Scratch

[Noreen]

I read about this in the "New Scientist" magazine. It's a new type of graphical programming language that allows children to write computer games etc without having to understand all the complications of programming (I think ) It may be of interest to some adults too. The site is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. http://scratch.mit.edu/

Anyone who has struggled with the complexities of C++ or Java knows that writing software is not usually child's play. To develop user-friendly Scratch, the researchers watched how children create and learn with Lego building blocks. Users do not have to write complicated code, but instead drag and "snap together" colourful graphical building blocks, each of which represents a simple programming instruction, such as making a character move 10 steps forward, play a sound, or repeat previous actions.
By snapping together different combinations of these blocks, children can create sequences that build up into animations and games. Some blocks, for example, allow players to control characters using keystrokes. They can also design their own characters and make them speak, as well as adding photos

[Rik]

Whatever happened to good old BASIC?

[Inactive]

Indeed Rik, I recall my Daughter when aged 6 writing BASIC programmes on a very basic ( no pun intended ) computer...she is now 32.

[Rik]

I think kids are better at it than adults might think.

[Inactive]

She certainly was Rik, never made any mistakes, unlike her incompetent Father. 

[Rik]

It's what fathers do, In.

[Inactive]

That and being a Private Bank..

[Rik]

True.

[Noreen]

According to the NS article kids all over the world have been achieving great things with "Scratch", I think that it's great.

[Inactive]

Now all they need to do, is to teach them basic maths and reading/writing skills.

[Captain K]

One of my greatest achievements was writing a program in BASIC on a ZX Spectrum that would plot the radioactive decay curve of a uranium atom!

Cue any "you should get out more" comments....

[Gary]

Now all they need to do, is to teach them basic maths and reading/writing skills.

Why, In? Mugging and shoplifting, and selling drugs get them all they need, so what's the point in getting a decent education

[Gary]

One of my greatest achievements was writing a program in BASIC on a ZX Spectrum that would plot the radioactive decay curve of a uranium atom!

Cue any "you should get out more" comments....

I was going to say one of my greatest achievement's was getting someone to by the spectrum off me

[Noreen]

God! I give up, what a miserable lot you are. I post about something that's helping kids around the world achieve something and all you can do is moan.

[Rik]

I don't know that we're moaning, Noreen, I'm certainly not. I do believe, however, that learning to do things so that you understand them is important. Drag'n'drop has its place, as do calculators, but when kids can't do a bit of mental arithmetic as a result of using calculators, I worry.

[Inactive]

Nor me Rik, to be absolutely honest, I think it may help kids if they were kept away from computers until they are a certain age, it may allow them to grasp the basics first, before moving on to computers.

[Rik]

Agreed, In. You need a grounding, in maths particularly, so that you know when a result is wildly wrong.

[JB]

Nor me Rik, to be absolutely honest, I think it may help kids if they were kept away from computers until they are a certain age, it may allow them to grasp the basics first, before moving on to computers.

Dont no wat your talking about, nevir did me ani arm



PS. In, it's 29C here today and the pool is beckoning!

JB.

[Rik]

Ah shaddup.

[talos2]

It's 19C here and the pool is beckoning,  where's me cue ?

[Rik]

 

[Inactive]

PS. In, it's 29C here today and the pool is beckoning!

JB.

8) Just right, enjoy




Edit: Quote markup sorted

[Inactive]

  Rik.