On March 26, 2009, the Downtown Elementary Computer Club was privileged with a visit from Dr. Juan Carlos Olabe-Besogain from the engineering department at Christian Brothers University.  He conducted a two-hour workshop involving Scratch.

The Computer Club students were introduced to the concepts required to make a video game using the program.  Fourth grade student, Matthew, commented, “I want to become an engineer when I grow up and I hope to go to MIT.  Scratch was made by MIT.”  Dr. Olabe-Besogain reminded Matthew to tell MIT that he used Scratch when he was in school.

Students created several different varieties of video games including versions of Pacman, scrolling car games, and puzzles.  Students learned how to include use of variables to assign points to in-game actions.  Utilizing several different applications, sixth grader Ariael was able to create a version of Pacman in which her own head was the moving character.  Computer Club students thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and have already been able to add suggestions of Scratch expertise to classmates working on projects during regular class sessions in the computer lab.  This is a great resource students now have—advice from a neighbor more knowledgeable about the application who is excited to impart it.

Also, I have signed our school up as a Memphis host for Scratch Day which will occur on May 16, 2009.

Scratch Day is a worldwide network of gatherings, where people will come together to meet other Scratchers, share projects and experiences, and learn more about Scratch.

More information to come as I put together some plans!