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Scratch screenshot

Scratch is an Object Oriented programming language thought to be used by children.  It is a project by the people at the MIT Media Lab’s LifeLong Kindergarten group,  a very interesting initiative that works on extending the creative learning experience of kindergarten beyond the toddler age.  I colleague at work who has a friend running a pilot program with kids using Scratch to create their own programs told me about how amazing is to see 8 year olds programming their own apps.

I believe that those like myself belonging to the 8-bit generation benefited from having to deal with machines that required some basic technological knowledge to play a game (what most of us wanted to do).  You had to write a simple command line (bload “cas:”, r for instance in an MSX) , and adjust the azimut of the tape player you wuold use to load your games.  I forced you to understand a bit how computers work even if you never thought of going for a career in engineering.  Yet today computers are way too easy to use to bother about how they work.  The result is obvious:  most teens can tweet at lighning speed, but they don’t have the most basic knowledge of how their computers work.

From their website:

Scratch is designed to help young people (ages 8 and up) develop 21st century learning skills. As they create and share Scratch projects, young people learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.

Scratch is available free of charge: go to Download.

I hope Scratch bridges the gap between just using Facebook and search engines and the too cumbersome experience of installing a Linux based developing environment.  I wish a huge success for it.