If you’ve been here before you know what Scratch is and its benefits. I was just informed about a Scratch app which plays Scratch projects on the Ipod.

This will interest my students. It also gives me more support to argue for a class set of Ipod Touches .

If you are new here, Scratch is a drag and drop programming platform in which you can create animations, video games or screen savers. Due to its drag and drop component, no need to worry about syntax errors. Yes, logical errors may arise but this gives our students opportunities for critical thinking.

Now we can develop together on the SMARTBoard as well as locally on our Ipods!!

admin General ipod, Scratch, SMARTBoard

Yesterday I had the opportunity to show some Scratch projects my students have been working on to our area enrichment person. This person is someone I highly respect and actually sort of owe my job to. A few years back I supply taught in her room and she passed my name around. Not before long I was assigned an LTO contract in her school.

Now I have since changed schools and she is no longer in the classroom but our relationship is much the same; very techie, geeky, and for the most part – online.

My students loved bragging about their homemade video games and the response was positive. Scratch will now be used at the final core enrichment workshop in March. It is very high order thinking and very much procedural writing.

On a side note, and interesting idea was suggested that I brushed off until my drive home yesterday. Why CAT test when the DRA is a focus for instruction. I was left thinking about this one…..

admin General DRA, procedural writing, Scratch

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to attend (with 9 students) a Computer Science workshop at a nearby high school. The topic was re-creating the classic Super Mario Bros. video game using the software Scratch provided by MIT. This program is so simple to use. You click and drag code snippets and apply them to objects on the screen. By the end of the day, my grade 7 students had created a Mario Bros. level where Mario runs in both directions, jumps and collects coins. It even had sound! I honestly had never heard of Scratch but can see its potential for Computer Science students at the intermediate level.

Since the code snippets are built it, you will never have a syntax error, as far aas I could tell. Logical errors still exist (infitie loops, conditions never true or false) so you could develop some mighty fine problem solvers in your students.

It also has a paint program built in for creating game backgrounds and characters.

I highly recommend this program. The level of interest was incredibly high and it is very simple to use, with practice. Why not have groups of students developing small video games in the computer lab. You can import artwork as well as create it in the program. My computer club will definately be taking on a project before the year ends.

admin Lesson Ideas classroom, computer, logical error, Scratch, Super Mario Bros., syntax error