This is an ongoing advanced problems class. I recommend that before taking this class you first take the Minecraft programming in Python curriculum with me. Each week I will have a problem prepared for the students to solve. In the first 10-15 minutes of the class, I will use a lecture format to present the problem and the tools needed to solve the problem, I might use presentation aids like khan academy videos, slides and pictures. Next, I will ask them to help me to write some pseudo-code to solve the problem. Once we have the pseudo-code for a solution I will ask the students to implement it. I will provide feedback on ideas, students will be encouraged to participate and communicate how they are finding the solutions, simply providing an answer without showing how you got the answer will be discouraged.

When class starts: please ensure that your learner shows up to class ready to learn. They must have Minecraft: Education Edition running and ready to go. I may not be able to help work through technical issues during class time, so if you do have issues make sure to reach out to me before the class begins.

Week 1 (4/18/2022):
Problem: Write a program in python that makes the game more accessible to players that are blind, you can use the built in accessibility features to do this. I will provide some examples in class.
Standards: 2-CS-01, 2-IC-21, 3A-AP-21

Week 2 (4/25/2022):
Problem: I will provide a railway connecting two cities. Write a program that sends messages on the railway encoded in minecraft blocks. Ensure that errors in railcart transmission protocol can be handled.
Standards: 2-NI-04, 2-CS-03

Week 3 (5/2/2022):
Problem: Write a program that computes the probability of finding diamonds in a 200 block long mine. Estimate the amount of time it takes to dig a 200 block long mine with an unenchanted diamond pick. Provide an estimate for the amount of time it takes to mine a stack of diamonds.
Standards: 2-DA-08, 2-DA-09

Week 4 (5/9/2022):
Program the agent to build a solid sphere (without using the built in sphere function!) requires some algebra
Standards: 2-AP-10, 2-AP-13, 3A-AP-18

Week 5 (5/16/2022):
Fix my code: I have inserted 10 bugs into the code I provide, can you find them?
Standards: 2-AP-19, 1A-AP-14

Week 6 (5/23/2022):
Write a program that prints the binary representation of a Minecraft block.
Standards: 2-DA-07, 3A-DA-09

Week 7 (6/6/2022):
Program the agent to place the blocks corresponding to the first 15 terms in the Fibonacci sequence in two different ways and then compare them. Requires recursion, make sure you sleep well the night before.
Standards: 3A-AP-15, 3B-AP-13

Week 8 (6/13/2022):
Write a program that prints the hexadecimal representation of a Minecraft block.
Standards: 2-DA-07, 3A-DA-09

Week 9 (6/20/2022):
Identify an encryption scheme that converts letters from text into minecraft blocks and from minecraft blocks to letters in text. Write a program that can encode and decode inputs. Bonus: handle invalid inputs gracefully.
Standards: 2-NI-06, 2-NI-05, Bonus: 2-AP-17

Week 10 (6/27/2022):
Program the agent to print a bar graph describing the frequency of blocks at different depths.
Standards: 3A-DA-11, 1B-DA-06


Week 11 (7/11/2022):
Rotate a row of 10 unique Minecraft blocks left by 1,2,3,4 ... or 10 positions. For example: imagine that ten wool blocks lie in a row, each with a different color. If we rotate the row of blocks left by one, the first block becomes the last block and all other blocks shift left by one. 
Standards: 2-AP-10, 2-AP-12, 3A-AP-14

Week 12 (7/18/2022):
Program the agent to dig a mine and count the number of each block that it sees. If you dig a straight 1x2 tunnel what are the chances of encountering diamonds at each height?
Standards: 3A-AP-18, 2-DA-08