{"id":1957,"date":"2015-12-19T13:11:35","date_gmt":"2015-12-19T13:11:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=1957"},"modified":"2015-12-19T13:12:39","modified_gmt":"2015-12-19T13:12:39","slug":"reflecting-on-teaching-minecraft-coding-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/reflecting-on-teaching-minecraft-coding-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons learned from teaching Minecraft coding workshops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- Facebook Like Button v1.9.6 BEGIN [http:\/\/blog.bottomlessinc.com] -->\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredtoeducate.net%2Finspiredtoeducate%2Freflecting-on-teaching-minecraft-coding-workshop%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=450&amp;action=like&amp;colorscheme=light\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/castle.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1960\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/castle.jpg\" alt=\"castle\" width=\"615\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/castle.jpg 615w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/castle-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to lead Minecraft coding workshops using ScriptCraft in our makerspace and a local museum. \u00a0 Walter Higgins had done an amazing job of creating documentation and tools to help students learn JavaScript while playing with Minecraft. \u00a0 \u00a0I wanted to share some reflections on teaching this workshop to support others who might do similar coding dojo&#8217;s for young makers.<\/p>\n<p>What went well?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Parents + Students = Win!<\/strong> In our most recent classes, we adjusted our space and class invite to welcome parents to learn along with their students.\u00a0\u00a0 I enjoyed seeing the parents getting engaged in the material just as much as the student.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For the students that were pair programming with their parents, it looked like they were having a fun time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Adapting to broad age range:<\/strong> In executing this workshop, we served students middle, high school and adult students. \u00a0 I believe we can do this kind of workshop because of our amazing mentors and the fantastic tools provided from <a href=\"http:\/\/code.org\" target=\"_blank\">code.org<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.khanacademy.org\/computing\/computer-programming\" target=\"_blank\">Khan Academy.<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0If someone already has experience with block programming, we pushed them to learn hand crafted Javascript. \u00a0 We also created a detailed class content outline and instructions. \u00a0 If a student wants to move faster than the class, we empower them to move forward. \u00a0 I also believe having great mentors in the workshop helps too. \u00a0We try to make sure we have a mentor for every 5 students.<\/li>\n<li>The following workshop order worked well\n<ul>\n<li>1 hour &#8211; Hour of code on code.org. \u00a0This helps the students obtain the core ideas of programming: loops, sequencing, variables, decision making.<\/li>\n<li>1 hour &#8211; During this hour, we allow the students to enter a common Scriptcraft server. \u00a0The students have the ability to upload javascript files into the server. \u00a0 We scripted out instructions to help students install Notepad++, NppFTP, Text Mate, or Filezilla FTP. \u00a0 In the world that we built, we distributed signs with sample ScriptCraft commands. \u00a0 Some students enjoyed finding these signs and trying out the commands.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>I really wanted the students to make a concept jump from block programming to JavaScript programming. \u00a0 To that end, I&#8217;ve created a small tool that sketches out <a href=\"http:\/\/scriptcraftjs.org\" target=\"_blank\">ScriptCraftJS <\/a>mods based on a blockly program. \u00a0 This seemed to work well.\n<ul>\n<li>You can play with this tool here:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/modmaker\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/modmaker\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Make sure to check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/walterhiggins\/ScriptCraft\/blob\/master\/docs\/YoungPersonsGuideToProgrammingMinecraft.md\" target=\"_blank\">Young Person&#8217;s Guide to Minecraft<\/a> by Walter Higgins. \u00a0 This will help you understand the context of this tool.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Many student just enjoyed building a Minecraft server. \u00a0 It was cool to see their excitement in learning that they could build and host a server for their own Minecraft building parties. \u00a0 In building a Minecraft server, the students had to follow steps a network engineer might do like installing java, putting file in a particular location on the computer, and using the command line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What can be improved?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Learning from server crashes:<\/strong> Sometimes the students think too big! \u00a0It&#8217;s really fun to see the students test the limits of software. \u00a0 It&#8217;s very common for students to try to make very large blocks of mushrooms or TNT. \u00a0 The server usually doesn&#8217;t handle this scale of work. \u00a0So&#8230; the students learn a lesson in making sure that their requests of the system are reasonable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clarity of support scripts:<\/strong> We&#8217;re going to continue to increase the clarity of the scripts and lab instructions we&#8217;ve created for the class. \u00a0 For advanced students, they seemed to enjoy working ahead of the class using the instructions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reviewing sample programs:<\/strong> I think we could have generated more diversity of work if we created a tutorial where the students executed and inspected existing sample programs of a higher complexity. \u00a0 I hope this would help spark more ideas. \u00a0 It&#8217;s great that I have the sample programs built already! \u00a0In DroidScript or Arduino, you can make tons of interesting software by combining code and ideas from well crafted samples.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I do want to give a shout out to my friends who help co-teach this workshop with me. \u00a0 I really appreciate their time in helping to inspire the next generation of game developers!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/growingLoop.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1961\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/growingLoop.jpg\" alt=\"growingLoop\" width=\"734\" height=\"362\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/growingLoop.jpg 734w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/growingLoop-300x147.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\" \/><br \/>\nS<\/a>tudent learning about loops and variables<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/random.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1962\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/random.jpg\" alt=\"random\" width=\"608\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/random.jpg 739w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/random-300x166.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sample programs from our ScriptCraft server<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/stairs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-1963\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/stairs.jpg\" alt=\"stairs\" width=\"608\" height=\"386\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/stairs.jpg 630w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/stairs-300x190.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Top Stories on InspiredToEducate.NET<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Learning To Code<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=1319\">Easy Data Visualization with Google Charts and JavaScript<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=795\">Learn to Build Your Own Conversational Bot using ChatScript<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=1285\">10 Free Resources for Learning JavaScript and HTML5<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=1238\">17 Fun Tools To Teach Kids To Code by @ChrisBetcher<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=623\">Benefits of Teaching Kids To Code That No One Is Talking About<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=1349\">Easy Recipes for Building Android Apps using MIT App Inventor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=849\">How to Build Your Mobile App using HTML<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a 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frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the past few months, I have had the opportunity to lead Minecraft coding workshops using ScriptCraft in our makerspace and a local museum. \u00a0 Walter Higgins had done an amazing job of creating documentation and tools to help students learn JavaScript while playing with Minecraft. \u00a0 \u00a0I wanted to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,24,16,23,11,8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1957"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1957"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1965,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1957\/revisions\/1965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}