Session Title: INTRODUCING KIDS TO PROGRAMMING WITH MINECRAFT
Presented By: Brian Dickman (Owner of Deep Space)
Campers should pack:
- If you would like to follow along with the programming demonstration, you should bring a laptop with the Minecraft Computer Craft mod installed (Technic Launcher, Forge or Feed The Beast) and have a Mojang Minecraft account. (It's not required to follow along. Spectating is fun too.)
- Minecraft Account: Borrow a friends or get your own. Cost $26.95 register at https://minecraft.net/store/minecraft (This is a multi-step process...must be done in advance.)
- Install the software: Technic Launcher for Windows, Mac, Linux) After downloading, run the TechnicLauncher program and log in with your Minecraft account, then select the Tekkit mod pack and press the PLAY button. (This take a long time to load on the first run...be patient...walk away...faster Internet will help...ignore the 'not responding' status of the app if that happens.)
Session Objectives:
- Understand Minecraft (Why do kids love it so much?)
- Learn how Minecraft offers opportunities to learn computer programming and engineering
- Build computers and program robots in Minecraft
- Examples of problem solving, planning, organization, research and more learned when programming in Minecraft
Session Agenda:
- Welcome / Introductions
- Falling in love with technology and remembering the glory days
- Creating the spark for a future engineer
- Taking on serious projects in Minecraft (Examples from our classes)
- Closing
- Debrief
- Feedback
- Fill out the Survey
Session Resources:
- Deep Space, STEM Enrichment in Parker, CO; http://www.deepspace.me/space-cadets
- Minecraft Account purchase: https://minecraft.net/store/minecraft
- ComputerCraft web site: http://www.computercraft.info/download/
- Computercraft API list: http://computercraft.info/wiki/Category:APIs
- Lua Programming Language Reference: http://www.lua.org/manual/5.1/