Welcome to the Computer Programming Class Wiki

This is a Wiki page.  It is a shared space for us to communicate with each other, for the instructor to provide links and instructions, and for students to find resources and follow guided pathways for learning about lots of new ideas.  Mr. Quinn uses this site every day for class.

The Wiki is organized into folders and files, that can be linked backwards and forwards to provide a seamless environment for the viewer.  Any word or image can be hyper-linked to another page, to a web address or to an embedded code to play a widget or video.  For example, the word wiki is in blue, which means that if you click on it, you'll be linked to the definition on the Wikipedia  website.  It will open in a new window, which you'll have to close to return to the current page.

Summer School Course Info/News

Please contact the instructor if you have any questions about the course.  Students in this class are learning how to program using a free tool called "Scratch".  Students are encouraged to download this program for use on their home computers.  Click on the icon above to link to the Scratch Website home page.  Click here to get to the Scratch Download Page.  

Today's Activity     

Tuesday, June 23, 2015    

dfdWe are working on creating a simple capture game in Scratch. Yesterday we used the Bat and Bee program to learn about creating a "scoring" variable and a timer. We can use the Bat and Bee program again today to demonstrate how create a second LEVEL of the game. Either use YOUR copy of the program we developed yesterday, or download a current version of the Bat and Bee program HERE.

Yesterday we began the Pirate Ship project; the goal was to copy the program as it was developed in the video. You should be nearly finished with that. If you do not have a working copy of the Pirate Ship game, you may download  a working game HERE. You will need this in order to work on adding the enhancements in class today.

Together we will address three "problems" with the Pirate Game as it sits now. 

Problem 1: The arrow movement in "clunky", and you can only move in one direction at a time.

Solution: Use a different type of move block for the pirate ship.

Problem 2: The ship or treasure chest moves too fast or too slow, making the game too easy or too hard.

Solution: Create a variable with a slider control to change the speed by controlling the amount that x or y is changed.

Problem 3: The game is boring.

Solution: Add more levels!  After the player wins the first level, broadcast a message to change backgrounds. The details of this will be discussed and there's a handout to help with this. 

Wednesday, June 24, 2015    

Today is the day we hold the first ever Scratch Animal Olympics! Two teams of animals will compete in a relay race to the finish line - you never know who will win! To begin, click HERE to download the starter file. There is no code in this file yet (you will write it), but it provides the background for the race and sets up the sprites in their starting positions. Next, download the INSTRUCTIONS for the project. We will begin the process together in class, and you can then finish it on your own, working with a PARTNER. Don't worry: if you get stuck we can provide you with some help to get the scripts and timing working correctly. This program is all about the animals COMMUNICATING using the Broadcast and Receive blocks. 

Thursday, June 25, 2015    

Another thing you can do in Scratch is to create a Maze Game. The programming structures to create and navigate a maze should now all be familiar to you - in particular the Broadcast and Receive blocks that are used for sprites to communicate and coordinate with each other. Our final video tutorial is hosted by two British boys who talk you through the process of creating a simple maze. Download and read the instructions for the Maze Game.  You then need to download the video HERE, and set it up as before on a split screen with Scratch.  Feel free to modify the visual components when drawing them in the paint editor.   You may create new levels with completely different challenges and movements. Build upon what you've learned in the Pirate Ship and the Animal Olympics.

How do I create new levels in a Scratch program?    

Remember that going to a new level essentially means resetting the values of scoring and timing variables, changing a background, changing up some sprites, and possibly activating some scripts that only occur in a particular level. Do this in a "When I Recieve" block. The important thing is that the program needs to know WHAT THE CURRENT LEVEL is at all times.  Store the Level number in a variable called "Level" and update it as you go.  Changing levels requires a TRIGGER - this is a Broadcast from the stage (usually) to "Go to Level x". There needs to be a matching Receive block, also on the stage, that is waiting for the Broadcast block to "call" it. If you setup your level changes as Broadcasts in this way, then you'll retain flexibility to jump to any level from any other level at any time. This means that you can design your game to either "replay" a level if you lose, OR jump to any other previous level. Just Broadcast the one you want to jump to. Examine the Pirate Ship - Multiple Levels code carefully to fully understand this.

Question:  How can you share your work with someone (show them your program) without having Scratch installed on your computer? 

Answer:  The solution to this is to realize that you can open a Scratch 1.4 program from the online Scratch 2.0 version. Navigate to Scratch website, click on "Create" to open the file editor, and open your program from the file menu as usual. It will run in your browser without anything installed. This will be demonstrated in class.

Monday, June 29, 2015    

We have the ability to connect an external device (via USB cable) to provide some basic INPUTS to Scratch that can be used to control sprite movement and appearance.  Today we introduce the Digital Sandbox, which consists of a very small computer (perhaps you have heard of the Arduino board?) mounted on a circuit board that contains a microphone, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a button, and a slider control.  Each of these sends a tiny voltage through the USB cable that can be read in Scratch and used to control a desired parameter by an amount that is proportional to the voltage. This will be demonstrated in class. 

Your assignment: Load the Aquarium project. Add AT LEAST TWO new features/adjust old ones to use the Digital Sandbox as an input device.  Be prepared to describe your modifications and allow other students to interact with them.

In case you don't have the Aquarium program, you may download a starter file HERE.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015    

It is now YOUR TURN to come up with an idea for a program, design it, and write it in Scratch. You should incorporate using the Digital Sandbox into your program. Follow the PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS below.

Spend a few minutes on the Scratch website to look programs written by other students - this will give you ideas about what you COULD do.

Option 1: Use the Looks and Pen palettes to create an interactive Digital Masterpiece. The Sandbox input controls can be connected to the various drawing tools to create a wide variety of colorful and creative landscapes – different every time!

Option 2: Design an interactive story. You will need to setup the sequence and timing of “Say” blocks to reveal  an unfolding plot. The Sandbox controls can be used to allow the user to advance the story, to control the background lighting or scenery, the motion of a character, or anything else you can think of.

Option 3: Design a simple interactive game with an objective, challenges, scoring and win/lose strategy. Your game may NOT involve shooting or violence. Use AT LEAST two input controls.

Option 4: Have your own idea? Get clearance from an instructor.

Your projects will be viewed by the class on Thursday.

See the Sidebar links.