TEACH CREATIVE CODING THROUGH GAME DESIGN THIS YEAR WITH GAMECODE

Empower your students to become creative coders, game developers, and game designers! They'll code mini-games, build a Minecraft arcade, and proudly share their creations with friends. This modular curriculum is the perfect introduction to computer science and coding for students age 10+. Combining the excitement of gaming with coding fundamentals, guiding students to create their own arcade-style mini-games. Through video tutorials, presentations, and comprehensive instructions, participants learn to blend creativity and logic. Whether you are wanting to simply introduce coding lessons, teaching a full computer science course. GameCode meets students where they are. Check out the trailer here.

Created and tested with students

We worked with classrooms in New York City Department of Education and Broward County Public Schools  throughout the program development process to ensure ease of use for both students and educators. Learn more about their journey here.

Special thanks to the students and educators of P.S. 100x, Issac Clason School and to our partner on this project Urban Arts, a nonprofit that teaches digital game design as a pathway to college and career—because a quality education shouldn’t depend on a student’s zip code.

Curriculum Overview

Through a series of engaging video tutorials, PowerPoint presentations, and comprehensive instructional content, participants embark on an exciting journey where creativity and logic intertwine. This is a compliment to Minecraft Educations Coding Fundamentals for anyone already using those resources.

In this hands-on program, students delve into coding by designing and programming their arcade games, honing their problem-solving skills while unleashing their imagination. They learn to manipulate Minecraft's mechanics, utilizing coding concepts to build interactive game experiences. With GameCode, students not only grasp the essentials of the MakeCode block coding language, but also cultivate critical thinking and teamwork as they collaborate with peers in bringing their arcade visions to life within the Minecraft world. This curriculum fosters a learning environment where innovation thrives and students emerge not just as coders but as inventive game designers, empowered to shape their digital landscapes.

Students Will:

• Design and program arcade games, enhancing problem-solving and imagination.
• Manipulate Minecraft mechanics using coding concepts to build interactive experiences.
• Master MakeCode block coding language while fostering critical thinking and teamwork.
• Emerge as innovative game designers capable of shaping digital landscapes.

Curriculum Highlights:

• Video Playlists: Drive engagement and understanding through interactive visual learning.
• Lesson Structure: Connect, Construct, Contemplate, Continue model promotes a structured learning process.
• Instructional Materials: Comprehensive guides, presentations, assessments, and Minecraft world files support both teachers and students.
• Minecraft Education Framework: Focuses on programming, curiosity, algorithms, and community engagement.
• Flexible Use: Integrate into courses, labs, afterschool programs, camps, or homeschool groups.

Aligned with CSTA, ISTE, Computing Programs of study (England), and Australian f-10 Curriculum standards. Learn more at aka.ms/gamecode!

Download for Education

If you already have Minecraft Education installed, find GameCode content in the lesson library or direct download here.

If you don’t have Minecraft Education, download here for a free trial.

Interested in learning more about game-based learning with Minecraft? Check out the new one-hour Minecraft 101 training to learn the basics and read about licensing options.