Minecraft Coding (Intermediate Python®  L1) 

"...in the 21st century, basic computer programming is an essential skill to learn."
-  Stephen Hawking
(Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, and Author)

This is part 1 of the Intermediate Python Programming Class suitable for young programmers aged 12 and above.  

Python®, Minecraft and kids go together! Did your kids previously attend our Minecraft Coding for Kids with Python class or other similar ones, and spend hours playing Minecraft? Why don’t you leverage on their MInecraft interests to advance their skills in Python® programming? Why not use those same fun hours and better their programming skills in Python®?

In our new Minecraft Coding (Intermediate Python® L1) classes, kids learn computational and programming concepts with Python® and use these skills to build big structures in Minecraft such as palaces, or duplicate villages in just a few seconds and with just a few lines of code! 

By learning how to write programs in Python and applying it in Minecraft, your kid will learn new skills while having absolute fun in Minecraft!

Learning Goals

• Develop an ability to think like a Programmer and apply Computational Thinking concepts to Design, Create and Code, using the Python programming language.

• Acquire intermediate level Python programming skills and coding concepts that professional programmers use in their daily work.

• Harness the opportunities to think, to imagine, to explore, to create and most importantly, learn something useful while having fun.

Course Outline

• Build complex structures with Python® and Minecraft, do mundane tasks in Minecraft instantly with algorithms

• Python® syntax, coding structure, loops, conditionals, data types and algorithm design

• 7 Basic Concepts of Computer Programming (that all Professional Programmers use!)

• 5 Steps of Computational Thinking

• Incorporating Python programming into Minecraft

• Create, Design and Build in Minecraft…faster and better with Python!

Class Details

What is Python?

• Python is one of the most frequently used programming language in the world (top 10 programming language in 2016).
  
  
• Python's syntax is simple, clear and very closely resembles the English Language which makes it very suitable for young programmers to learn.

What is Python used for?

Python has been around for more than 20 years and has many libraries that give it a lot of functionalities, such as

• Web and Internet development (e.g. Dropbox, Survey Monkey, Bitly)

• Scientific and Numeric programming, data analysis and modelling (e.g. in forecasting earthquakes)

• Desktop applications (e.g. in 3D animation for films)

• Networking and System Administration (e.g. OpenStack in cloud computing)

• ...and much much more!

Smart Nation and MOE Focus on Computing

Since the launch of the Smart Nation initiative, our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has been calling for children to be exposed to programming from a young age. 

While computing has been taught in some schools as an enrichment or offered as a CCA for some time, it was only recently announced that programming will be offered as a subject at the 'O' Level examinations and the programming language students will learn is Python.

Certainly, we at Computhink believe that this is a step in the right direction. However, learning to program in a purely academic and examination-driven setting can have an adverse effect on the child's long-term interest in programming.

That is why, we believe learning Python should be fun, and we have incorporated Python programming with a popular game that I'm sure your child knows: Minecraft!

Why Learn Python Programming with Minecraft?

Students will learn the Python programming language, basic concepts of programming and how to think computationally to solve problems. 

However, rather than writing code and looking at text output (which can be quite boring!), students will write Python codes and exercise their creativity to build amazing things at a very fast speed in Minecraft.

For example, by using a concept called loops (which makes the computer does something again and again), students can build big structures like a house with a swimming pool, or a high tower surrounded by a flowing lava moat in just a few seconds (or less) with lines of code.

By writing programs in Python, your child can build amazing things, and learn to re-use the same code again and again to build more things in different Minecraft worlds. 

What this class is NOT about

This class is NOT about letting your child learn and play Minecraft. Some play is involved, but the focus is always on learning to program. :)

Note: "Python" and the Python logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Python Software Foundation, used by Computhink with permission from the Foundation.

Course Promotion

• Use promo code 'promo15' and get $15 off

Prerequisites

This class requires basic working knowledge of Python Programming. Students must have attended our Minecraft Coding with Python (Beginner) Class before. 

Equipment
If you would like to bring your own laptop (Windows 7 and above only), do let us know in advance! Otherwise, windows laptops will be used and provided for each child.

Students should have their own Minecraft login user id and password (for PCs). We will also help to provide the Minecraft ID on request.

Instructor

David Lee, Principal Trainer
Master of Technology (Knowledge Engineering) - NUS

David graduated with a Master of Technology (Knowledge Engineering) from the Institute of Systems Science, National University of Singapore where he dabbled in A.I. techniques.

He has 12 years of experience in the I.T. industry, and he has written programs, led teams of programmers and managed Project Teams.

David is a Project Management Professional (PMP), and Professional Scrum Master (PSM).

Why Computhink?

1:8 Trainer to kids ratio in each class

By keeping the class small, we ensure that each kid gets the guidance and coaching he or she needs to create and bring their imaginations to life through programming. Besides allowing us to get to know your kid better, we also encourage the kids in our classes to also get to know one another and this is better facilitated in a small group setting.

Hands-on Activity-based Learning

We believe that kids learn best when they do it themselves in a fun environment. That is why we ensure that each kid is given a laptop to work their own respective projects and try their hand in the programming projects and activities. It is heartening each time we see the kids beaming and being proud of themselves when they could get the code to work as they want it to.

Our Teaching Philosophy

This idea that kids will learn anything that they want to, when they are given the freedom to create, inspires and drives our teaching philosophy. In this, we are influenced by the work of Sugata Mitra (Educational Researcher) whose research demonstrates the effect that a child’s innate curiosity and interest have on learning complex subjects outside the normal school environment. The key word here is interest. By itself, it is a simple word and concept, easily understood, but not so easy to influence, especially with children.

At Computhink, our approach to this learning conundrum is three-pronged and can be described by these 3 questions by the child:

1. What can I do? - What is possible and achievable by programming? We approach this question by showing examples of fun projects that can be done with programming. These can include small mini-games or animations. In the beginner stage, the child would be unsure of what can be done, and it is helpful to be able to emulate and enhance something that is fun and cool.

2. How can I do it? - Secondly, we guide the children to ask open-ended questions. For example, “How can I make the character walk? Can it jump? Can it fly?” As we answer these questions, this is where the learning starts for the child as we guide them along.

3. What else can I do? - This class is, well, just the beginning. By the end of the 4 classes, the child would have grasped the basics of programming and computational thinking, and we want to show them what else is possible. By interfacing with other platforms (e.g. Arduino for robotics, Littlebits for home DIY projects), your child will be able to put their skills learnt in this course to good use.

Follow-on Mastery Classes

What's next after this class? Like any learning, learning programming is best done through regular practice and with guidance from experts. And this is why we offer the Computhink Code Club classes which provides regular weekly practice while exposing the kids to various programming languages such as intermediate Scratch, HTML, Python and Javascript.

Building on the basic programming concepts learnt from the current class, at the Code Club, kids will learn how these same basic concepts are applied and used in the other programming languages to do different things such as building websites and creating mobile apps and games. It is through regular and varied practice that promotes mastery and that is what we aim to do at our Computhink Code Club. Our goal is to develop your kid’s interest in programming and guide him or her to reach a skills level to be comfortable enough to build their own websites or creating suitable apps to solve everyday issues and make things better.

Note: We may be taking photographs or videos of the students during the class. By registering your child's attendance, you agree to grant Computhink your permission to use photographs, videos or other materials produced during the class as part of Computhink's electronic or non-electronic promotional materials.