For this course you are to complete a mini project during each of four different lesson cycles, one of which you will be asked to select to become embedded into your final project.
The idea of introducing the mini projects is to allow you to practice with the selected software product so you can become familiar enough with it to make a decision whether or not to use it in your final project. In your reflection for each mini project, you are to post the artifact (either the artifact itself or a link to it). You are to also post a reflection describing your experiences with it and your assessment as to its applicability for a classroom environment.
For your final project, select one of the four and dig a little deeper into it by developing a functionally rich artifact that can be integrated into a lesson you create.
For each mini project we ask you to spent enough time on the product to assess its usefulness in a classroom and to be able to describe the circumstances under which it could be utilized.
Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art — and share your creations on the web. It has become the inspiration for many that follow (some of which we review in this course)..
As young people create and share Scratch projects, they learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.
Here are some cool links:
- Information about Scratch. This is where you will also find several tutorials and educational uses for Scratch.
- News – Stories about Scratch in education.
- Visit the Scratch Conference and Scratch Day sites at MIT.
Scratch was developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, with financial support from the National Science Foundation, Microsoft, Intel Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Google, Iomega and MIT Media Lab research consortia.
Just getting started with Scratch?
If you’re new to Scratch, there are a variety of resources that can be helpful in getting started, all a part of an overall Scratch help Page.
Different people get started with Scratch in different ways. Some like to tinker with various blocks to see what they do. Others like to experiment with the sample projects that come with Scratch, and then make changes to the scripts.
Mini Project Activity:
Note that for this activity, there are TWO deliverables:
- Create a small mini project using Scratch. This should be educational in nature (i.e., teach something through story). It can be on any subject matter you choose. Make it creative. Upload the project file and a run time version that is rendered so it can be played by your classmates (that is if you can find one).
Upload the run-time files into the drop box in Canvas or post a link to it. The idea is to show that you have learned enough about this program to be able to make a judgment about its applicability in educational environments and can complete parts 2 and 3.
- Also post in the Drop Box a reflection on this program, answering the following questions:
- How would you envision using Scratch in your environment?
- On a scale of 0-5 (5=very easy/intuitive) how would you rate the user interface with this product. Explain your rating in a few sentences.
- Did you run across another completed project on the site that you particularly liked? Why do you think it is important to show visitors others’projects?
- Explain your personal experiences with the product .. trials and tribulations, ah-ha! moments , etc).
- Noting that this also began as a doctoral thesis project, review this in terms of your impressions about the kinds of work required at certain universities in so far as requirements for Doctoral/MFA degrees. Do you think this kind of thing is appropriate? How would it be if FGCU instituted something similar (on a smaller scale) of a portfolio type of project requirement for its Ed Tech program?.. this is something we will discuss further online in our class..