using Scratch in the classrroom to promote learner autonomy

ScratchAmany Haroun AlKhayatConvention Center – 2123/17/2011 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM

Learning I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught. ~Winston Churchill

Digital natives vs. Digital Immigrants Digital Natives Digital Immigrants Technology is Most of them find it indispensable in their lives unfamiliar and strange (Frand 2000) (Prensky 2001) Way of thinking, behavior Trying to keeping pace with and learning is different educational and societal (Prensky) change (prensky) Prefer to get information Rely on text from different sources, audio files, pictures, and video , and text Prefer to learn at their own Prefer learning in groups pace (interactive web, wall posts, peer correction, sharing) So, WDYT ????

Benefits of Technology Students will learn at their own pace. Teacher will be a facilitator to train the students to use a certain software…. Students learn fast and develop critical thinking and research skills. Adapt to their learning styles whether visual, auditory or kinesthetic (VAC)

 Students can share their projects and post comments for peer correction. Discussion boards can be a very effective tool between T & S and S & S. Peer feedback- peer correction- self correction- research skills- narrowing down- all lead to autonomous learning

Characteristics of autonomouslearner A student is responsible for his or her won learning (Holec 1981) Does not depend on teacher instruction Become more creative, interactive and risktaking (affective filter) Become aware of their own learning style(Benson, 2001; Healy, 2007)

So What is Scratch

Scratch A drag and drop programming language made by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT. It’s a programming environment where learners can create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art, and share their creations on the web through a simple programming syntax.

Programming!! The students do not need to have any prior knowledge of programming. The just need to choose the spritesand

use the blocks (by dragging andDropping them) to get them going, saying, jumping,singing…etc.

So how is it effective? Scratch has an online gallery where students can upload their projects and share them online. They can get feedback from projects viewers and this is effective in terms of learner autonomy. Students learn and design their projects at their own pace (individualization of learning) and also teachers have to make sure that objectives are met (language input). Peer feedback

Advantages If we can compare it to the 3D programming software Alice (www.alice.org)

 Much easier, less complicated, does not need any specific software to get uploaded online, and projects can be scratched easily and reposted. Users can take photos of whatever they want and use them as sprites (authenticity, “animated realia”)

Disadvantages Need more than one costume to change the sprite’s movement (not in Alice) Not in 3D More complicated in terms of turn taking between sprites; each sprite should have its own script.

It’s show time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z-ZdQzMnJ8

References www.educational-freeware.com/.../scratch.aspx Resnik, M., Kafai, Y., Maeda, J. (2007). A Networked, Media-Rich Programming Environment to Enhance Technological Fluency at After-School Centers in Economically- Disadvantaged Communities. National Science Foundation (Information Technology Research), 2003-2007

Thank you Contacts: Facebook: Amany Haroun Alkhayat Wikispace: http://languagehelper.wikispaces.com Email: amany_h@aucegypt.edu Email: anaucian@hotmail.com

using Scratch in the classrroom to promote learner autonomy

by Amany AlKhayat

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