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2010-Kicking It Up a Notch

Teaching Kids To Think Using Scratch

Presenter: Chris Betcher
Location: Sydney, Australia
Link to presenter’s K12Online Ning Profile page

Presentation Title: Teaching Kids To Think Using Scratch

Presentation Description: Scratch is a simple yet powerful programming language for children that is very easy to use yet contains many of the important programming constructs found in more “grown up” languages.
This presentation looks at some of the key ideas behind programming in Scratch, explores some possible tasks that students could be given to encourage problem solving and higher level thinking, and finishes with a snapshot of a student view into how Scratch is making a difference to learning.

DotSub Video Presentation Link

Blip m4v direct link (video file)
Blip mp3 direct link (audio file)

Link to presentation’s supporting documents:
http://www.chrisbetcher.com/scratch

Additional Information:
Blog: www.chrisbetcher.com
Twitter: @betchaboy
Skype: betchaboy

comments

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  2. Chris Betcher

    IN the post-publication comments on my blog, it was suggested that a great resource for Scratch would be to come up with a list of graded challenges that kids could work on using Scratch.

    I’m imagining a wiki-like resource which could act as a clearinghouse for good scratch tasks, ideas and challenges that could be given to kids to allow them to flex their Scratch muscles. They could be graded into beginner, easy, medium, hard and “for the experts” and teachers could use the collection as a place to find idea for what their kids could try to do with Scratch.

    What do you think?

    We are looking for others who might like to contribute to the collection. If you’d like to add your ideas drop over to the wiki at http://chrisbetcher.com/scratch and register your interest… I’ll arrange a time to share ideas together, or whatever else we need to do to make it happen.

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  4. Kent Chesnut

    Chris mentions using Scratch on an iPod and iPad near the end of his talk. Anyone know what the name of the app is? I’m not having much luck finding it in iTunes.
    Thanks,
    Kent

  5. Chris Betcher

    @Kent.

    Sorry to mislead you there… I found out after this presentation was published that the Scratch app was actually pulled from the Apple App Store. I had downloaded to my devices previously, which is why I mentioned it, but apparently it is no longer available.

    Sorry!

    If it makes you feel any better, you couldn’t actually create Scratch programs using the iOS Scratch app, you could only browse and play files from the Scratch website.

    Chris

  6. Kent Chesnut

    Chris,

    Thanks for the feedback. I had heard that there was a iphone app that was later pulled… but was hoping you had found something new.
    Great presentation! Keep up the great work.

    Have a great day,
    Kent

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