Course Overview

As part of this development track you will work on different Minecraft tutorials using Edublocks. EduBlocks is a visual block based programming tool that is designed to help introduce text based programming languages, like Python, to folks who are comfortable with block based programming languages and considering moving to a text based programming language. Through these tutorials your child will explore fundamental coding techniques and strengthen their reasoning, problem solving and analytical skills. As you progress through these tutorials with your child, they will learn how to interact with Python and Minecraft, they will learn how to create custom characters within Minecfaft, kids will learn how to build or extend custom worlds within Minecraft, they will learn about tools, techniques for customizing the environment within Minecfraft and more importantly they will learn how to use the Python on the Raspberry Pi to create cool Minecraft extensions. This development track  is aimed to serve as a bridge for those working with block based programming languages and keen to move to lower level text based programming languages.

About Edublocks

EduBlocks is a visual block based programming tool that is designed to help introduce text based programming languages, like Python, to children at an earlier age. With Edublocks, kids can start familiarizing themselves with text based programming language patterns, structure, requirements using a block based approach. Edublocks support development on the following platforms.

1. Python – EduBlocks Pi features a range of Basic Python functions to get you started with how the basics of Python work.
2. GPIOZero – GPIOZero written by Ben Nuttall and Dave Jones is the most common library for controlling the Pi’s GPIO pins. You can use it to spin motors, control LEDs and much more!
3. Minecraft – The Raspberry Pi features Minecraft Pi Edition as standard, EduBlocks includes the Python library that allows you to hack Minecraft!
4. SonicPi – Sonic Pi, written by Sam Aaron, allows you to make music with code. The unoffical Python library for Sonic Pi is included in EduBlocks.
5. PiMoroni Addons – Control the BLINKT! LED stip and the Explorer hat with the official libraries included in EduBlocks.
6. BitIO – BitIO, written by David Whale of the micro:bit foundation, allows you to control the micro:bit via Python 3 using serial commands.

Edublocks is opensource and free to use by everyone. You need to install some software to use it on the Raspberry Pi while developing for the micro:bit does not require installation, but only access to a web browser. You can read more about Edublocks here – https://edublocks.org/

Some of the features of EduBlocks include :

• Block Format: Easy and simple interface that uses a building block format to code.
• Extensive Documentation: Lots of documentation to get you ready to go quickly. New projects added every 2 weeks.
• Range of libraries: EduBlocks has a range of libraies like GPIOzero, Minecraft & Sonic Pi.
• Python View: Once you have coded the blocks, you can easily switch to the Python View to see the real Python code.

About Minecraft

Minecraft: Pi Edition is a version of Minecraft developed for the Raspberry Pi. It is based on an old version Alpha 0.6.1 of Pocket Edition but is slightly cut down, containing a revised feature set and support for multiple programming languages. Pi Edition is intended as an educational tool for novice programmers. Although officially discontinued, it is still available to download for free, from the official downloads page, and users are encouraged to interact with the game using an API. Minecraft for Pi was initially developed by Aron Nieminen and Daniel Frisk.

Minecraft: Pi Edition is now officially packaged and made available for the latest versions of the Raspberry Pi i.e. Raspberry Pi 3B, Raspberry Pi 3B+.

Prerequisites –

1. This tutorial makes use of the Raspberry Pi 3B. If you haven’t purchased a Raspberry Pi 3B  yet you might want to head over and pick one up now.
2. We would recommend that you pick up the Raspberry Pi 3B and a breadboard.
3. The breadboard makes working with the Raspberry Pi 3B a lot easier. You can pick up these items from OzToyLib.
4. We will be using the Edublock Block editor (https://edublocks.org) to write code for all our tutorials.