Prodigy Learning, the Irish-headquartered global education technology company, is embarking on a groundbreaking partnership with Minecraft Education. This alliance will introduce a novel approach to computer science education, leveraging Minecraft’s immersive and creative learning environment. The collaboration will pioneer the integration of credentialing into Minecraft Education, starting with Prodigy Learning’s Coding in Minecraft programme, thereby offering a unique and engaging computer science curriculum.
This collaboration brings together the immersive world of Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time, with the innovative educational solutions of Prodigy Learning, offering new opportunities for educators and students alike.
Coding in Minecraft by Prodigy Learning is a computer science credential programme delivered through Minecraft Education. It engages young and diverse learners through game-based learning in an immersive computer science and coding curriculum and rewards their learning with industry-recognized credentials. This easy-to-teach solution enables educators with little or no computer science experience to deliver a standards-aligned curriculum.
The latest announcement is a testament to the success of the Coding in Minecraft programme. This innovative computer science credential program has been successfully adopted in various school systems, including Alaska, Idaho, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington State, Northern Ireland, and New South Wales. The expansion of this award-winning product’s reach further underscores the effectiveness and credibility of this partnership.
Andrew Flood, Chief Executive Officer of Prodigy Learning, expressed the profound implications of the partnership between Minecraft Education and Prodigy Learning:
The collaboration between Minecraft Education and Prodigy Learning marks a significant milestone in educational technology. By combining the strengths of both organizations, we are setting a new standard for game-based learning and assessment, opening doors to endless possibilities for student achievement and growth. In the age of AI, our partnership will help build the workforce of tomorrow and create economic opportunity.
The partnership will officially kick off with the availability of the first two credentialing products, Coding in Minecraft and a new Cyber product (Fall 2024). These products will now be offered for licensing through Microsoft and channel resellers worldwide in addition to existing Prodigy Learning channels. These offerings are just the beginning, with more innovative solutions on the horizon.
Minecraft Education claims that millions of educators and students in 115 countries have used the platform to build future-ready skills, such as problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. It offers standards-aligned STEM curricula, professional development, and fun challenges designed for all types of learners, developed with partners like BBC Earth, the Nobel Peace Center, NASA, UNESCO, the World Wildlife Federation, and Code.org.
Allison Matthews, Head of Minecraft Education at Microsoft, added:
At the heart of this partnership is a shared commitment to empowering educators and engaging students. We are bringing together Minecraft Education’s game-based learning platform and Prodigy Learning’s expertise in credentialing to create a comprehensive educational experience. This will enable students to gain critical skills such as computational thinking, reasoning and problem-solving for in-demand job roles.
Prodigy Learning was established in 2000 and now has offices in Dublin (Ireland), London (United Kingdom), Sydney (Australia), and New York (United States). The platform provides innovative online platforms that empower learners to develop and prove their skills. These solutions range from skills assessments in education through to job-ready digital skills credentials. Since its inception, the company has worked closely with Microsoft.
