Misconception: Students get confused about whether to set or change variables in Scratch. Share Misconception: Students get confused about whether to set or change variables in Scratch. with FacebookShare Misconception: Students get confused about whether to set or change variables in Scratch. with Twitter
Point out Scratch’s built-in variables before students create their own variables so that students become familiar with variable-related blocks. Share Point out Scratch’s built-in variables before students create their own variables so that students become familiar with variable-related blocks. with FacebookShare Point out Scratch’s built-in variables before students create their own variables so that students become familiar with variable-related blocks. with Twitter
Let students solve problems the long, hard, intuitive way first to motivate the use of more advanced Scratch blocks that can help them solve problems in a shorter, faster, more flexible way. Share Let students solve problems the long, hard, intuitive way first to motivate the use of more advanced Scratch blocks that can help them solve problems in a shorter, faster, more flexible way. with FacebookShare Let students solve problems the long, hard, intuitive way first to motivate the use of more advanced Scratch blocks that can help them solve problems in a shorter, faster, more flexible way. with Twitter
Encourage students to break up their Scratch scripts into smaller chunks to help them test and debug their code. Share Encourage students to break up their Scratch scripts into smaller chunks to help them test and debug their code. with FacebookShare Encourage students to break up their Scratch scripts into smaller chunks to help them test and debug their code. with Twitter
Encourage students to make Scratch sprites smaller when making games in order to ease game play and make it more fun. Share Encourage students to make Scratch sprites smaller when making games in order to ease game play and make it more fun. with FacebookShare Encourage students to make Scratch sprites smaller when making games in order to ease game play and make it more fun. with Twitter
Encourage students to make variables visible in Scratch to help them debug their code. Share Encourage students to make variables visible in Scratch to help them debug their code. with FacebookShare Encourage students to make variables visible in Scratch to help them debug their code. with Twitter
Show students multiple examples of iteration in Scratch to help them understand and recognize more abstract programming patterns. Share Show students multiple examples of iteration in Scratch to help them understand and recognize more abstract programming patterns. with FacebookShare Show students multiple examples of iteration in Scratch to help them understand and recognize more abstract programming patterns. with Twitter
Misconception: Students often forget to include a FOREVER block around IF blocks in Scratch when programming games. Share Misconception: Students often forget to include a FOREVER block around IF blocks in Scratch when programming games. with FacebookShare Misconception: Students often forget to include a FOREVER block around IF blocks in Scratch when programming games. with Twitter
Use implicit then explicit variables to make creating new variables more intuitive. Share Use implicit then explicit variables to make creating new variables more intuitive. with FacebookShare Use implicit then explicit variables to make creating new variables more intuitive. with Twitter
Add sound blocks to Scratch code to help students reason about sequencing. Share Add sound blocks to Scratch code to help students reason about sequencing. with FacebookShare Add sound blocks to Scratch code to help students reason about sequencing. with Twitter
Use "and wait" blocks to use blocks that execute sequentially in Scratch. Share Use "and wait" blocks to use blocks that execute sequentially in Scratch. with FacebookShare Use "and wait" blocks to use blocks that execute sequentially in Scratch. with Twitter
Let students write "bad" code to let them apply abstraction to working code. Share Let students write "bad" code to let them apply abstraction to working code. with FacebookShare Let students write "bad" code to let them apply abstraction to working code. with Twitter
When designing early CS courses, use tools with familiar interfaces, like programs with drag and drop components. Share When designing early CS courses, use tools with familiar interfaces, like programs with drag and drop components. with FacebookShare When designing early CS courses, use tools with familiar interfaces, like programs with drag and drop components. with Twitter
Demo Scratch projects can motivate and inspire students; there are interactive examples on the Scratch website, or you can create some yourself based on the topics you plan to teach! Share Demo Scratch projects can motivate and inspire students; there are interactive examples on the Scratch website, or you can create some yourself based on the topics you plan to teach! with FacebookShare Demo Scratch projects can motivate and inspire students; there are interactive examples on the Scratch website, or you can create some yourself based on the topics you plan to teach! with Twitter
Motivate students by having them explore projects created by their peers and then provide feedback on peer projects. Share Motivate students by having them explore projects created by their peers and then provide feedback on peer projects. with FacebookShare Motivate students by having them explore projects created by their peers and then provide feedback on peer projects. with Twitter
Start the day with students pair programming and then split them up; it makes later collaboration natural and reduces frustration. Share Start the day with students pair programming and then split them up; it makes later collaboration natural and reduces frustration. with FacebookShare Start the day with students pair programming and then split them up; it makes later collaboration natural and reduces frustration. with Twitter
Emphasize to students that visual programming languages like Scratch are bona fide computer programming languages. Share Emphasize to students that visual programming languages like Scratch are bona fide computer programming languages. with FacebookShare Emphasize to students that visual programming languages like Scratch are bona fide computer programming languages. with Twitter
Students may have an easier time learning about conditionals when using a visual programming language like Scratch. Share Students may have an easier time learning about conditionals when using a visual programming language like Scratch. with FacebookShare Students may have an easier time learning about conditionals when using a visual programming language like Scratch. with Twitter
Organize curriculum around building a one-level mini-game to introduce elementary school students to introductory computer science. Share Organize curriculum around building a one-level mini-game to introduce elementary school students to introductory computer science. with FacebookShare Organize curriculum around building a one-level mini-game to introduce elementary school students to introductory computer science. with Twitter
Break necessary skills for students down to a meaningful difficulty level to motivate students designing games. Share Break necessary skills for students down to a meaningful difficulty level to motivate students designing games. with FacebookShare Break necessary skills for students down to a meaningful difficulty level to motivate students designing games. with Twitter