Scratch Programming

What is Scratch?
Scratch is a fun, easy to use software from M.I.T. (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). It allows you to create games, animations, and simulations while you learn the basics of computer programming. Its online and free, so you can use it at home, too! There are a lot of people who use Scratch. You can find tutorials online to help you use the program, forums to see people talking about Scratch, see other peoples projects, and upload your own for others to see!

Scratch Versions
There are two versions of Scratch. In version 1, all your files were saved on the computer. In version 2, everything is stored in the cloud! That means its on the internet, so you can access it from anywhere. Some parts of this PowerPoint may focus on a different version of the program, so keep your eyes out for differences.

What is a computer?
A computer is any programmable machine that can take in and store information, and produce something useful with that information. They have evolved a lot since their beginning. Early computers were simple mechanical devices that allowed people to keep track of information or perform calculations, like the clock, the abacus, the player piano or the slide rule.

Even computers asw

Modern Computers
Modern computers are complex, powerful electronic devices that use electricity and microprocessors or chips. They still perform the typical computer function, to take in and store information and produce something useful with it. When modern computers began, they were very large, taking up whole rooms, and were not even as powerful as your phone! The colossus was an early computer that used roles of paper to calculate codes! You can learn more about the history of modern computers here.

Hardware vs. Software

HARDWARE is the equipment that makes up a computer system. This may be the hardware you can see, like the keyboard or monitor (display). It also includes the equipment inside the computer, like chips and circuit boards. SOFTWARE refers to the computer instructions and information, which are called programs. You use these to write, draw, or play games on the computer.

Microprocessors/Chips
Personal computers became possible in the 1970s with the development of the microprocessor, or chip. Chips compress electronic circuits into very small spaces. They contain information for most of the functions of the computer. There are millions or even billions of transistors inside the chip that are connected by fine copper wires. Transistors are special electronic components with on/off switches that control the flow of electricity through the chip, which determines the actions of the computer. The CPU (central processing unit) is a special chip that runs the programs that tell computers what to do. Modern chips are made of silicon, which is also the material that makes glass.

Programming Languages
We communicate with computers using programming languages that control the behavior of machines and tell the computer the specific steps to perform a process, operation, or calculation. The earliest programming languages go back over 200 years and controlled simple machines like the player piano. Modern programming languages include C, C++, Java, and Python. Right now, you are using several types of software to operate the computer, read this Launcher, surf the web, etc. These were all written in programming languages. Programs use a clear set of step-by-step instructions, called commands. Learning to use these allows you to program computers to perform useful or entertaining tasks.

Programming Jobs
People who use programming languages to create software are called computer programmers or computer software engineers. Computer programming is one of the fastest growing job sectors in this country! Most computer programmers will specialize in one of the the programming languages, depending on the types and uses of the software they plan to create.

Important Programming Notes

You may find yourself saying it didnt work a lot while programming. Thats because programs are simple-minded and do only exactly what theyre told. They dont know what you WANT them to do, they can only follow directions exactly in the order you gave them. You will need to TEST and REVISE many times to DEBUG your program. Keep at it, and eventually it will behave the way you want it to!