About Code.org
Code.org\u00ae is a 501c3 public non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. Its vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer programming. Code.org is the organizer of the annual Hour of Code campaign, which has engaged 10% of all K-12 students in the world, and the leading provider of curriculum for K-12 computer science in all of the largest school districts in the United States. Code.org is supported by philanthropic donations from corporations, foundations, and generous individuals, including Microsoft, Facebook, the Infosys Foundation, Google, Omidyar Network, Ballmer Family Giving, and others.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq \u201cMSFT\u201d @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
For more information about Code.org, visit https:\/\/www. Code.org .
For more information about Minecraft\u2019s use in education, visit http:\/\/education.minecraft.net .
For more information about Microsoft\u2019s commitment to ensuring access to computer science education for all youth, visit https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/philanthropies\/youthspark .
Note to editors : For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http:\/\/news.microsoft.com. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft\u2019s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http:\/\/news.microsoft.com\/microsoft-public-relations-contacts .<\/p>\n