An Introduction to Writing Code Using Minecraft (Programming 101 One-on-One)

In this class, we will take a deeper dive into programming and computer science by working through lesson blocks two and three of the Coding FUNdamentals curriculum in Minecraft: Education Edition. First, we will travel to each of the different planets in our solar system, and on each planet, we will learn something new about programming. Next, we will travel back in time, and at each epoch of our planet's time in this universe, we'll cover a new programming concept or reinforce knowledge we have gained in previous lessons. Topics covered will include:
- Conditionals (if/else) and loops (while/for)
- Debugging code and quickly reviewing code to find errors.
- Problem decomposition
- Test cases
- Boolean Logic
- Algorithm comparison
- Writing programs that use and modify variables  
- Sequencing
- Event handling 
- Feature development and planning

At the beginning of class, students will be expected to have Minecraft Education Edition running and signed into their account (I will provide a license and account to sign in and use). I will briefly introduce the lesson, cover the objectives for the lesson and provide reminders on how to use the MakeCode Editor to program the agent. I will introduce or review vocabulary each week. There may be some "unplugged" activities; each lesson has 4-5 activities, and each activity gives the learner a chance to solve an exciting problem using programming. At the end of the lesson, I will ask the students some quick questions that test whether they got all the information they need or not. In weeks 6 and 12, there will be an exam; the students will have to use the tools and knowledge they have gained to solve familiar problems, then they will have to present their solutions to me, and I will provide feedback. Each week I will also provide a homework assignment to the students. I will ask students to submit the homework assignments by the beginning of the next class to receive feedback.  If we end the class early, we can begin the homework for the following week (I cannot take questions on the previous week) until the class time ends.

******Syllabus******
Rules for homework: homework must be submitted the day before the next class after it is assigned to receive feedback. To submit homework, you will send me a video of your solution on flipgrid. You must explain your code to me in the video. The video must be under 4 minutes long, and you must also provide me with a link to your code so that I can reproduce the results. I will provide an introductory video showing how to submit homework in the class. Late homework will not be graded or evaluated.

Disabilities: if your student has a disability, please let me know what I can do to make this the best experience for your learner. I am happy to provide extra time on exams, provide extended deadlines, or if you have other ideas, I can take a look at that as well.

Attendance: if you miss class, you cannot make it up. However, there will be a recording of the course. You should watch the recording (you can even watch it at double speed!). 

Honesty: Please use attribution if you use other people's work. If I get suspicious and find out you used someone else's work without providing attribution, I will let a parent or guardian know so that we can do better in the future. 

**Week 1**
⇢ Week of June 13: Space Center: we will begin our journey by becoming familiar with the equipment that astronauts use in space and handling situations when we don't have all the information we want. We will write code that programs the agent to accomplish tasks needed to explore the solar system. We will learn program data manipulation and develop plans to describe a sequence of events/goals and expected outcomes. We will use our debugging skills. We will review and remember definitions for sequences, events, loops, and conditionals. We will also apply problem decomposition.
⇢⇢Homework: Program the agent to build a wall that is ten blocks high and 20 blocks wide and features a repeating pattern (every other block blue, for example). 

**Week 2**
⇢ Week of June 19: Mercury and Venus: the first two planets will be our first stops in our solar system. We will be collecting materials for future analysis. We will write code that describes sequences of events, loops, and conditionals. We will continue to review and use problem decomposition.
⇢⇢Homework:  (offline assignment) Write the pseudocode for an agent to build a space station (it does not need to be exact, I will provide an example).

**Week 3**
⇢ Week of June 26: Moon and Mars: some robots sent to Mars are not working right. We will need to figure out what is causing them not to work. We will learn to test and refine programs using test cases. We will identify and fix errors in algorithms. We will continue to apply our problem decomposition skills.
⇢⇢Homework: (offline assignment) Suppose that I provide you with a program that has a nested loop. Before entering the outer loop, the program executes i operations.  The outer loop executes j operations and repeats N times.  Before entering the inner loop, the program executes operations.  The inner loop has k operations (where k is any number greater than 0) and repeats M times. After exiting the inner loop, the program executes t operations. After exiting the outer loop, the algorithm performs q operations. Please provide me with an algorithm (equation) that correctly computes the exact number of operations that this program executes for any i,j,k,q,s,t,N, and M. This is a complex problem. You will need your thinking caps, don't forget to charge them!

**Week 4**
⇢ Week of July 10: Ganymede and Saturn: We have made it past the inner planets and the belt. We've ventured into the outer planets in our solar system. Time to collect more materials for research! We will learn about boolean (logic) operators and apply this concept by writing programs that use them in conditionals. We will think about how to compare algorithms and choose the best one for a task.
⇢⇢Homework: Program the agent to dig a three-block wide and two blocks wide mine that extends for 60 blocks. If the agent finds diamonds or emeralds, have the agent say a phrase. If the agent finds iron, have the agent say a different phrase.

**Week 5**
⇢ Week of July 17: Uranus and Neptune: we will now travel to the gas giant Uranus, followed by Neptune. We will learn to describe choices made during program development using code comments, presentations, and demonstrations in this lesson. We will review developing plans that describe a sequence of events, goals, and expected outcomes. We will also continue to use and review problem decomposition.
⇢⇢Homework: Program the agent to build a hollow pyramid with a 6x6 base that extends up to the final block.

**Week 6**
⇢ Week of July 24: Exam 1: 50 minutes, followed by presenting solutions to two out of the five available problems. I will be available to provide some help, but not a lot. This is to make sure that my teaching is successfully helping you to learn. It will not be graded with a letter grade. Instead, I will provide feedback on your code and presentation.
⇢⇢Homework: None!

**Week 7**
⇢ Week of August 1: The Experiment: changing gears from space, we will now go back in time only to encounter an unexpected problem! We will continue to use skills developed to debug code, compare and refine algorithms, and problem decompositions. We will introduce and learn how to use variables to store and modify data.
⇢⇢Homework: Write a program that takes two variables, a color, and a number. Program the agent to build a 1x1 tower that extends however many blocks up the user passes into the program. The block must be the color the user specifies. The program must accept at least five colors.

**Week 8**
⇢ Week of August 8: Dinosaur Run: we must sneak through a series of challenges using our coding skills to avoid danger. We will learn about events and event handling. We will have to continue to use decomposition to solve the problems.
⇢⇢Homework: You must program the agent to follow the player, and if the agent detects lava anywhere around the player, the agent must cast fire protection on the player. If the agent sees that the player is underwater, the agent must cast underwater breathing on the player. 

**Week 9**
⇢ Week of August 15: Rome sweet Rome: this week, we will investigate and become familiar with using all the skills we have learned. We will create an app that will build some columns in ancient Rome for us. We will also be making some aqueducts and ornate borders for the pool. We will continue to refine our skills in creating programs that use sequences of events, loops, and conditionals. We will develop programs that use variables to store and modify data. We will test and debug programs and algorithms to ensure they run as intended.
⇢⇢Homework: Identify a *simple* Roman structure (don't make it too hard on yourself!!!) and program the agent to build it.

**Week 10**
⇢ Week of August 22: Wild West: today, we will go to the American Frontier in 1850, saddle up your horses! This lesson will review how to write programs that use variables to store and modify data. We'll use our problem decomposition, coding, and testing skills to solve problems people may have faced during the gold rush!
⇢⇢Homework: Program the agent to build the Bonanza main tunnel and the left half of the empire main tunnel. The map provides that 1 inch is approximately 100 feet. If we estimate that a block is about a foot, these mines were super long. So we will apply a scaling factor. Each Minecraft block will be approximately 10 feet. So, the Bonanza mine main shaft is about 85 blocks long, and the empire main tunnel is about 50 blocks long. Here is a map of the mine: https://www.oregongeology.org/milo/archive/MineMaps/B2467-BonanzaBentonVirginiaEmpireMonumental1876-82.pdf you can find more information about the Bonanza mine here: https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/oregon/greenhorn-city/

**Week 11**
⇢ Week of August 29: We need Beets! In this lesson, we find ourselves in the future; we have to program the agent to plant beets! In this lesson, we will do something new. We will modify, remix or incorporate portions of an existing program into our work to make something unique, and add features.
⇢⇢Homework: You must come up with two problems for your peers to solve. I will select 3-6 problems for the final exam!

**Week 12**
⇢ Week of September 5th: In this final week, I will select 3-6 problems that you have come up with for you and your peers to solve. I will review your solution and provide individual feedback.