ICT Support for Learning Turning Programming Into Child's Play.

Turning Programming Into Child's Play. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Online July 2007. Computer programming is not usually taught to 8-year-olds. But a new system developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology turns building video games into child's play. The system is called Scratch, named after a method that hip-hop DJ's use to mix music. The software, available free online, is being used by schools and some colleges to teach basic computer-science concepts while avoiding scary programming jargon. Students have used Scratch to create maze-running games, animated stories, and other interactive amusements. Watch a demonstration of Scratch, and see some of the most popular creations.(Ginny notes: I have reported about Scratch before. This short online video from The Chronicle demonstrates it quite well.)