Scratch Course

 

Task 1

Task  one is to make a scratch program that asks 10 different questions and the user enters the answers. This program should use sensing operation in scratch. When the answer is correct it should move to next question. If the answer is wrong then the same question should be repeated.

Outcomes

  • Able to understand sensing operation in scratch.
  • Able to make a simple scratch program.

Task2

The pen function, motion functions were introduced. To get more information about the following function, We did a session with government school with the following function. To get more info visit the link http://www.auraauro.com/school/savarayalu-8th-grade-class-200217/

Task to complete:

  • The challenge is to draw a square, triangle and a circle in scratch.

Outcomes

  • To be able to use pen up and pen down function.
  • Able to understand and use motion commands like move, turn (right, left) using degrees etc.
  • Able to draw a square, triangle and a circle using scratch.
  • Able to use pen size, pen colour, change pen colour and pen shade.

Task 3

Scratch can be used to make games. In the third session we asked the children to make a maze game. To get more information on the session visit http://www.auraauro.com/school/savarayalu-8th-grade-class-20170220-2/

Task given:

  • The task was to use the pen function and draw line when the object moves in the maze game to find out whether the object is moving smoothly or hardly.
  • Then the children worked in pairs with each other and also with their teacher on the pen function and were able to draw line when the object moved.

Outcomes

  • Able to create a maze path background image.
  • Able to use sensing functions.
  • Become familiar with motion functions.

Task 4

Once the previous task was completed the children added score function to the maze game.

Task given:

  1. Create score and increase it for every right answer.
  2. Decrease score for every wrong answer or reset to 0.
  3. Create a repeat until loop for each of the if else conditions.

Outcome

  • Able to use functions that are present in control block.
  • Able to use logic using if statements.
  • Able to  set a variable using Data block.

Task 5

In the 5th session Function and Variables are introduced. To draw a circle with by creating a simple  function with variables. For more information you can visit the following link http://www.auraauro.com/school/savarayalu-8th-grade-class-03032017/

 

Task given:

  • How to draw a circle and check how many circles can be drawn around a circle with the same diameter touching each other.
  • How  to draw a circle from smaller to bigger circle with the same between each other.

Outcome

  • Able to create a function .
  • Able to  set a variable using Data block.
  • Able to reduce the size of the code.

2016 Reflections

In the beginning of 2016 I was assigned to a new project on Python called Cello (Graphical User Interface for a chip). Working on this project has improved my skill in Python and my style of thinking.

I was a beginner to Python language. I had spent quite a lot of time even with some small logic. Initially, I followed trial and error method to make my program work without much logical thinking. Indeed, I hoped for the best out it like a magic (Yes, it did work for quite a few sometimes).

Fortunately, I was able to make some small pieces of code (functions) to work. That gave me the confidence to strive to break down my program into smaller logical units. After sometime, suddenly, I realized I had started liking what I do and it seemed that I was very eager to make things work. However,  I was still a novice and I had only thought through things superficially and had no depth in it. Most of my programs were inefficient and had no comments for future reference.

After few months I completed the initial specifications project and thought I was done. It was then that I was asked to add few more features in it. It was only at that time I started to realize all my incorrect assumptions and mistakes. I think that experience was for my growth and how I did so consciously,  the capacity to deal with stress and ability to think about the big picture rather to be stuck with some of my assumptions particularly when I design something.

On the other hand, I played the role of Teacher in two schools (I’m a volunteer at two schools- IsaiAmbalam and Udavi). It was as much of a challenge as being a good programmer. I realized, it was easy for me to deliver a lecture to the class, but that did not give the result which I expected. I started having one to one conversations. I didn’t change the whole picture but few students had taken the responsibility of their own growth and started working towards it.

Later, rest of the students started noticing it and wanted to be like them. In other words, those few people inspired others simply by their action & outputs. Generally it’s hard to track each child, but this is what I’m doing and I’m happy too. I fell proud when a child teaches me something which I have no idea. I learned many things when I sit with a child (particularly problem solving skills, reasoning, aptitude and how to make myself light & happy).

Aura Auro had given me an opportunity to attend Vipassana also. That helped me to look at myself and find out what I really care for and what all are my biases. This was my biggest learning of 2016.