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GameStart Uses Minecraft to Teach Kids Programming (Video 2)

Posted by Roblimo on from the mine-bitcoins-instead-of-crafts-and-they'd-race-each-other-to-school dept.

As we said last week, "You can't teach all programming by using Minecraft to keep kids interested, but you can use Minecraft, Java, and Eclipse to give them a good start." That's what Tyler Kilgore and his colleagues at GameStart are doing. Watch today's video (number 2), go back to last week's video (number 1) if you missed it, and read both days' transcripts for the full scoop.

18 comments

  1. Python API by Archwyrm · · Score: 1

    Our advanced Minecraft Programmers use GameStart's proprietary TechMage mod to be able to write Python code for the PC version of Minecraft. TechMage is not yet released to the public, but we do offer a solution for practicing on a Pi at home.

    They sound awfully protective of their proprietary code. Hopefully they are more concerned about giving kids a braindead, easy system to use at home, and will eventually expand their scope to have something that can be run by kids on their PCs. Besides, anyone can write a Python API for Minecraft. What would really set this company apart is high quality instruction.

    --
    Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power. -- Mussolini
    1. Re:Python API by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I taught a high school class on Python. It was very hard for the students to learn. The required whitespace and lack of explicit blocks (no begin and end) was very confusing for them. Ever seen the bad indentation most students use in an intro to programming class? I don't think Python is the solution.

    2. Re:Python API by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Small startups like Gamestart are often 'protective' of their proprietary code because some investor or investor type adviser is telling them that is their 'secret' sauce.

    3. Re:Python API by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      I very much agree with this. While proper use of whitespace is important for other programmers when reading the code, it shouldn't be anything that affects how the programming language is interpreted by the computer.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    4. Re:Python API by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you sure the students are to blame? Maybe it was the teacher who was at fault.

      Were you really unable to explain to the students how to press the tab key?

      Were you really unable to explain to the students that code that lines up on the left forms a block?

      Were you really unable to provide them any guidance or help at all?

      If you were unable to properly explain something as basic as indentation to students, how the heck did you ever think you'd explain the actual programming concepts to them?!

    5. Re:Python API by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've tested your comment with my bullshit detector, and it's going crazy! Every Python IDE I've ever used, including the shitty IDLE one that comes with Python, makes indentation a total non-issue. You weren't doing something really fucking dumb like having the kids type their code in Notepad, where you? But even if you were doing something really stupid like that, how do you expect these kids to be able to match up "begin" and "end", or "{" and "}", if they can't line up a few lines of code? How do you expect them to be able to understand what a variable is? How do you expect them to be able to understand what a function is?

    6. Re:Python API by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > You weren't doing something really fucking dumb like having the kids type their code in Notepad,...

      No, worse. The district required Eclipse. A big portion of the class was spent waiting on Eclipse.

    7. Re:Python API by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, can't tell if a troll or if suffering the Dunning–Kruger effect...

      "Are you sure the students are to blame? Maybe it was the teacher who was at fault."
      A false dichotomy to believe the "blame" is either the students or the teacher. That would be like blaming a teacher or a class of kindergarteners for being unable to learn particle theory; in that case it's obvious the concept is outside of learning domain... no matter how good a teacher is and how smart a class of kids are.

      "Were you really unable to explain to the students how to press the tab key?"
      Remembering the rule of when and how much to use a tab key on top of learning keywords, syntax rules and everything else that comes with learning a new language (especially a first programming language) adds complexity in obtaining mastery. This complexity, by not worrying about white space, is reduced in alternative languages.

      "Were you really unable to explain to the students that code that lines up on the left forms a block?"
      No, he was able to explain it, but it's likely they didn't comprehend this. I've taught non-CS college students who had difficulty to understand the order of how code is parsed.

      "Were you really unable to provide them any guidance or help at all?"
      What answer are you expecting from this? After that, are you going to ask something on the line "Were you really-REALLY unable to provide them with help?"

      "If you were unable to properly explain something as basic as indentation to students, how the heck did you ever think you'd explain the actual programming concepts to them?!"
      Why not post non-anonymously and tell us a little about where you've taught: age of kids, class size, how many years, etc... because from this line of questions, you sound like a "couch teacher" who believes its easy to teach programming since it's something you've picked up over the years, but have actually never set foot in a classroom to teach in a professional capacity.

    8. Re:Python API by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So we are in agreement. It was poor teaching that was to blame.

    9. Re: Python API by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope, you being a douche is the root cause

  2. 2005 again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In these days of streaming 4k video, /. still feels the need to split everything down into nice (read: ad friendly) 2-part bite-sized chunks

  3. intrested, but yoi by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 3, Funny

    >> As we said last week, "...intrested, but yoi..."

    Yes, you did. Looks like someone fixed the original but eff'ed up part two of this snoozer.

    1. Re:intrested, but yoi by Roblimo · · Score: 1

      I've been working sick, and it shows. Thanks for noticing the typo, now corrected.

  4. happy parent by danpritts · · Score: 1

    My daughter (11) has done several classes and camps at gamestart. She produced some working code for a minor plugin on python, and in their more advanced class wrote a plugin in Java. She's mostly lost interest in the coding, but I don't think that's Gamestart's fault. They also have some digital art classes using photoshop & doing 2d & 3d animation - she's done some of that and enjoyed it.

    1. Re:happy parent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My daughter (11) has done several classes and camps at gamestart. She produced some working code for a minor plugin on python, and in their more advanced class wrote a plugin in Java.

      Tough love is one thing, but what has she done to be punished with programming in Java? Did she set the home on fire or what?

  5. You claim to want to get kids interested... by rebelwarlock · · Score: 1

    ...but then you teach them that programming environments look like Eclipse. I'd be an MBA right now if that was the first thing I'd seen when getting into programming.

  6. Java bad, OOP bad by Mr.CRC · · Score: 1

    Don't Distract New Programmers with OOP: http://prog21.dadgum.com/93.ht...

    OOP Isn't a Fundamental Particle of Computing: http://prog21.dadgum.com/156.h...

    My 10 yr old has had a few sparks of interest to try using the shell on her Linux box (she's only ever used Linux, except for occasional fiddling on my Surface Pro when we're out and about. She's nearly a Gimp expert, self-taught). I've given her some elementary shell command instruction and guidance, plus some tricks to play with hoping to inspire more curiosity. Now I'll be looking for reinforcing opportunities.

    For ex. I had her install Rur-ple by following an instruction, that mostly spelled out what do in some places, but only described what to do in others (based on her prior experience having similar concepts spelled out and practiced a few times.)

    In some cases she lurched past my perceptions of her understanding, and in others she stumbled where I thought she should get it.

    My job, is to mostly listen and feed additional indirect help when asked. Also, to try very hard to understand what assumptions I take for granted that, absent in her mind, make certain concepts initially extremely non-obvious.

    Young kids need to be stepped patiently through the most elementary concepts at times, and yet given room to play with concepts that they grasp and quickly sprout ideas from as to their interesting implications.

    Most of all this requires a great deal of sincere kindness, empathy, and humility.

    Most of what OOP is about is several levels too high in abstraction for young kinds to deal with. The linked articles explain it well enough.

    A language like Python, while being OOP by design, doesn't force one to deal with OOP program design if they don't want. In Java this is not so.