From spark to fire: hardcore programming stuff for young learners

Programming is hardcore stuff for most fifth graders in the Philippines. But giving learners that wide space to make mistakes and carry on hits a lot of competencies and skills at the same time. It helps build resilience and grit while furthering creativity and thinking skills. That’s what we want for our budding coders.

And that is what Scratch programming is all about. Scratch is a programming language for young learners developed by MIT coders, alongside child psychologists, educators, and analysts to introduce children to programming or coding through the use of color-coded blocks, characters, and backdrops that can be pulled and stacked together right into a blank platform. The great thing about this platform is that it can be used offline by learners.

While young children were the inspiration in coming up with this programming language, Scratch has helped even those who are in higher levels of learning. In a study, Cardenas-Cobo et al. (2021) concluded that programming was learned easier and faster when Scratch was used for college students in a university in Ecuador. Further, it was also helpful when incorporated in other subjects. Iskrenovic-Momcilovic (2020) saw better understanding in the study of geometry with the third grade class, while Bahar (2021) said that it was beneficial in language learning and collaboration, and a great tool for motivation.

In 2013, to ensure that Scratch remains available for free to all children around the world, an independent nonprofit foundation was established by Mitchel Resnick and David Siegel. They also want to continue to make Scratch relevant and meaningful to young coders. Thus, yearly, Scratch Foundation organizes an event for enthusiasts, learners, educators, and other stakeholders, to collaborate and share best practices, and to introduce and strengthen new tools and features. In this year’s virtual global event titled “Sparking Creative Connections,” one of the features that was highlighted was the Backpack. It was formally introduced via a short talk on how a more culturally relevant Scratch can be helpful for coders.

How is culture related to coders or Backpack? Think of the backpack as a safe-keeper of what coders hold dear. Just like you and me when going to different places and meeting new people, coders are allowed to retain the core of their person and culture through this backpack. Truly, the culture of learners plays a big role in the projects, concepts, and collaboration that they create and share. Making Scratch more attuned to the coders’ culture will boost creativity and pride in their person and race.

More than a hundred Scratchers from all over the world watched and worked on a project with Tracy Tang from the United Kingdom and Krystof Jaworski from Poland, with Prasanth Nori of India as one of the moderators. The Backpack presentation was just one of the topics that the Scratch conference had for this year. And it truly was a spark that may burn aflame soon, as Scratchers begin to use it.

Scratch conferences are great venues to present innovations in programming. For educators like me, it is exciting to know that the language that we teach is alive, and that new features are developed and added to make it more interesting and more attuned to the learners’ need. It’s also a great joy to come alongside coding enthusiasts. I was tasked to give examples on how a culturally relevant Scratch is important. And somehow, it truly ignited a spark in me.

How can I make this possible, not only in my school, but for other children in the country? I would like to ignite a spark in a learner’s mind, young or otherwise, and set it on fire through Scratch. Can we build our computer education using Scratch? Possibly. Especially with schools and universities attesting to its effectiveness, we can give it a try. I’d like to see more children in this country learn Scratch and create projects designed to improve their lives and that of our country.

RUTH FERNANDEZ-YAP
Teacher