I asked her what learning other programming languages in school was like after working with Scratch for a while. She now studies computer science and media in university and works as a moderator on the Scratch Team. Linda Fernsel started using Scratch in 2011. The first project Linda Fernsel shared on Scratch was a game called Warpmonster. For example, one student said it “gave us a programming mindset, doing things step-by-step” another said, “using loops, it helps in C++,” the language they used in their next CS course. When asked to reflect on their semester of Scratch, their students responded that it was helpful.
#Scratch coding code#
We’ve been looking for algorithms and loops in everyday life, specific directions and other computational concepts due to Scratch.” With Scratch and ScratchJr, she explains, her students “can understand basic logic concepts, write clean code and do all of the things that a text-based coder can do, just with a graphical interface.”Īnd the benefits of Scratch aren’t just for elementary schoolers! At Norfolk State University, professors Mona Rizvi and Thorna Humphries studied the use of Scratch as a beginning programming language in their introductory CS0 course.
#Scratch coding how to#
She says, “Scratch teaches my kids how to be resilient, how to problem solve, and how to code. Claire Pritchard, a K-8 Tech Integration Specialist in Chicago, uses Scratch and ScratchJr (an app designed for young children ages 5–7) with her students. Many educators have similarly found that Scratch can be a great way to start coding. One of my earliest projects called The Parabolator combined two of my interests: math and art. Plus, I had started using concepts like parallelism and event handling that I would see again years later while learning Python and Java. Because Scratch is block-based, I didn’t get stuck on syntax and error messages - and this got me really excited about creating with code. Within a few minutes, I had created a simple interactive animation of a stick figure that would spin and change colors when you pressed different keys on your keyboard. I found Scratch and started playing around with the blocks. When I was in eighth grade, I got bored one day and started searching online for programming languages for kids. Scratch was my first programming language. Scratch is a great way to get started with coding As a member of the Scratch Team and a long-time Scratcher with a CS background, I wanted to share how I think about the relationship between Scratch and computer science. Here I am (right) with Scratch Online Community Coordinator, Christan Balch (left), and Scratch Online Community Manager, Eric Schilling (center).ĭuring Computer Science Education Week, many young people will program for the first time, using the Scratch programming language. Now, almost nine years after using Scratch for the first time as an eighth grader, I’ve graduated with a degree in computer science, I’m comfortable with a lot of different programming languages, and I still love Scratch! These days, I’m on the Scratch Team as the Online Community Developer and I work to bring the great experiences I’ve had with Scratch to more young people.Īs the Scratch Online Community Developer, I work to bring the great experiences I’ve had with Scratch to more young people.
Is it programming? Why should students learn Scratch instead of JavaScript? Will young people learn computer science concepts while working with Scratch?įor me, the connection between Scratch and computer science is very clear and personal: my experience with Scratch as a teenager gave me confidence in my ability to create with computers, inspired me to explore coding in different languages, prompted my decision to major in CS in college, and helped me succeed in even my hardest classes. On the Scratch Team, we get a lot of questions from educators and parents about Scratch as it relates to computer science. How I Think about Scratch and Computer Science
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