The programming language used for Scratch is Scheme. I’m not going to pretend to explain what that is, but, it is Not HTML. So, while designing in Scratch, don’t expect to be able to see the source codes. What you will see, is a series of command blocks that lock together as you program scripts for the avatars you create. (Wait…..scratch that….not avatars …how passe’…sprites.)
Anyway, Scratch allows users to experiment with programming without the use (or understanding) of text codes. For this reason, it is a lot easier to learn and suitable for young and inexperienced users; which brings me to the educational applications of Scratch. It offers a multitude of images, music, and sounds that can be used in projects. Additionally, users can upload their own images, sound, music and even videos.
According to media specialist Mitchel Resnick of MIT (where Scratch was born) using the program in the classroom promotes “learning by designing”. Students have the opportunity to imagine, create, problem solve, and share with Scratch. They can design games, cartoons, music videos, presentations, interactive stories, art and more. It is not, however, just another drawing or paint tool. Math is a really big part of the Scratch experience. The “stage” (where users do their designing) is actually a grid with X and Y coordinates which are used to program the movement of the sprites. Not only are students using computational skills such as variables coordinates, and conditionals, they are able to use these skills in a way that they can see them in action.
Also inherent in the Scratch experience is problem solving. Let’s say you program your sprite to walk forward 80 steps, then turn and go in the opposite direction 80 steps. It follows the command to go forward but then stays put. You’ve got a problem to solve. Realizing that you are working on a grid with X and Y coordinates, the solution would be that once you turn around you would have to enter -80 steps instead of 80 steps to go the opposite direction. Once the parameters are changed the sprite follows the commands and the user is immediately rewarded for correctly solving the programming problem when they get to see the sprite perform as desired.
Once a project is finished, it can be uploaded into a folder on the Scratch website. Projects can be organized several ways, and shared with others. Users can create communities with common interests and invite others to participate in games, or contribute to collaborative design. Scratch programs can even be used to control things in the real world by attaching sensor boards to your computer. The site is monitored for inappropriate submissions at all times by young students.
In the article, “Learning with Scratch” Natalie Rusk, and John Maloney (also associated with MIT) along with Mitchel Resnick, illustrate ways that Scratch supports 3 key areas skills necessary for 21st Century learning . Those areas are; Information and Communication Skills, Thinking and Problem Solving Skills, and Interpersonal and Self Directional Skills.
If you are new to Scratch, you will find that many tutorials are available online to help get you started. For an easy to understand and follow website, check out http://learnscratch.org/index.php . At this site you will even find suggested lesson plans appropriate for various ages. I can’t wait to think of creative ways for my students to use Scratch in the areas that I teach.
Scratch downloads are available for: Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7; Mac OS X (10.4 or later) and LINUX. (The files can be installed on a flash drive.)
Resnick, Mitchel. Learning by Designing. http://llk.media.mit.edu/projects/clubhouse/research/handouts/design-v6.pdf
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2003) Learning for the 21st Century http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/downloads/P21_Report.pdf
Julia,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds awesome. I often wish that I had a way to teach my students "design" without having to go into detail about everything and all the little concepts. Now the only problem is getting the program to download and work it's way around the districts blocked policy. Always fun, as we all know.
The website sounds awesome, the only problem is that teachers will need "constant" access to technology. I would love to test it out with some students and see what interesting results I can get from them with teaching the basic process of it all. Thanks for sharing!
Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu) seems like a great program to use with my middle school math students. I am curious to see how intrigued the students are by the program and how it works. I was glad to see that they had sample projects on the website to show my students to pique their curiosity and motivate them to persevere with the programming aspect. Your post was very helpful with the tutorial website (http://www.learnscratch.org) for me to use to become familiar with the program. I think the students will not need as much assistance with learning how to use the site as I do. The best aspect of this site is the potential for the social networking. Students would be able collaborate and evaluate each other’s projects. I think there is great potential for using this site with my students. I can’t wait to get started!
ReplyDeleteMore than anything, this program seems to fit a whole that I had a hard time filling. The concept of programming. The interface is easy to use and graphically based which makes it interesting for students. I would love to use this program with students in a science or social studies content area. I would love to have them explain Earth movements or create an Oregon Trail game.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really think about the math application here, but you are right, a real world application is needed in order to complete a program. What a great way to gain some excitement for ordered pairs!
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ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome program. Michael Resnik spoke at either the ICE conference or the IETC Conference in Springfield within the last few years. The way he spoke about learning was very much inquiry. He said that the process of learning is like play: try something, make adjustments, try again. That's also the process of inquiry.
ReplyDeleteKathleen, I tried having some pretty advanced kids, and me too, try to do an animation of planets revolving around the sun. It wasn't that effective. It was better using SMART Notebook and using the page recorder or the regular recorder or stop motion.
The fact that it is visual and the pieces lock together makes the concepts of programming tangible for kids, and adults too. If you haven't downloaded it and played with it, try it.
What's also cool about the website is that you can download a game and open the script in Scratch. Then you can deconstruct it to see how different parts of the script make the sprite work. You can also use what someone else did in your own game, or change their game and re-upload it. You just have to give them credit for the original.
For some reason I can't get the link above to work. If you go to mylearningtube.com and search for "day and night" you will find it.
ReplyDelete