Week 1: An Introduction to Scratch

About

In this session, we will give an overview of the entire Professional Learning program. We will also explain the research project that this program is a part of.

In this session’s activities, you will find out what Coding and Computational Thinking are and the main reasons why these skills are being introduced into K-6. You will learn about Scratch, the free Coding language and community that is commonly used when teaching Computational Thinking in K-6. You will also create a program in Scratch that combines some essential computational concepts: Sequences, Loops, Events, Data and Conditionals.

Metalanguage

algorithm, computational concept, computational thinking, coding, conditionals loops visual programming, sequences

Materials

Session Outcomes

Stage 3 NSW Syllabus Outcomes

Science and Technology

Digital Technologies

Outcome	How the Outcome is addressed
ST3-3DP-T: defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions	In this session you will design, modify and follow algorithms (steps of instructions for a computer to follow) during the Computational Concepts in Scratch activity.

AITSL Professional Teacher Standards

Standard	How the Standard is addressed
3.4.2: Select and/or create and use a range of resources, including ICT, to engage students in their learning.	In this session you will learn about different resources for teaching Coding, including ‘unplugged’ methods that can be used when you do not have access to a computer lab.
6.2.2: Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.	In this session you will learn about how Coding and Computational Thinking can be incorporated into different areas of the curriculum and STEM.
6.4.2: Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.	In this session you will be introduced to some different tools and approaches for teaching Coding to students with different learning needs (for example, using ScratchJr instead of Scratch).

ACARA General Capabilities

Information and Communication Technology Capability

ICT Capability Element	How this Element is addressed
Creating with ICT	In this session you will create a digital solution (which will be program in Scratch)
Communicating with ICT	In this session you will learn how to share projects in Scratch and about how students can communicate with each other through Scratch
Managing and Operating ICT	In this session you will about how programs created on the Scratch website will be available wherever you log in, as Scratch projects are stored on the website and not the computer they are created on.

Numeracy

Numeracy Element	How this Element is addressed
Estimating and calculating with whole numbers	In the session you will use calculations with whole numbers in the Scratch programs you create. For example, when creating programs that use the play note blocks to play a melody.
Using spatial reasoning	In this session you will use spatial reasoning in the Scratch programs you create. For example, when moving Sprites around the canvas with the move block.

Stage 3 ACARA Digital Technologies Content Descriptors

Content Descriptor	How the Descriptor is addressed
ACTDIP019: Design, modify and follow simple algorithms involving sequences of steps, branching, and iteration (repetition)	In this session you will design, modify and follow algorithms (steps of instructions for a computer to follow) during the Computational Concepts in Scratch activity. The Computational Concepts you will learn about are sequences (sequences of steps), conditionals (branching) and loops (iteration).
ACTDIP020: Implement digital solutions as simple visual programs involving branching, iteration (repetition), and user input	In this session you will implement a program in Scratch, a visual programming language, that includes conditionals (branching) and loops (iteration).