The Hour of Code
The Hour of Code is a bi-annual event that celebrates Computer Science Education Week in December. Cedar Crest College is hosting the Hour of Code for faculty, staff, students, and the community!
During this hour, participants will work in Minecraft using Microsoft's Makecode environment to create and test solutions to several problems within the game. The hour will be led using the block-style programming of the Makecode environment. However, participants who are adept in Python can also choose that as an option to work independently on the challenges.
This Hour of Code Theme: Escape Estate
Join us in the glorious Minecraft Estate where we will be TRAPPED in a mysterious mansion -- and must use or reasoning, processing, and computational thinking skills to escape before dawn!
During this hour of fun and coding, you will:
- Learn Minecraft skills
- Learn Microsoft Makecode Block coding (you can utilize Python if you wish)
- Use reasoning and process-driven thinking to solve programmatic puzzles
- Use information, clues, and reasoning to choose the next step in the escape adventure.
- Understand how to apply computational thinking to non-computer-related problems.
- Create coding solutions that include sequences, iteration, and loops
- Decompose (break down) the steps needed to solve a problem into a precise sequence of instructions
- Iterate on coding solutions to complete a task
When? And how do I sign up?
The Hour of Code is being held on the following dates/times; registration is necessary to attend Hour of Code events!
In-person attendance is limited to the first 5 registrations.
- Wednesday, December 13th between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM in The Narrows, and online in Teams - Click here to register.
What do I need? How do I get it?
To attend and participate in The Hour of Code you will need:
- Minecraft EDU edition downloaded and installed on your computer.
- If you are attending live, please arrive about 10-15 minutes early so we can help you get set up before the event begins. Information on installing Minecraft EDU is below.
- If you are attending live, please bring your own laptop. If you need a device, please indicate that on the registration page.
Most Office 365 education accounts have access to Minecraft EDU edition. Depending on your school's license, some will run on a trial basis (10 times), but that will be sufficient to complete the Hour of Code. Please note, other editions of Minecraft may not work for Hour of Code.
- To download Minecraft EDU edition, click here.
- Once you have Minecraft EDU edition downloaded, install Minecraft following the on-screen instructions.
- When you launch Minecraft, it will ask you to sign in. Sign in using your school email address and password.
- Once signed in, click on Hour of Code to see the available worlds.
- Escape Estate will be listed, but we will walk through that on the day of the event.
Watch this video walk-through on getting Minecraft EDU, downloading, installing, and signing into Minecraft EDU.
But I am not a Cedar Crest College Student - How do I join the Teams Event?
Anyone from the neighboring community or invited K-12 schools that has access to Minecraft can join! Don't have access to Minecraft, we can still help - scroll down!
Here's what you need to do:
- Use one of the links above to register for the event you want to attend (you can attend more than one virtually). You must register!
- Once you register, you will receive an invitation in your email inbox with the link to attend.
- Watch this video walk-through on getting Minecraft EDU, downloading, installing, and signing into Minecraft EDU.
- At the time of your event, load up Minecraft, click the link - and we'll take care of the rest!
I need help accessing Minecraft!!
If you have any questions about the event or getting Minecraft EDU - please contact Bruce Sarte by emailing basarte@cedarcrest.edu.