what is scratch programing

Scratch coding is defined as the process of writing and running programs using Scratch, a free programming language and code editor that helps young learners understand coding logic using blocks and visual aids. This article defines the concept of Scratch coding and its uses in computer science and programming.

Scratch coding is the process of writing and running programs using Scratch, a free programming language and code editor that helps young learners understand coding logic using blocks and visual aids. 

Scratch is a programming platform for children which was created by the MIT Media Lab in 2007.

Here are the main features of Scratch:

  • Teaches children how to write code in a visually eloquent manner. 
  • Offers block-based coding, allowing learners to arrange pre-written instructions to generate actions. 
  • Helps users work together, think imaginatively, and analyze methodically. 
  • Allows them to create animations and graphics that can be shared after a project has been completed. 
  • Allows users to convert completed projects to HTML5, Android applications, Bundle (macOS), or EXE files using external tools.
  • Enables students to blend animation, computer games, and other projects utilizing sounds and visuals.
  • Has an online community that allows children to develop and exchange interactive multimedia such as tales, puzzles, and animations with individuals across the globe. 
  • Offers teachers the option to assign and exchange assignments with students, making it an excellent teaching platform, especially when it comes to remote learning.
  • Great way to introduce kids to computer science and programming.
  • Accessible in 70 languages across the world. In general, 
  • there are two types of coding:
    • Block-based coding (examples include Scratch, code.org, Thunkable, etc.) 
    • Textual coding (examples include C, Java, Python, etc.)

Block-based coding is the basic version of computer programming. It is an excellent method to teach the foundations of programming without sophisticated and convoluted text-based lines of code.

In this type of coding, learners utilize graphical units to build animations and puzzles. Powered by a visual interface, it lets them drag and drop a sequence of blocks. Each block contains a single line of code. Therefore, the user essentially creates software without the assistance of text. This allows them to rapidly comprehend the essential principles and logic of programming.

Because each block performs a separate function or command, you just need to arrange them in a certain sequence for the newly-created program to operate. The usage of blocks also facilitates the detection and correction of programming errors. The visual and participatory nature of block-based coding makes this process simpler and more effective.

The Scratch user dashboard is the region of the screen where the Scratch application is shown. The screen is split into many portions or panes. Each pane serves a distinct purpose, such as choosing blocks to write with, writing code, and seeing the results of your work.

A Scratch UI (comparable to an integrated development environment or IDE) is separated into three primary areas: a staging ground, block palettes, and a coding area. Additionally, users may generate their custom code blocks, which will display in “My Blocks.” Scratch 3.0 (the latest version of Scratch) consists of three elements: 

  • Stage area: The stage area displays the outcomes — for example, animations or turtle graphics, in either a tiny or regular scale, with a full-screen option, while the bottom section lists all sprite thumbnails. The stage employs y and x coordinates, with 0,0 representing the center of the stage.
  • Block palettes: The block palette contains all the instructions that may be dragged and dropped into the project’s code area. One can drag blocks of instructions via the block palettes into the coding area when a sprite is chosen at the lower half of the staging area. 
  • Code area: Code area is the area on the left side of the project editor where codes are assembled. It is meant for placing and arranging blocks as scripts which may be executed by clicking the green signal or tapping on the code itself. The user can choose a sprite character or move instructions from the palette into the coding area, allowing the sprite to perform the desired actions. For instance, a cat cartoon/animation may be programmed to take ten steps forward.
  • Costumes tab: It enables users to alter the appearance of a sprite using a vector and bitmap editor to generate numerous effects, including animation. 
  • Sounds tab: It enables music and sound effects to be attached to a sprite. When designing sprites and backgrounds, users can manually draw their own sprite, select one from the collection, or upload an image. 
  • Paintbrush: It is employed to draw freehand shapes by dragging and dropping. When using the paintbrush tool, a user has to click on the paintbrush icon on the left-hand side of the drawing space in the center of the toolbar. 

Motion - controls the up, down, left, right, and rotation movement of the sprites.

Control - allows you to specify things such as what starts and stops your sprites, how you can move the object, conditional operators such as if/then and repetition.

Looks - affects the appearance of your sprite such as color and costume.

Sensing - controls to sense if your sprite is touching the edge, another color, another sprite, at a specific X or Y coordinate, the sound volume, etc.

Sound - control sounds, pitches, and volume.

Operators - Logic operators including tools to perform match functions, select a random number, greater than, less than, equal to, etc.

Pen - pen functions allows you to draw lines and objects on the stage.

Variables - create variables to hold numbers or text.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Add two number in Scratch

Image
15.04.2023 Computer Science Secondary School answered Scratch program for sum of two numbers ​ See what the community says and unlock a badge.  to add comment Play Unmute bindroomonika01 is waiting for your help. Add your answer and earn points. Answer No one rated this answer yet —  why not be the first?  ЁЯШО Ambitious 15  answers 961  people helped Answer: Here's an example scratch program for finding the sum of two numbers. Explanation: First, drag and drop two "ask" blocks from the “Sensing” category and place them below the “when green flag clicked” block. Change the prompt text on both ask blocks to "Enter a number" and "Enter another number". Drag and drop a "set" block from the “Variables” category, and change the variable name to "num1". Place it under the first "ask" block, and set its value to "answer". Repeat step 3, but change the variable name to "num2" and place it under the second "...
Read more

Change constume of a sprite

To change the  costume  of a sprite (the appearance of a character or object in your program) with Scratch, you can use the « set costume to [costume] » block. Here’s an example of how you can use this block: Start a new  Scratch  project and add a sprite to the stage. In the « Costumes » tab, click the « Import » button to import a new costume for the sprite. You can use an image editor to create your own costume, or you can choose a costume from the Scratch library. In the « Scripts » tab, drag out a « set costume to [costume] » block and select the costume you want to use from the dropdown menu. You can then use this block to change the costume of the sprite when certain events happen, such as when the sprite is clicked on or when a key is pressed. For example, you could create a script that changes the sprite’s costume every time the space key is pressed: Drag out a « when flag clicked » block and add a ...
Read more