Holiday tech gifts for everyone on your list

Are you ready for Christmas? It's officially crunch time now with almost a week left of holiday shopping. It's probably too late to get in any online shopping without paying a premium in shipping, so I guess I'll see you at the mall? But you're still stuck on what to get? Don't panic. It's last minute but if you're like me, some of the best ideas come to mind when I'm under stress. So, here are some last minute tech gift ideas for everyone on your list! 

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Microsoft hosting Hour of Code tutorials focusing on Minecraft

From December 4 to 8, Microsoft is supporting educators, students and nonprofits to drive awareness for Computer Science Education Week and Hour of Code, a global call to action to spend an hour learning the basics of coding.

To get students coding, Microsoft has released a new Minecraft tutorial called Hero’s Journey and starting on December 4, Microsoft Stores across the country will host free coding workshops, giving kids a chance to use fun, interactive coding to learn how creativity and problem solving come together to make something of their own.

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Microsoft takes classrooms on virtual field trips for Canada 150

In celebration of Canada's 150 anniversary of Confederation, Microsoft has launched a campaign that gives Canadian students the opportunity to explore their country without having to leave their classroom. Students across the country now have access to visit and learn about Canada's landscape and history from coast-to-coast. Explore. Teach. Build. is an education program that teachers can work into their curriculum and connect one-on-one with researchers, scientists, curators and others who will guide them in real-time at no cost through the power of Skpe. 

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Microsoft and Code.org celebrate Computer Science Education Week with free ‘Minecraft’-based coding tutorial

Microsoft and Code.org are at it again this year with Minecraft Hour of Code Designer, a coding tutorial for students and educators. The two organizations partnered yet again for this entry for Hour of Code, an annual global campaign held during Computer Science Education Week from December 5 to 11. The web-based tutorial allows beginner coders to create and share their own simple Minecraft game, which at the same time is teaching them the needed critical thinking and problem-solving skills for working in this modern age.

The tutorial is available in 10 languages and is scheduled to be available in 50 languages by December 5. It’s designed for ages 6 and up and features Code.org’s drag-and-drop coding interface to teach computer science concepts like object-oriented programming, event handlers, and repeat loops. There will be a series of 12 challenges for players to overcome and resulting in them being able to create their own simple game that they can share with friends. Microsoft also plans to host hundreds of free workshops in Microsoft Stores around the world. You can secure a spot for these youth coding events through this link or by visiting your local Microsoft Store.