Minecraft: basics of artificial intelligence

Whom a robot will never replace? Its developer! Try your hand at creating artificial intelligence the popular game Minecraft.

Google CEO SundarPichai once said that artificial intelligence would change the world more than the development of fire or the invention of electricity. According to a study by Gartner, by 2025 the number of jobs related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) will exceed two million. That is why it is so important to introduce children to the basics of this technology now. An ideal tool for learning AI is Minecraft, which millions of schoolchildren (and not only) around the world are passionate about.

Microsoft has created an educational platform based on this game that helps children quickly and efficiently learn the most complex sciences, including the art of programming. In addition, according to the observations of teachers who use the game in their work, Minecraft helps children develop math and critical thinking, creativity, communication, and teamwork skills, as well as the ability to make decisions about teamwork skills, and teaches decision-making.

Using the Microsoft methodology, we have created a Minecraft in-depth programming course for Minecraft fans.

About the course

"Minecraft: An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" is a long-term course for kids 7 to 10 years old. It is suitable for those who are just starting out in programming or already have a basic knowledge.

The program of the course is designed for 8 months of intensive study. The task of students is to program their own agent forsolve routine game tasks: building, resource extraction, protection from mobs. To do this, children master the fundamental themes Programming - loops, conditional structures, arrays - and learn to apply this knowledge in practice in the construction of the Minecraft game universe. Toward the end of the course, students program in JavaScript, one of the most widely used and programming languages in the world.

For training, we use the educational environment MakeCode (developed by Microsoft). This development environment is similar to Scratch (in level of complexity, too), but offers a much wider functionality for learning programming.

We devote 25% of our teaching time to the development of the so-called soft skills. At the lessons, we need to work in a team and communicate, as In the classes you have to work in teams and communicate, just like professional programmers in companies. In addition, in the process of working together on projects, students develop their leadership skills, creativity and skills of time management, problem solving and decision-making.

What skills will the child learn in the course?

In the process of working on a collaborative IT project, they develop:

• programming skills;
• mathematical thinking;
• algorithmic thinking;
• logical thinking;
• creative thinking; creative thinking;
• critical thinking;
• leadership skills;
• communication skills;
• teamwork skills;
• problem solving skills;
• project management skills.

The skills gained in this course will provide an excellent foundation for further study in the technical sciences.

Course syllabus

To learn more, read the detailed course syllabus.

Minecraft: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course modules include:

• Learning how to work on the Minecraft programming platform
• Programming and creating designs in the Minecraft world
• Introduction to the concept of "Algorithm" and programming a robot using algorithms
• Introduction to the concept of "loop" and programming a robot using loops
• Introduction to the concept of "Event" and programming in the Minecraft world using events
• Introduction to the concept of "Coordinates" and programming in the Minecraftworld-using coordinates
• Learning about Absolute and Relative Positions and programming in the Minecraft world using These Notions
• Getting to know the terms "Variable," "Global Variable," "Local Variable," working with numeric and string
• Analyzing variables and programming in the Minecraft world using different types of variables
• Introduction to the topic "Conditional if-else Constructions" and programming in the Minecraft world using conditional constructions.
• Introduction to Functions and how to program in the Minecraft world using functions
• Introduction to Arrays and Programming Minecraft Using Arrays
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and programming a robot using Artificial Intelligence approaches
• Introduction to JavaScript, learning basic JavaScript syntax and for loops in JavaScript
• Exploring a new JavaScript programming platform in Minecraft

Each block of four lessons concludes with a project activity in which students consolidate their knowledge and skills. For confident developers (for example, those who have been studying programming in Minecraft: Education Edition for more than six months) the program course includes special projects. Advanced students will be able to work with teams to implement complex structures such as Egyptian pyramids and the colosseum.

The course "Minecraft: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" is part of a two-year in-depth training program Programming with Minecraft (taking other courses is not a prerequisite for enrolling in this course):

• Easy Level: Minecraft Programming (5 months).
• Intermediate level: Minecraft: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (8 months).
• Intermediate level: Minecraft: JavaScript Programming (4 months) or Minecraft: Python Programming (3 months).
• Advanced level: developing mods for Minecraft (3 months and longer).

Reviews about our courses

CODDY teachers have been teaching kids programming for over four years. During this time, our classes have been visited by thousands of kids of different ages, with different hobbies and personalities. The vast majority of them stay with us for a long time, moving from from level to level, from course to course - building their own path to their dream profession.

See what the parents of our graduates are saying.

What do I need for classes?

Nothing is required for classes at our sites; we provide everything your child needs.

• For the online courses, your child will need a computer/laptop with installed software and internet access. List of Technical requirements for the computer on the link
• Minecraft installation guide at this link

The Minecraft: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course is the best way to introduce your child to the complex world of programming and artificial intelligence!

Book a call from our managers to learn more, or leave a request to sign up for a "Minecraft: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.

System requirements

Please be sure your computer is suitable for the course. You can find our recommendations here

Programs to instal for “Minecraft artificial intelligence” course.

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