CodeBytes Episode 5 with Ken – Minecraft: Hero’s Journey

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In the final episode of CodeBytes, Ken, along with young participants Owen and Oliver, guides viewers through coding activities using Minecraft, specifically focusing on the “Hero’s Journey.” The session includes solving puzzles with the help of a character called the Agent, teaching fundamental coding concepts such as loops and commands. Participants are encouraged to explore further activities on code.org and share their experiences online, concluding with a fun chant to celebrate their learning.
  1. What is coding, and how did we use it in Minecraft today?
  2. Can you name one thing the Agent did to help us in the game?
  3. Why do you think it’s important to learn coding while playing games like Minecraft?

CodeBytes Episode 5 with Ken – Minecraft: Hero’s Journey

Hello everyone, and welcome to Code Bytes! We’re so happy you’re here for the last episode of Computer Science Education Week. Today, we’re going to use Minecraft to learn about coding!

Meet Our Team

Let me introduce you to our team. I’m Ken, and I help create lessons at code.org. With me are Owen and Oliver. Owen, can you tell us how old you are and what grade you’re in?

Owen: I’m seven years old and in first grade.

Ken: Great! And Oliver?

Oliver: I’m eight years old and in third grade, but I’ll be nine soon.

Ken: Awesome! What school do you both go to?

Owen and Oliver: Glenwood Gatosk.

Ken: We’re joining you from Lake Stevens, Washington, just north of Seattle. Owen and Oliver love Minecraft and will help us learn today.

What We’ll Do Today

This hour of code has been completed over a billion times all around the world! If you’re joining us, welcome!

We have three fun activities today. First, we’ll learn to code using Minecraft and solve some puzzles. We’ll work with a character called the Agent to clear paths, gather items, and open doors. Lastly, we’ll explore Minecraft Education Edition, which has some cool features.

If you want to join in at home, visit code.org/minecraft and try the Hero’s Journey activity.

Let’s Get Started!

First, we need to choose our character. Should we play as Steve or Alex? Please type in your vote.

Ken: The winner is Steve! Let’s start with our first level.

On the left side of the screen, you can see the game area. We need to code the Agent to help us reach a chest in the bottom right corner.

Ken: Oliver, can you hit “Run” now?

Oliver: I can’t break this with my fists, and the Agent isn’t doing anything.

Ken: Right, we need to code the Agent to help us. Let’s reset and start coding.

We need to help the Agent step on a pressure plate to open the chest. Should we try doing it twice?

Oliver: Yes!

Ken: Great! Let’s code that.

Learning to Code

As we go along, we’ll use different commands and blocks. In computer science, we often use loops to repeat actions.

Now, let’s see what happens when we try to collect the diamond.

If you want to keep exploring, remember to check out code.org/minecraft for more activities. Share your creations with us using the hashtags #HourOfCode and #CodeBytes.

Thank you for joining us today! We hope you had a great Computer Science Education Week.

Let’s end with a fun chant: Diamonds on three! One, two, three—Diamonds!

Goodbye, everyone!

  • Have you ever played Minecraft or another video game? What do you like most about it, and how do you think coding helps make the game fun?
  • Imagine you could create your own game. What kind of game would it be, and what would you want the characters to do?
  • When you solve puzzles or challenges, like in the Minecraft activity, how does it make you feel? Can you think of a time when you solved a problem in real life? What did you do?
  1. Build Your Own Maze: Using blocks or toys, create a simple maze on the floor. Pretend you are the Agent from Minecraft and try to navigate through the maze. Think about the steps you need to take to reach the end. Can you write down a list of instructions or “code” to help someone else complete the maze? Try swapping mazes with a friend and see if they can follow your instructions!

  2. Loop Dance: Learn about loops by creating a dance routine! Choose a few simple dance moves, like clapping, jumping, or spinning. Decide on a sequence and repeat it several times. This is just like using a loop in coding to repeat actions. Perform your dance for your family and explain how loops help make the routine easier to remember and perform.

  3. Everyday Coding: Look around your home and find a task that you do every day, like brushing your teeth or setting the table. Break it down into smaller steps, just like coding instructions. Write down each step in order. Can you find any steps that repeat? If so, how would you use a loop to make the task easier or faster?

Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing filler words, repetitions, and informal language while maintaining the core content:

Hello everyone, and welcome to Code Bytes! We’re excited to have you for the final episode of Computer Science Education Week. Today, we will be using Minecraft to learn more about coding.

First, let me introduce ourselves. I’m Ken, a curriculum developer at code.org, and these are Owen and Oliver. Owen, how old are you and what grade are you in?

Owen: I’m in first grade and I’m seven years old.

Ken: Great! And Oliver?

Oliver: I’m in third grade and I’m eight years old, but I’m almost nine.

Ken: Awesome! What school do you both attend?

Owen and Oliver: Glenwood Gatosk.

Ken: We’re joining you from Lake Stevens, Washington, just north of Seattle. We’re thrilled to be here with you. Owen and Oliver are big fans of Minecraft and will help us learn today.

This hour of code has recently surpassed one billion hours completed globally, with participants from every country and city. If you’re joining us, welcome!

We have three main activities today. First, we’ll learn to code using Minecraft and solve some puzzles. We’ll be working with a character called the Agent to clear a path, gather items, and help us get through doors. Lastly, we’ll explore Minecraft Education Edition, which has some unique features.

If you want to follow along at home, you can visit code.org/minecraft and work on the Hero’s Journey activity.

Let’s start by sharing our screen. The first thing we need to do is choose our character. Should we play as Steve or Alex? Please type in your vote.

[Pause for voting]

Ken: The winner is Steve! Let’s get started with our first level.

On the left side of the screen, you can see the gameplay area. We need to code the Agent to help us reach a chest located in the bottom right corner.

Oliver, can you hit “Run” now?

Oliver: I can’t break this with my fists, and the Agent isn’t doing anything.

Ken: Right, we need to code the Agent to help us. Let’s reset and start coding.

We need to help the Agent step on a pressure plate to access the chest. Should we try doing it twice?

Oliver: Yes!

Ken: Great! Let’s code that.

[Continues with coding instructions and problem-solving]

As we progress, we will encounter different commands and blocks. Remember, in computer science, we often use loops to repeat actions.

[Continues with coding activities]

Now, let’s see what happens when we try to collect the diamond.

[Continues with gameplay and coding]

If you want to keep exploring, remember to check out code.org/minecraft for more activities. Share your creations with us using the hashtags #HourOfCode and #CodeBytes.

Thank you for joining us today! We hope you had a great Computer Science Education Week.

Let’s end with a fun chant: Diamonds on three! One, two, three—Diamonds!

Goodbye, everyone!

This version maintains the educational content while removing unnecessary filler and informalities.

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