Exam Coding in Minecraft
There are educators out there who know everything about coding—and then there’s the rest of us—asked to teach coding because we’ve had limited exposure to coding in some form, or no exposure at all. So, how does someone who’s not an expert teach coding like a genius? Coding in Minecraft is the answer.
Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time. Coding in Minecraft leverages that familiarity to help students learn the basics of coding through a teacher-facilitated program, and you, as the teacher, doesn't need to be a coding expert. Learners are taught basic coding concepts as they navigate through the familiar world of Microsoft’s Minecraft: Education Edition.
Students can easily:
- Build their own code with MakeCode, JavaScript or Python
- Collaborate with other students
- Prove their knowledge with evidence-based credentials
Coding in Minecraft consists of four credentials with supporting curriculum. The first two credentials—introduction and intermediate—use easy-to-learn block-based coding in MakeCode to introduce students to basic coding concepts. The advanced credential introduces students to text-based coding in JavaScript or Python.
What’s included?
Coding in Minecraft includes:
- A Minecraft world
- Curriculum (aligns with CSTA)
- Assessments
- Evidence-based micro-credentials
- Lesson plans
- Course outlines
- Onboarding webinars
- Professional development is available (at an additional cost)
'Coding in Minecraft' is a computer science credential program with supporting curriculum, delivered through Minecraft Education and hosted on Azure.
The pathway comprises six courses that immerse students in a Minecraft world to develop and prove their coding skills using MakeCode and JavaScript or Python.
Advanced Capstone Credential Exam Objective Domain
The ‘Coding in Minecraft’ Advanced Capstone Credential Exam is best taken after a student has completed the ‘Coding in Minecraft’ Advanced Coding using JavaScript or Python credential.
There are individual exams for JavaScript and Python.
This exam tests your knowledge of coding in the areas listed below. The percentage values are indicative of the breakdown of the content of the exam – the higher the percentage, the greater number of questions you are likely to see on the exam relating to that area.
Designing & Developing Algorithms (30%)
- Design and create algorithms
- Predict the outcome of running a series of statements
- Apply & understand the concept of iteration
- Apply & understand the concept of selection
- Debug and resolve problems in algorithms
Coding in block-based coding using MakeCode (35%)
- Apply & understand variable types in MakeCode
- Text, number, Boolean, coordinate
- Perform arithmetic operations on variables
- Perform string concatenation on text variables
- Apply & understand logic in MakeCode
- IF THEN statements
- IF THEN ELSE statements
- Apply & understand comparison operators in MakeCode
- Equal to, not equal to, greater than (or equal to) and less than (or equal to)
- Apply & understand iteration in MakeCode
- Repeat loops
- For loops
- While loops
- Identify and resolve errors in MakeCode
Coding in text-based coding using JavaScript or Python (35%)
- Identify where code could be re-used
- Follow JavaScript or Python code and predict the outcome
- Identify & understand logic in JavaScript or Python
- IF THEN statements (JavaScript) / if statements (Python)
- IF THEN ELSE statements (JavaScript) / elif statements (Python)
- Identify &understand comparison operators in JavaScript or Python
- Equal to, not equal to, greater than (or equal to) and less than (or equal to)
- Identify & understand iteration in JavaScript or Python
- Repeat loops (JavaScript only)
- For loops
- While loops
- Identify & understand errors in JavaScript or Python code
- Syntax errors
- Semantic errors
