"My two sons were immediately hooked. Scratch allows kids to program by 'stacking' commands like LEGO blocks.
Instead of reactively playing video games- now they can create them! They are learning programming and
logic flows without knowing it. The boys learned about random number generators and they learned about XY axes.
If I sat them down to go over these concepts, there would have been eye-rolling and moaning. But if it helps them make their
game work better--it takes a minute to explain and off they go using their newly-learned concepts."
- Lucinda, parent, Massachusetts
"There is a buzz in the room when the kids get going on Scratch projects. Students set design goals for their projects
and problem-solve to fix program bugs. They collaborate, cooperate, co-teach.
They appreciate the power that Scratch gives them to create their own versions of games and animations."
- Karen R., teacher, Minnesota
"Although designed for a younger audience, we've deployed Scratch at the undergraduate level in introductory computer science courses
at Harvard College, Harvard Summer School, and Harvard Extension School. In our view, Scratch lowers the bar to programming,
empowering first-time programmers not only to master programmatic constructs before syntax but also to focus on
problems of logic before syntax. At the undergraduate level, then we view Scratch as a gateway for students
to languages like Java."
- David M., Computer Science Instructor, Massachusetts
"The truly wonderful thing for me is how my 13-year-old son, who does not view himself as a 'computer geek',
but rather a 'theater wonk' kid has taken to Scratch. He was badly turned off to science & math in 6th grade...
A few weeks ago he came home from a chorus rehearsal around 9:00 PM and saw me just messing around with Scratch.
It took me about a 1/2 hour to show him the basics. At midnight I had to pull the plug on the computer.
He had created his first game, and from a Computer Science educator's standpoint, he had mastered concepts
from the first 6 weeks of a traditional mainstream college level CS 1 class... Last week he had the
opportunity to spend the morning with his language arts teacher one-on-one and spent the time showing her
Scratch and the storytelling potential...The magic of Scratch is truly astonishing to me."
- Ursula W., computer science professor, New Jersey
"I've found a great site called Scratch. It's about programming. You snap together blocks to create stories,
games and animations. Then you can share your projects on the web!!! You can download it for free! But you have
to become a member to share your projects. But membership is free as well!"
-Mick, age 10
