In this section, you will roll up your sleeves and do some coding using Scratch, one of the best (in my humble opinion), free online coding tools for students (and older students like me too!). Scratch was created by MIT's Lifelong Kindergarten. Scratch is a visual programming language that uses blocks to build code.
What I love about Scratch, is that it is very visual, and students get immediate feedback when they see their code working (or not working). The rich graphics encourage creativity. Students can save their work and share in a Studio, or can send links (URL) of their finished products to you/each other.
Scratch is used around the globe and there is a very rich professional learning community, called ScratchED, which you can tap into to further your coding skills and use in the classroom.
Begin your coding adventure for this module by:
Now, you're ready to begin learning how to code in Scratch. The point of this exercise is to inspire you with ideas for how you might be able to integrate coding into your curriculum. Follow these steps:
1) Log into Scratch with your user name and password
2) Select "Create," which is located towards the top left side
3) Once you have the Create screen open, you will select the tiny little ? symbol to the top right (see picture to the right of your screen on this page)
4) A panel of lessons will pop-up to the right side of your screen. Begin with "Getting Started"
5) Engage in at least 2 of the lessons before you begin creating on your own
6) You will choose one of the creative projects you built and customize it as you like and then to share with us in our Scratch Studio. See Mastery Checklist for details and the Criteria list below:
When you are done, title your work (use your name in it like Lisa-Waters-Cat_Flies) and Save it!
IMPORTANT: by April 30, 2017, 11:59 pm, share your coded project! You will do this by clicking the "Share" button in the top right corner. Next, select our Studio called "763 Rocks!" The screen shot to the right shows how to do this.
If you haven't done so already, make sure you add your Scratch User Name to the form (to the right) so I can add it to our Studio-763 Rocks!
Our Studio 763 Rocks is the location where each of our Scratch projects will "live" and you will be able to view each other's work as well as provide feedback/comments.
By May 2, 2017, 11:59 pm, comment on at least one colleague's Scratch project by posting inside our Scratch Studio! Describe what you liked about it and what you "wonder" about it. You can place your comment in the "Comments" section located at the bottom of their Scratch project.
Move onto 8.3 when you've completed your Scratch project.