Recently in our Ecmp 355 class we learnt about coding and one of our assignments was to create our own “code animation” using a learn to code website. I chose to use Scratch. Scratch allows you to create games, projects, stories, music, instruments, animation, media, art and characters. You can then share them in the online communiy.
Here is a fun little video that helps explain what Sratch is!
When I first logged on to Scrath to start creating my animation, I was so confused and overwhelmed. I barely understood what coding was and now I was expected to know how to do it. Thankfully though, Scratch has a wonderful list of step by step instructions for different projects such as learn how to create a game of hide and seek, create a virtual pet and introduce them. how to choreograpgh a dance and many others.After playing around with a few of the different tutorials for awhile, I chose to do dance dance dance (an interactive dance scene).
List of steps for Dance, Dance, Dance
A quick summery of the list of steps I did is as follows:
- choose a background
- pick a dancer
- add music
- code your music
- add dance steps (code them)
- add an extra dancer or change the background, ect
This turned out to be not as difficult as I was anticpating, but not as easy I thought it would be either! Everything was going well until my script disapperared from my screen. I remembered reading Madison Osterhout’s post about her experience with Scratch and what she did to find her penguin. Right click and select show. Sure enough that was the same problem I had with my dancing dude disappearing! So thanks Madison!
While my dance off could have used some more work, I feel like I could have spent hours perfecting it, but it is what it is and I am happy with the result. My final animation can be viewed here.
I think it is important for students to learn how to code even if it’s just simple animations like the ones done on Scratch. I think that Scratch is a great learn to code program and it could be easily integrated into the classroom and into the curriculum.
