Minecraft Education Edition is a powerful and engaging platform for educators to teach various subjects, from history to mathematics and computer programming. One fundamental concept in computer programming is conditional logic, which allows us to make decisions based on certain conditions. In Minecraft Education Edition, you can introduce students to conditional logic through the creative use of command blocks. In this blog post, we'll explore how to develop "else" statements using command blocks, making your educational experiences in Minecraft even more dynamic and interactive.
Understanding Conditional Logic
Before we dive into the world of command blocks and "else" statements, let's quickly recap conditional logic. In computer programming, conditional statements are used to make decisions based on specific conditions. The most common types of conditional statements are "if" statements and "else" statements.
"If" statements execute a block of code when a specified condition is true. For example, if it's raining, wear a coat.
"Else" statements complement "if" statements. They allow you to specify an alternative action to take when the condition is false. For instance, else, wear a hat.
In Minecraft Education Edition, we can simulate this logic through command blocks to create dynamic gameplay experiences. The examples below are best supported by the development of prior knowledge taught in the Learn to Code with Commands program.
Else Statement Scenario One: Comparing Two Blocks
We want a player to make a decision between placing a block or gold vs a block or diamond. Once they place the block, they press a button, and their decision will result in one of two different results.
Our first statement will be as follows:
ON a button is pressed, IF the test for a gold block is TRUE, THEN teleport the player to the green zone.
Our second line will then state:
ELSE, IF test for a diamond block TRUE, THEN teleport the player to the red zone.
There is also an additional statement that occurs in this algorithm which is
ELSE, do nothing.
Jump to this example 👇Command Block Else Statements in Minecraft
Else Statement Scenario Two: Checking for a player
In this example, a player will receive a title message if they are within a particular zone; otherwise, they will receive a different message.
Our full statement will be:
If a player is within a radius of 5 blocks, THEN display a title message WELCOME, ELSE display a title message BYE.
Our first statement will be as follows:
The ELSE statement in this example is then triggered by an inverted Redstone Torch:
Jump to this example 👇Command Block Else Statements in Minecraft
Else Statement Scenario Three: Checking for an item on a player
This time we want to check if a player has an item. This is a classic gameplay whereby we are asking a player to retrieve something first before moving on.
Our full statement will be:
ON a player presses a button, IF the player has an apple, teleport them to the green zone, ELSE teleport the player to the red zone
Our first statement will be as follows:
The ELSE statement is then simply triggered by a teleport command.
This algorithm essentially runs both teleport commands; however, if the player has an apple the teleport command to the green zone will take precedence.
Jump to this example 👇Command Block Else Statements in Minecraft
Else Statement Scenario Four: Execute Unless
This example refers to the first; however, it introduces a specific Minecraft command language to test if an event has occurred.
Our full statement will be:
ON a player presses a button, IF the player has placed a gold block, teleport them to the green zone, ELSE teleport them to the red zone.
Our first statement will be as follows:
The ELSE statement now introduces the unless prompt:
Jump to this example 👇Command Block Else Statements in Minecraft
Else Statement Scenario Five: Execute IF and UNLESS
Now we know about using the execute prompt, we can expand our knowledge of what it can do. The execute can also act as our IF statement; however, one of its most valuable assets is its ability to run multiple commands. Our full statement won't change; however, how they are written in the command blocks will.
Our full statement will be:
ON a player presses a button, IF the player has placed a gold block, teleport them to the green zone, ELSE teleport them to the red zone.
Our first statement will be as follows with the IF statement contained in the execute prompt:
The ELSE statement represents when anything but the gold block is placed:
Jump to this example 👇Command Block Else Statements in Minecraft
Else Statement Scenario Six: Execute Block State
In our last example, we will explore how the same command can be used when blocks have different states. We are going to use a daylight detector as it can either be normal or inverted.
Our full statement will be:
ON a player presses a button, IF the daylight inverter is set to normal, THEN give the player an apple, ELSE give the player an egg.
Our first statement will be as follows:
The ELSE statement will then check if the daylight sensor is inverted by using daylight_sensor_inverted as the titleName:
Jump to this example 👇Command Block Else Statements in Minecraft
Using command blocks in Minecraft Education Edition to develop "else" statements is a fantastic way to teach conditional logic in a fun and interactive manner. Whether you want to create educational games, puzzles, or simulations, mastering conditional logic through "if" and "else" statements in Minecraft can be a valuable tool for educators. By combining our Learn to Code with Commands program with student creativity and education, you can empower your students to learn complex concepts while having a blast in the world of Minecraft.
