Code.org has announced that it is partnering with Microsoft to bring Minecraft-themed programming tutorials to the third annual Hour of Code event. Microsoft, which has donated more than $3 million to Code.org, is allowing the organization to use the Minecraft name for free and its developers helped create the tutorial. It includes 14 different challenges and culminates in a “free play” environment.
Code-org co-founder Hadi Partovi said Minecraft is the most frequent request from Code.org students. “Kids write thank-you cards after doing tutorials in classrooms and they say, ‘Please do ‘Minecraft,’ ” he said.
The third annual Hour of Code begins December 7, and more than 100,000 teachers have already signed up to be involved.