Getting Started With Scratch Brendan Routledge

Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word and Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations using an MIT tool called Scratch Yes, but have you any idea what Scratch is Michael?

The Computing Curriculum At Key Stage 1 children will understand algorithms, that programmes require precise instructions, will create and debug simple programmes, predicting how they will work and understand how technology appears in everyday life At Key Stage 2 children will design, write and debug programs, use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs, work with variables and different kinds of input, be able to correct errors in programmes and algorithms and understand how networks work At Key Stage 3 learners will understand use of key algorithms that reflect computational thinking, use 2 or more programming languages, one of which is textual, design and develop modular programs that use procedures or functions, understand simple Boolean logic and some of its uses in circuits and programming

Key Aspects What is an Algorithm? The need for Precision The importance of Prediction Essential skills of Debugging Importance of Sequencing Efficiency of Repetition/Looping Use of Variables to extend functionality

The Iterative Process of Programming PLAN Plan how your program will solve the problem PROGRAM Use your plan to write/edit your program TEST Does your program do what you wanted? DEBUG Fix any problems and improve it ANALYSE What is the problem you need to solve?

Scratch is an educational programming language and multimedia authoring tool, developed by Mitchel Resnick and others in 2003 at MIT Allows users to create basic animations, simple and, eventually, highly complex games within an interface which is very user-friendly Code does not have to be written by hand, it is built using programme blocks which allow for constant development and extension of simple ideas Scratch has become extremely popular worldwide and the SCRATCH community has millions of members Desktop version, Scratch 1.4, is available but new version online, Scratch 2.0 is also available to all users Working with Scratch

Task 1 “You make me feel like dancing” Using repeat/looping and events

Task 2 “I believe I can fly” Using costumes and constraining movement

Task 3 “I’m in control” Using keyboard commands to control sprites

Task 4 “Making sense of things” Using sensing to control events

Task 5 “A race to the finish” Creating your first game using what you have learned 1.Create your own race track – background 2.Create your own ‘car’ sprite 3.Add scripts to steer the car 4.Add a script to position car at ‘start’ 5.Add script to win by crossing finish line 6.Add script to make player restart if leave track 7.Add a variable to create a timer Remember to test regularly!

Some useful Scratch resources Scratched 10 block Challenge Vector Blocks Irish Software research centre