The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development announced statewide availability for a program that uses the popular video game Minecraft to teach coding.
Coding in Minecraft, by Prodigy Learning, uses Minecraft: Education Edition to teach block-based coding at levels suitable for upper elementary, middle, and high school. It’s a program that’s designed so that teachers with little or no experience coding can incorporate it into their classroom.
“Alaska’s workforce already has opportunities for people with coding experience to have a rewarding career, and the ability to hold a high-paying coding job in rural Alaska will only grow as broadband connectivity improves across the state,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “As a former educator, I know how important it is for learning to be engaging. Coding in Minecraft will open the door to a world of possibilities some students might not have otherwise explored.”
“Increasing career, technical, and culturally relevant education to meet student and workforce needs is one of five priorities of Alaska’s Education Challenge,” said DEED Acting Commissioner Heidi Teshner. “In recent years Alaska has already seen increased opportunity and participation in students learning to code through existing partnerships. Coding in Minecraft will increase opportunities for student learning and provide educators with the knowledge they need to bring coding into the classroom.”
Statewide licensing for Coding in Minecraft and supplemental licensing for Minecraft: Education Edition was secured through funds from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund.
NOTE: Teachers who want to use the program in their classroom can sign up for training at https://codingcredentials.com/ak/.