ABOUT SCRATCH
Scratch is a free desktop and online visual coding language that allows young students, teachers, and parents to easily create and develop their own interactive animations, stories, games, and art. Click here to learn more.
PREPARING FOR THE COMPETITION
Here are some resources to help students and coaches prepare:
Learn Scratch
Scratch video tutorials
More Scratch video tutorials
Scratch flashcards
Computer Science terms flashcards
Computer Science from A to Z
In addition, we will be holding two workshops to get students familiar with the format of the individual and team tests. More information will be provided to competitors closer to the tournament dates.
WHAT TO BRING
Teams should bring their own computer(s) with Scratch 2.0 installed. They will not have Internet access to download onsite and will not be permitted to use the browser version. They will not be able to compete in the team competition if they do not have Scratch 2.0 installed on their computer. For installation instructions click the following link: Scratch 2.0 – http://scratch.mit.edu/Scratch_2.0/
Some light snacks will be provided but please bring your own lunch.
PROGRAMMING TOOLS INVENTORY
- Scratch, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Scratch can be used to program your own interactive stories, games, and animations and share your creations with others in the online community
- Kodu, Microsoft Research
Kodu is a visual programming language for children for creating games. The programming environment runs on the Xbox, allowing rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input
- Greenfoot, University of Kent in Canterbury, UK.
Greenfoot teaches object orientation with Java. Create ‘actors’ which live in ‘worlds’ to build games, simulations, and other graphical programs
- App Inventor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
App Inventor is a blocks-based programming tool that allows everyone, even novices, to start programming and build fully functional apps for Android devices
- Python
Python is a programming language that lets you work more quickly and integrate your systems more effectively
- Touchdevelop Microsoft Research
TouchDevelop lets you create apps on iPad, iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, WP. The touch-friendly editor makes coding fun, even on your phone or tablet
- Arduino
Arduino is an open-source hardware & software platform, based on a simple microcontroller board, and a development environment, for making computers that can sense and control more of the physical world around you.
- Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard. It allows kids to learn how to manipulate the electronic world around them, and how to program computers.
- .NET Gadgeteer
Microsoft .NET Gadgeteer is an open-source hardware platform for rapid prototyping of electronic gadgets. It combines solderless assembly of electronics with object-oriented programming for building small, powerful stand-alone and embedded hardware devices.