Learn to program with ScratchEd

You, too, can learn to program and to teach programming with Scratch.

ScratchEd, a network of educators and learning theorists working together to learn about teaching programming in the Scratch environment, offer a range of ways to learn about Scratch.

Creative Computing Course

For the Summer of Making and Connecting, ScratchEd is pleased to offer a free online course in Creative Computing. Creative Computing is a six-week online workshop for educators who want to learn more about using Scratch and supporting computational thinking in the classroom and other learning environments.

The workshop, which is free, begins on Monday, June 3 and ends on Friday, July 12. Check out the FAQ on the course website for more information about this learning experience.

Scratch Day

The annual Scratch Day, last held May 18, is also great opportunity to be introduced to the learners’ computer-programming language: Scratch. On Scratch Day there are dozens of local events that you can tap into to share what you know and to learn. You can find local events at the Events List.

But even if you missed Scratch Day this year, you can find great resources for your own learning in the materials designed to support educators who want to host a Scratch event. Checkout the Scratch Event Organizing Guide on the Scratch Day website. Other helpful guides and sources of activities that you’ll find at the site include:

• Getting Started with Scratch: Never hosted a Scratch workshop? Looking for new ideas to refresh your current workshop approach? Explore the Getting Started with Scratch workshop guide to learn how to introduce Scratch to kids and adults.
• MIT Scratch Curriculum Guide: The MIT Scratch Curriculum Guide is a 20-session introduction to Scratch. The guide includes numerous Scratch activities and handouts that could be used at an event.
• Design Studio Activities: Whether you are new to Scratch or have been using Scratch for a while, this collection of 16 activities is intended to help you think about the possibilities for different ways of creating with Scratch. Each activity presents a constraint – some element or idea that should be included (or not included) in your project.

And if you already as a Scratch-er, you can start to play with Scratch 2.0. Scratch 2.0 is set to be released later in 2013. As a part of Scratch Day celebrations around the world, we will be featuring Scratch 2.0 for all those who wish to use it. The beta version is now available to try at: beta.scratch.mit.edu

You can see a preview of Scratch 2.0 in this video.