Coding @ MSLA

Minecraft Coding Programme

MSLA has chosen the Microsoft route for making the IT resources count and is very grateful to have been recognised by Microsoft as an academic institution and thereby qualifying for Microsoft 365 Education A3 licenses.

One of the products of these licenses is Minecraft: Education Edition. This game-based learning platform  promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive digital environment. From basic building to coding with blocks, Java Script, and Python, Minecraft: Education Edition grows with students, and can be used across the curriculum and in any grade level.
 
Minecraft coding forms part of the Grade 9 maths, science and skills programme offered at MSLA.

Starting young

MSLA is concerned about the lack of digital literacy education in primary schools in the Northern Cape, particularly in Kimberley.
The organisation ran a few trial tests on children from Grade 1 to 6 to see how well they interacted with the Minecraft coding challenges.

The results were very positive.

MSLA concluded that Minecraft is a very suitable entry level for teaching and learning coding at primary school level. 
Based on the results from “testing the waters”, MSLA extended the Minecraft coding programme in 2021 to target Grade 5 – 7 learners and teachers from 7 local primary schools. Although the programme was launched late in the year, the outcomes were incredible!    

2021 Minecraft Hour of Code

MSLA joined the global community in hosting the 2021 Minecraft Hour of Code Programme. 77 events took place in the whole of South Africa.
MSLA was the only event in the Northern Cape, the only special event registered in South Africa and was also only one of two special events in Africa.

MSLA launched its 2021 Minecraft Hour of Code Programme through an exhibition held at the Diamond Pavilion shopping mall in Kimberley on Saturday, 4 December 2021. 
Grade 9 and 10 learners from the MSLA Tech-Kids Club volunteered to participate in the exhibition as Minecraft “coaches” and Grade 11 learners volunteered as Minecraft “marketers”.

Minecraft Hour of Code @ MSLA

The 2021 Minecraft Hour of Code Programme ran from 06 – 10 December and targeted:

– Grade 5 – 7 learners from primary schools in Kimberley
– MSLA Grade 9 – 11 learners and their school mates
– General public

The sessions were facilitated by 3 former MSLA students who are studying Data Science at Sol Plaatjie University, who were assisted by Grade 9 & 10 volunteers from the MSLA Tech-Kids Club.

Total impact: 343