Scratch

Scratch - Computer programming as part of a curriculum
[|What it is:]

=== As young people create and share Scratch projects, they learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. === ||
 * ===Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art -- and share your creations on the web.===

[|Where to get it:]

Installers available for Windows/OSX/Ubuntu Network .msi installer for Windows

[|License:]

Free of charge - to download, copy and use - as many copies as you want. Free to use in class - and for students to download at home. All projects and materials are released under a [|Creative Commons "Attribution - Share Alike"] license.

Scratch is about creating - but very much about sharing/remixing - and learning/connecting from others.

**What I did... **
Scratch installed onto our Macbook image - available to all users. Taught in enrichment groups - 12-15 Year 6 students. Six 90 minute sessions.

Downloaded and had a play myself - read [|Scratch 1.4 Reference] site. Explored Scratch projects and read [|Scratch Ed Forums] ScratchEd Resources site is fantastic - pdfs,ppts, lesson sequences to learn from. Intentionally didn't try to teach myself every part of it - wanted to be a learner alongside students.

Used a range of resources from ScratchEd, including videos and printed task cards.

Some examples:

[|Getting Started] PDF [|Redware Scratch Lesson Plans] - Site with guided lesson process - based on a course of six sessions. [|Youtube Scratch Channels] [|Youtube videos] with Scratch tutorials, howtos and walkthroughs.

Introduced students to interface, basic sets of blocks, howto connect and make simple sequences. Allowed students to explore constantly. Gave time to create - using same sets of blocks for 10-15 minutes - then had students walk around and check out others work. Students given a lot of self-directed time - teacher roving, checking. Worked for some - but not all.... Storing projects/work on students drive and/or USB.

Idle Thoughts - What I'd do differently
 * Select a range of simple projects to show students - have available on shared server.
 * Students sometimes went only to "big" games - very complex programming - need to encourage small steps.
 * Setup individual accounts for students on ScratchEd for interested ones - allow them to learn from Scratch forums/users.
 * Share their programming/projects on school wiki ...
 * Encourage explicit planning for use of Scratch in literacy/math/inquiry topics...
 * Extension lessons/opportunities for keen students
 * Explore using other options like [|Alice]
 * Use [|Computer Science Unplugged]

ZP to share.

QUESTIONS: Please enter any thoughts/queries/ideas here...