We at Youth Code Jam use Scratch in a lot of our coding activities. In fact we use it so much for our lessons, that we have a YouTube playlist dedicated to Scratch coding activities. Families new to Youth Code Jam, as well as those who have been with us for a while, probably wonder why we use this tool so much in our programming. Read on to find out why and what exactly Scratch is.

What it is

• Scratch is a free program developed by MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten Group for learners of all ages (yes, even adult learners)!
• This graphics-based interface let’s students learn how to code by focusing on coding logic instead of syntax through colorful blocks that are grouped by shared or similar purposes.
• It combines art and music with coding.
• It supports extensions with other tech tools like micro:bit and video sensing.
• Scratch is available in many languages, making it a unique coding tool for bilingual learners or those learning English as a second language.
• It is an online community. Users are able to share products, receive and give feedback, and explore other people’s projects.

Why we use it

• It’s accessible: Scratch is free and can be used without an account. But if students want to take part in the Scratch community, they can create a free account.
• It’s versatile: Scratch can be used online through a browser, offline with the Desktop application, or through a browser on a tablet. There’s also Scratch Jr, which is a coding app for pre-readers that can be used on a tablet device. Unfortunately, neither Scratch or Scratch Jr are compatible with a smartphone.
• It’s engaging: Between the colors, animation-based projects, and the ability to customize almost every aspect, Scratch is a welcoming coding tool for beginners who may be hesitant to learn to code, especially if they’ve been told coding is hard.
• It supports collaboration: Learners with online accounts can share their projects with others and work together to improve them.
• It promotes self-learning: Students can learn from tutorials and by checking out other people’s public projects thanks to being able to look at the code.
• It’s fun and supports creativity: Learning is a lot less of a chore when students get to have fun and bring their own creative thoughts to an assignment.

So there’s the basics of what Scratch is and why it’s so popular with YCJ staff. If you’d like to learn more, check out the Scratch About page.