The above video offers an introduction to Scratch. Scratch, a new programming language designed by MIT aims to “let you create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music and art.”
After reading and understanding its in’s and outs, I have mixed feelings about Scratch. Part of me wants to say, “So what?” It’s a programming language that allows you to create a little figure and make it move around your screen. You can create, detail, demand, and direct your little guy and add sound effects.
Initially, I was widely skeptical. I kept thinking to myself, why would I ever want to spend my time making a little cat and having it run around and say things? And honestly, had I just watched the video and read through the program’s details, that would be the total of this blog post: “Scratch is dumb, I would never want to do this.” But then, not knowing what else to write on the subject, what did I decided to do? GOOGLE it. Of course.
Doing a quick google search, I realized that the simple, seemingly pointless nature of the program is not at all a bad thing. Reading what people say about Scratch and seeing its description on Wikipedia, I understand that so much of Scratch is directed to children. Children are the target audience and the point of this programming language is to make it simple, easy to use, and inspire young creative individuals to pursue their interests in programming and designing.
As a child, I probably would have LOVED Scratch. Thinking back to the activities and games I participated in as a child, I’m able to see many parallels between my own childhood computer games and Scratch. Lots of the games I played were pointless and simple. But more importantly than how stimulating and exciting they would be to a college student, they served as stepping stones to the next level of creative activity.
Overall, I’m not the biggest fan of using and figuring out Scratch myself. And don’t even get me started on that frustrating block maze. However, the objectives of the program, I am very impressed with. If it takes giving some commands to a talking, dancing little cat to spark some creativity and passion in a few young people, I’m all for it.
Way to go MIT!