Paper details:One of the beautiful things about programming is that the hardest part is not necessarily learning a coding language and its syntax, but rather, mastering the logic behind it. Once you can train yourself to think in highly logical manners, and hone your problem solving skills, you can effectively teach yourself how to create programs and algorithms in virtually any code language. For Weeks 7 and 8 of this module, you will build these programming foundations with your first coding challenges; using a tool called ‘Scratch’.
Scratch is a programming language developed at the MIT Media Lab, and it makes it easy to create interactive animations accompanied by both music and art. It is a visual computer application that allows the user to create the programs by simply dragging commands from several menus into a programming pad. In this way, you will have the opportunity to focus more on logic and problem solving, rather than syntax. You will also not be working alone. For this Assignment, your Instructor will place you into small groups of three to four, where you will collaborate to code a simple program.
To prepare for this Assignment:
Review your weekly Learning Resources with a focus on simple programming.
Download Scratch (MIT, n.d.).
Fill in the form (optional) and click on ‘Continue to Scratch Download’.
Download the relevant Installer for your computer and install Scratch.
Complete the tasks in the ‘Getting Started Guide’ given below. Here is how to get that guide and others:
The ‘Getting Started Guide’ from the Getting Started with Scratch page (MIT, n.d.).
A guide with more information available from David Malan at Harvard.
The authoritative reference guide: ‘Scratch Reference Guide’ (also available from the Getting Started with Scratch page).
Verify that your installation works by experimenting with Scratch, starting with ‘Getting Started’.
Familiarise yourself with Scratch using resources on the MIT website or other online tutorials as you require.
Scratch supports many languages, and most probably the interface language that you will see after the installation will be your local language.
Reflect on the logical steps required to translate the following into an algorithm:
Say ‘Hello’ for 2 seconds.
Wait 2 seconds.
Multiply the first 7 positive integer numbers (e.g. from 1 to 7).
Subtract 20 from the result.
If the answer is greater than 50, sound ‘Wow.’
Wait 2 seconds.
Say ‘Goodbye’ for 2 seconds.
Collaborate with your group on the given algorithm challenge. Use the Discussion Board provided for your group by your Instructor (this collaboration, along with the end result of your program will be graded).
To complete this Assignment:
Code the following program using Scratch:
Say ‘Hello’ for 2 seconds.
Wait 2 seconds.
Multiply the first 7 positive integer numbers (e.g., from 1 to 7).
Subtract 20 from the result.
If the answer is greater than 50, sound ‘Wow.’
Wait 2 seconds.
Say ‘Goodbye’ for 2 seconds.
To upload your Assignment, do the following:
Transfer your interface language, in Scratch, to English. This is done by clicking the globe icon (the left-most icon in the upper row) and selecting English.
Submit this Scratch Project by using the Assignment Submission Link in the online classroom