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Scratch

See also: teaching-implementation, DIG071A-2024, scratch-computational-thinking

See:

Education: - Scratch 3 Tutorial - ACARA - Teacher's notes on Scratch - collection of blog posts

A high-level, block-based, event-driven visual programming language designed for educational purposes (ages 8 to 16). Version 3.0 released in 2019

Name arises from DJ's practice of "scratching" - of clipping together vinyl records and manipulated to create new sound/music.

Conceptual model#

Primarily Scratch programming takes place on the Scratch website but an offline editor is available for desktop and mobile devices. Page from Maleny State School suggests most Education Queensland schools are using the offlien editor.

Interface#

The Scratch interface has three main sections:

  1. Stage area

  2. where the results appear, using x,y coordinates with 0,0 being stage centre

  3. All sprites' thumbnails listed in the bottom area

  4. Select a sprite and apply blocks to the sprite

  5. Block palette - where the available blocks can be selected

  6. Coding area - where the instructions live - aka script

Blocks#

Category Notes
Motion Movements of sprites like angles and directions.
Looks Controls the visuals of the sprite
Sound Plays Audio files and effects
Events Event handlers and broadcasters.
Control Conditionals, loops, and cloning.
Sensing Sprites "Sprite (computer graphics)" can interact with other sprites, the mouse pointer, and the backdrop.
Operators Mathematical operators, conjunctions, and comparisons
Variables and Lists Blocks to access and set variables. Cloud variables can be accessed by all running versions of the project.
My Blocks User-defined functions, accessible as blocks. They have the option to run without a screen refresh.
Extensions Extra blocks and features

Tutorials#