The free coding platform Scratch, designed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT Media Lab, is now becoming available in version 3.0. Scratch is originally aimed at children from 8 years onwards and allows building and programming simple games and animations. Most of all it’s great fun to learn to programme with it, using blocks of code. What’s new in Scratch 3.0? The blocks seem a bit bigger and easier to manipulate and there are lots of new code blocks, new sprites (objects to manipulate), sounds and backgrounds. It is now built on HTML 5, and consequently from now on also compatible with more devices, such as tablets and even mobile phones. Also new are the extensions: blocks that allow for controlling video, music, pen drawings, text to speech and apparently even physical interfaces such as Lego Mindstorm. It took me only a short time to get used to the new interface. Use Scratch 3.0 online on scratch.mit.edu or download the offline Scratch 3.0 desktop editor. Coding can be serious fun!
You may also like
Celebrating Dedication: MEDEA Awards thank you to our volunteer judges!
Each year, over 100 dedicated judges volunteer their time and expertise to evaluate and assess the entries for the MEDEA Awards. Each of the 260 Judges (in the volunteer database) is carefully selected for their...
6 days ago
1 min read
Media & Learning 2024: Back to the Future? conference highlights
by Kamakshi Rajagopal, Belgium. Sonia Hetzner (FAU) kicked off the proceedings on Day 1 with an exploration of the conference theme “Back to the Future” by examining two possible interpretations of this theme: a return...
6 days ago
10 min read
Digital portfolios as flying containers with open windows
by Chrissi Nerantzi, University of Leeds, UK. What is this about? Well, when I think about digital portfolios, the word “container” comes to mind. Philip Abrami and Helen Barrett have used the term “container” in...
2 weeks ago
6 min read