Scratch Workshop 1st-5th June 2015

Galway Education Centre

Scratch is a free computer application that allows students to program their own
interactive stories, games and animations. Scratch helps children to:

Think creatively

Use higher order thinking skills

Work collaboratively

Develop Mathematical Skills

Be actively engaged in their own learning

The purpose of this course was to introduce teachers to Scratch, so they would
then teach it to pupils of their schools in 2015-2016. As well as understanding
the operation of Scratch we also focussed on its benefits and how it can support
Literacy and Numeracy in the curriculum.
Course Objectives:
During the course participants were enabled to:

Gain an understanding of the potential uses of Scratch to support teaching

and learning, with a particular focus on literacy and numeracy activities
Become familiar with the main features of Scratch
Access supports and resources for Scratch
Create a Scratch project demonstrating a knowledge of the software
Use Scratch to support students with special educational needs

Course Content:
The course consisted of the following modules:
Module 1: An Introduction to Scratch Coding. Downloading and installing the
software. Understanding the interface. Saving projects to an online account.
Module 2: Motion and looks in Scratch. Practical activities to practice these
skills
Module 3: Dialogue in Scratch. Using imported sound and images in Scratch.
Practical activities to practice these skills. Resources on the Scratch website.
Module 4: Broadcasting and Sensing blocks in Scratch. Practical activities and
projects to practice these skills.

Module 5: Data and Pen blocks in Scratch. Practical activities and projects to
practice these skills. Creating games in Scratch. Creating 2-D shapes in Scratch
using the Pen tool.