Scratch Video Update: Episode 3

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In Episode 3 of the Scratch Video Update, hosts Eric and Rick highlight the importance of community-driven tutorials in Scratch, showcasing projects like “Fix It Pong” and a vector art tutorial that encourage interactive learning. They also introduce viewers to various tutorial studios and starter projects that offer fun ways to enhance Scratch skills. The episode concludes with a glimpse into the Scratch headquarters, featuring Mitch Resnik’s creative workspace and his collection of Scratch memorabilia.

Scratch Video Update: Episode 3

Hello everyone! Welcome to the third episode of the Scratch Update. My name is Eric, also known as Speak Vigil on Scratch, and I’m here with Rick Rose, who is also known as Rick Rose on Scratch. We’re excited to share some cool things happening in the Scratch community!

Learning with Scratch Tutorials

In this episode, we’re focusing on how Scratchers help each other by creating tutorial projects. These projects are a great way to learn new skills and improve your Scratch projects.

One of my favorite projects is called “Fix It Pong” by a user named Theoregrits. Instead of just following instructions, this project lets you learn by fixing a broken Pong game. You click the “C” button to start, and there are hints in the code to help you fix it. It’s a fun and creative way to learn Scratch!

Rick’s favorite tutorial is by Day 30, and it’s all about vector art. This tutorial teaches you how to use the reshape tool to change vector objects by moving dots around. You can learn cool tricks like line art techniques and shading to make your vector art look amazing.

Things to Try

There are so many tutorials to explore! I found two studios that have a lot of them. One is called “Tutorial Madness,” with over 300 tutorials on Scratch, artwork, and even Photoshop. The other is “Scratch Tutorials,” which has 20 to 30 Scratch-specific tutorials that are really helpful.

If you haven’t tried the starter projects in Scratch, they’re a great way to learn. For example, there’s a video sensing project where you can lift a pizza using your hands or head. There are also interactive art projects that use the microphone for creative artwork, and a dance project where you can code dance moves to music.

Starter projects are fun for everyone, even if you’re already good at Scratch. You might find something new and exciting to try!

A Peek Inside the Scratch Headquarters

Now, let’s hear from the Scratch team. We wanted to show you more of the Scratch headquarters. Mitch Resnik, known as M res on Scratch, gives us a tour of his office.

In Mitch’s office, there’s a whiteboard where he collects letters from people who love Scratch. He has letters from a proud parent and a workshop in Italy. Mitch also has cool Scratch items from around the world, like a Scratch hat from Mexico and a fan from Japan.

On his table, there are books about Scratch from different countries, including Japan and China. There’s even a special book by a former Scratch team member, Tommy Stern, about the development of Scratch over the years.

Mitch also has some crafty Scratch cats made with pipe cleaners. It’s a fun and creative office, and Mitch loves sharing it with everyone!

See You Next Time!

That’s it for our Scratch video update! We hope you enjoyed learning about the Scratch community and all the amazing things you can do with Scratch. We’re heading back into the snow now. See you later, and see you next week!

  1. What new insights did you gain about the Scratch community from this episode, and how do you think these insights could influence your own projects?
  2. Reflect on the tutorial projects mentioned in the article. How do you think these projects can enhance a learner’s experience with Scratch?
  3. Consider the “Fix It Pong” project. How does the approach of learning by fixing a broken game differ from traditional learning methods, and what benefits might it offer?
  4. Rick’s favorite tutorial involves vector art. How do you think learning vector art techniques can impact your creative projects on Scratch?
  5. What are your thoughts on the variety of tutorials available in the “Tutorial Madness” and “Scratch Tutorials” studios? How might these resources support your learning journey?
  6. Have you tried any of the starter projects mentioned in the article? If so, what was your experience like, and if not, which one would you be most interested in trying?
  7. Reflect on the description of Mitch Resnik’s office. How does the environment and collection of items reflect the global impact of Scratch?
  8. What aspects of the Scratch headquarters tour did you find most intriguing, and how do they inspire you in your own creative endeavors?
  1. Fix It Pong Challenge

    Try out the “Fix It Pong” project by Theoregrits. Your task is to identify and fix the errors in the Pong game. Use the hints provided in the code to guide you. This activity will help you improve your problem-solving skills and understanding of Scratch coding.

  2. Create Your Own Vector Art

    Explore the vector art tutorial by Day 30. Use the reshape tool to create your own vector art masterpiece. Experiment with line art techniques and shading to make your artwork stand out. Share your creation with the class!

  3. Explore Tutorial Madness

    Visit the “Tutorial Madness” studio and choose a tutorial that interests you. Follow the steps to create a new Scratch project or improve an existing one. Present your project to the class and explain what you learned from the tutorial.

  4. Starter Project Exploration

    Pick a starter project from Scratch, such as the video sensing or interactive art project. Experiment with the features and try to add your own twist to the project. Discuss with your classmates what new skills you learned while working on it.

  5. Design a Scratch Headquarters Tour

    Imagine you are giving a tour of the Scratch headquarters. Create a Scratch project that showcases different areas of the headquarters, including Mitch Resnik’s office. Include fun facts and items you might find there, like the Scratch hat from Mexico or the crafty Scratch cats.

Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:

Hey everyone, greetings from outside the Scratch headquarters on the MIT campus! My name is Eric, also known as Speak Vigil on Scratch, and I’m joined by Rick Rose, also known as Rick Rose on Scratch. Welcome to the third episode of the Scratch Update!

We’ve been having a lot of snow in Boston, so we thought it would be fun to take you outside for this video update. Just kidding—it’s really cold out! Look at my glasses; they’re all fogged up, and I can’t feel my fingers!

So, joining you from inside today. Last week, we highlighted Studios, and this week, we want to focus on how Scratchers help each other in the community through tutorial projects.

Our first segment is about a project I love. It’s by the user Theoregrits and is called “Fix It Pong.” Many tutorials follow step-by-step instructions, but Theoregrits took a different approach. They shared a project with a broken Pong game, and the first step was to click the “C” button. They included hints in the code on how to fix it, allowing you to learn by fixing the code and seeing the effects in the Scratch project. I thought that was a really inventive way to teach Scratch!

My tutorial pick is by Day 30, which is a vector tutorial. Day 30 introduces a tool called the reshape tool, allowing you to manipulate vector objects by moving dots around to shape them as you like. Through a step-by-step process, Day 30 shares some cool tricks, including line art techniques and shading to add more dimension to your vector art.

Those are just two examples of the many tutorials available. This leads us to our next segment: Things to Try!

I found two studios that feature a variety of tutorials. One is called “Tutorial Madness,” which has at least 300 tutorials covering Scratch, artwork, and even Photoshop. The other studio is called “Scratch Tutorials,” which has around 20 to 30 Scratch-specific tutorials worth checking out.

If you haven’t explored the starter projects in Scratch, we have some simple ones that demonstrate different features. For example, one video sensing project involves lifting a pizza using your hands or head. There are also interactive art projects that utilize the internal microphone for creative artwork, and a dance project where you can code moves to music.

Starter projects have something for everyone, even for experienced Scratchers. There are various genres, and you might discover something new!

Now, let’s move on to our message from the Scratch team. We wanted to build on last week’s tour of the Scratch headquarters. One area we didn’t cover in detail is Em’s office, which has some interesting things to show.

Welcome to my office! I’m Mitch Resnik (M res on the Scratch website). Let me show you around. Over here on the whiteboard, I like to collect letters I receive about Scratch. Here’s one from a proud Scratch parent, and another note from a workshop in Italy. I love getting those letters!

I also have some Scratch items made by community members, like a Scratch hat from Mexico and a fan I received in Japan. On this table, there are books written about Scratch from around the world, including one from Japan and one from China. There’s even a special book by a former Scratch team member, Tommy Stern, showcasing the development of Scratch over the past decade.

Here are some crafty Scratch cats made with pipe cleaners. I hope you enjoyed the tour of my office, and I look forward to seeing you on the Scratch website. Keep on scratching!

That wraps up our Scratch video update! What should we do now? I think we should find that ruler to keep things organized. We’re going to head back into the snow. See you later, and see you next week!

This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any informal language and personal remarks that may not be suitable for all audiences.

ScratchA programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations. – Example sentence: In Scratch, you can drag and drop blocks to create your own games and animations.

TutorialsStep-by-step guides that help you learn how to do something new, like coding or using a software program. – Example sentence: I followed the tutorials to learn how to make a simple game in Scratch.

ProjectsActivities or tasks that you work on to create something, like a game or a program. – Example sentence: Our teacher asked us to complete our coding projects by the end of the month.

CodingThe process of writing instructions for a computer to follow, using a programming language. – Example sentence: Coding can be fun because you get to create your own programs and games.

LearnTo gain knowledge or skills by studying, practicing, or being taught. – Example sentence: I want to learn how to code so I can make my own video games.

CreativeUsing imagination to make something new or original, like a story, game, or artwork. – Example sentence: Coding allows you to be creative by designing your own characters and stories.

VectorA type of graphic that uses mathematical formulas to create images that can be resized without losing quality. – Example sentence: In Scratch, you can use vector graphics to make your sprites look smooth and clear.

ArtCreative work that expresses ideas or feelings, often using visual elements like drawings or animations. – Example sentence: I used digital art to design the background for my Scratch project.

CommunityA group of people who share common interests and interact with each other, often online. – Example sentence: The Scratch community is a great place to share your projects and get feedback from others.

SkillsAbilities or expertise that you develop through practice and learning, like coding or problem-solving. – Example sentence: By working on coding projects, you can improve your problem-solving skills.

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