Microsoft and Code.org teaching kids to code with Minecraft

Newsbrief: Microsoft, Mojang, and Code.org have joined forces to create a Minecraft coding tutorial for young students aged six and over. 

Specially created for the third annual Hour of Code, a campaign that aims to get more children engaged in the computer sciences, the browser-based tutorial will teach the basics of coding by encouraging players to navigate, mine, craft, and explore a 2-D Minecraft world by plugging together blocks to generate computer code. 

"A core part of our mission to empower every person on the planet is equipping youth with computational thinking and problem-solving skills to succeed in an increasingly digital world," said Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella.

"With Minecraft and Code.org, we aim to spark creativity in the next generation of innovators in a way that is natural, collaborative and fun."