- Supports the development of 21st century learning skills. According to Scratch developers, Scratch supports the nine types of 21st century learning skills identified by the Partnership for the 21st Century (http://www.p21.org) ;these skills include: thinking creatively, communicating clearly, analyzing systematically, collaborating effectively, designing iteratively, and learning continuously.(Rusk,Resnick,& Maloney,n.d.).
- Supports the development of programming skills by making programming more engaging and accessible for children, teens, and others. According to the National Research Council(NRC)(1999), algorithmic thinking and programming is a 21st century skill to be learned by all students.
- It’s a tool used for teaching and learning across the curriculum. According to Crook, (2009) Scratch offers the teacher an opportunity to embed the computer into everyday school activities by getting the class to develop skills in digital literacy related to a variety of curriculum topics.
- It’s free. Sixty-three percent of the teachers surveyed by PBS LearningMedia (2012) stated that limited budget for technology adoption was the biggest barrier to accessing technology in the classroom.
References
Crook, S.J. (2009). Embedding scratch in the classroom. Redware Research Limited.
National Research Council (1999). Being fluent with information technology. Washington, DC:National Academy Press.
PBS LearningMedia (2012). National PBS survey finds teachers want more access to classroom tech[Press release].
Rusk,N.,Resnick, M.,& Maloney,J.(n.d.). Learning with scratch:21st century learning skills.