“Minecraft” Hour of Code tutorials have introduced more than 85 million people globally to coding and computer science, writes Hadi Partovi, CEO of Code.org, in a post on the nonprofit organization’s site.
Code.org has collaborated with Microsoft in building three different ‘Minecraft’ adventures for the Hour of Code, Partovi writes. “Taking a look at our most popular Hour of Code activities, we were thrilled to find that more than 85 million learners around the world have been introduced to some of the basic concepts of coding and computer science through one of these ‘Minecraft’ activities.”
The game itself has “captured the imagination of people for almost a decade,” with a vast virtual world that is open to whatever a player can dream up, Partovi writes. Yet “it has just enough structure in its uniform blocks and limited types to make it an ideal teaching and learning environment. In addition to computer science, students are using ‘Minecraft’ in the classroom to learn just about anything,” from algebra to history to chemistry.
Code.org is dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color.
This week, as it celebrates its five-year anniversary, “We are reminded again and again of the amazing things we can achieve when people with similar goals come together, each bringing their unique perspectives and assets,” Partovi writes. “As our first and largest corporate supporter, Microsoft shares our vision and mission to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn computer science and the skills to succeed in the 21st century.”
Read Partovi’s Code.org post.