Scratch

What is scratch?

Scratch is a no-code platform with online and offline environment to create applications such as games, animations, interactive applications, etc. It can be categorised as an educational tool primarily because it can be used in classrooms, to teach codeing.

Figure 1 below shows a snapshot of the interface, it has a panel for connecting blocks that programme the actions of the sprite. These blocks are categoried based on different functionality, such as Motion, Looks, Sounds, etc.

Common user actions

In the scratch interface the user can perform the following actions to create a programme:

  1. Add/ Edit a sprite: the user can add a character which can be programmed to perform any actions.

  2. Drag and Drop the programming blocks: the programming blocks that are placed on the left end of the interface can be dragged on the main canvas. Multiple blocks snaps together and a big programming segment is created.

  3. Create variables: If required, one can create new variables in the interface.

  4. Create new blocks: the users can code new blocks that can be used in the whole programme.

  5. Extensions: the programe provides the provision to connect to extensions that can increase the functionality of the programme.

Figure1: A typical interface, source: author

Click to download the scratch files