Why Kids need to learn Scratch - Part 2

Why Kids need to learn Scratch - Part 2

Date: 02/10/2018/Tuesday

This blogpost is simply inspired from the work kids are doing in Scratch at Ranaa Child Welfare Foundation. The blogpost will share some of the amazing programs kids have been able to make in Scratch through coding with an insight into why kids need to learn #Scratch.

Why kids like Scratch?

A number of reasons.  Firstly, It has a very user friendly and ease to use interface. Kids can drag in sprites easily from library, change background, add sound from library , even draw own sprites. They can increase and decrease the size of  sprites using the grow and shrink button. Secondly  it's color coded, kids know blue colored code is for motion, purple code represents sound, brown code represents events, green represents various operators and so on. They just have to drag and drop the code in the script area. Third they have learnt how to look for step wise tutorials, learn independently about how to add games, animation, effects etc to your project, explore examples in the gallery, try out the various projects and make changes, modify code. Fourth  they can dig deeper by looking into blocks of code in the help menu and try out the short programs as well. 

What have the kids been doing in Scratch?

Lets look at some of the interesting programs kids have been able to try and create in Scratch. One of my very keen learner's Asad who has difficulty in reading and writing can code and make different games. Recently he was able to make a game in Scratch where a fish diver catches fish and every time he catches a fish, score is increased. He added different sprites, modified them, wrote the code to move the sprites randomly , add score variable and change background.

Danish another of my very keen learner at Ran'aa has tried making several different games in Scratch. He was able to design a dress up game, where as the event is triggered the sprites change dresses randomly. He made a question/answer game, where sprites question and respond. Kids can use this to practice questions in maths, improve communication skills, enhance vocabulary, develop quizzes about different concepts etc He was also able to make a scoring game, where a crab catches donuts, and every time they catch a donuts, score is increased. 

Similarly Shahzad and Kamran two of my very enthusiastic learners who were able to design animated birthday cards in Scratch. They could add code for varying effects like change in color, increase/decrease size of sprite, adding movement to sprites, turning sprites clockwise and anti clockwise etc They also tried animating their names, added sound , music and motion to the letters. Kids also tried creating their own music in Scratch, added sound and used the key pressed event to trigger the music.

Kids also tried making a pong game, which is a version of the bouncing ball game.

Kids were able to modify the game, add different sprites, change background, modify code to move ball in different directions, add motion, change color of ball when hits the paddle, add score, which automatically increases when the ball touches the paddle. Kids used the stamp option to increase the balls, they could increase the speed of the balls to make it more challenging. Different students came up with different bouncing games.

Kids also tried making a hide and seek game by using the Hide and Show command. They modified it by adding a score. The moment the sprite was caught the score increased. Kids also tried making a racing game where 2-3 characters race each other. They modified by adding different vehicles like buses, cars etc changing speeds, adding different events like when key pressed, when clicked etc

Kids also tried using the pen tool and its different options. They were able to use the pen tool creatively to come up with some amazing patterns and designs using the stamp tool, clear options, changing colors etc. Kids can use this tool to explore artistic skills.

Why Scratch is important for kids?

Kids need to learn Scratch for a number of reasons. As per my observation in class, it gives kids a sense of achievement and satisfaction when they see their own program live in action. Also its a great opportunity for kids to learn computational thinking, breaking a problem into smaller pieces and finding a solution. They learn the importance of sequencing while coding and how it effects the sprites when the codes are not in sequence. Coding in scratch provides kids an opportunity to be creative and imaginative. They can design own games once they are proficient in coding. They can modify to any extent, add sprites from library, create own sprites, record sound etc They have the opportunity to learn from their peers around the globe. They can try games, projects created by other global educators around the world, even open projects created by them, modify them and save them. There is a great opportunity for collaboration. But for this they need an account in Scratch, which gives them access to a huge community of Scratch educators , where kids can share their projects. They learn through trial and error, which inculcates patience and perseverance in kids, a very important skill that our kids need to learn in order to survive and thrive in their lives. And most important it improves critical thinking, they make changes to code and modify to get the accurate results. 

What have we achieved so far at Ranaa Child Welfare Foundation? 

Kids have been running an online show live every Monday on Facebook where they teach short coding programs to kids. There is a team comprising of 5 - 6 kids who have been assigned different roles , who run the live show, we have a technology Guro, 2 teachers, 2 students and a host. They share different coding programs every week in a 20 minute show. Kids have taken up the role of mentors for their peers. Every student has been assigned a kid, and they teach coding lessons to them. Kids have been observed as thoroughly
engaged and enjoying their coding lessons and the best part they love to share and help their peers.

Overall its a great learning experience both for as their teacher and for students too. It has definitely opened a new window of learning for them. Your time to explore now :)

Enjoy Reading till my next blog soon Inshallah :)

Regards and prayers
Sheeba Ajmal

References
1. Scratch
weblink: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/editor/?tip_bar=home
Accessed online 2/Oct/2018

2. Ranaa Child Welfare Foundation
Weblink: https://www.facebook.com/ranaaschool/