Programming Languages Paper: Scratch Reflection

  Programming Languages Paper: Scratch Reflection

 

Building the Scratch Program

Building my program in Scratch was an exciting and creative experience. I created a jumping game where a fish is the main character navigating obstacles represented by a crab in an underwater environment. To enhance the visual appeal and interactivity, I incorporated motion, sound, and control blocks while customizing the sprites and backdrop to align with the underwater theme. This approach highlights how visual programming environments like Scratch foster creativity by allowing users to experiment with designs and behaviors in an engaging and supportive environment (Mao et al., 2023).

 

Challenges Encountered and Solutions

One of the initial challenges I faced was synchronizing the crab’s movement with the fish’s jump to ensure smooth gameplay. At first, the timing caused frequent collisions even when the fish should have cleared the crab. I resolved this by adjusting the repeat loop for the crab’s motion and fine-tuning the fish’s jump height and duration. Another difficulty was ensuring the score reset properly when the game restarted. By using a “set score to 0” block at the start of the script, I was able to address this effectively. This iterative problem-solving process aligns with the creative behavior of flexibility identified in programming education research, where users adapt approaches to overcome challenges (Mao et al., 2023).

 

Insights About Programming

This project helped me appreciate the logical flow and modular nature of programming. Scratch’s block-based interface made it easier to visualize loops, conditionals, and variables working together to create functionality. The hands-on approach aligns with findings that engaging classroom environments in visual programming contexts can stimulate creativity and enhance problem-solving skills (Mao et al., 2023; Zybooks, Section 2.10).

 

Comparison with Other Programming Languages

While Scratch is a visual programming language, my experience with machine, assembly, and high-level languages, as outlined in Sections 2.8–2.11, provided a deeper perspective. Machine language operates with binary instructions directly executed by the CPU, making it hardware-specific and challenging for general use. Assembly language, though slightly abstracted, still requires precise syntax and knowledge of hardware architecture. In contrast, high-level languages like Python simplify programming with user-friendly syntax, allowing for greater flexibility and faster development (Zybooks, Section 2.11). Additionally, Python’s readability and extensive libraries make it a gateway to specialized fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, reflecting its growing role in modern education and industries (Ahmad et al., 2024).

 

Differences and Ease of Use

Scratch was the easiest to use because it eliminates syntax errors and focuses on logical design. However, Python is far more versatile and applicable to real-world programming tasks. Machine and assembly languages, while powerful for low-level tasks, are less practical for most modern applications (Zybooks, Section 2.9).

 

Best Use Cases

            •           Machine language: Ideal for tasks requiring direct hardware interaction, such as firmware development.

            •           Assembly language: Suitable for optimizing performance-critical systems or embedded devices.

            •           Python: Excellent for web development, data analysis, automation, and general-purpose programming, with emerging trends in Python education such as collaborative coding and AI-powered learning emphasizing its adaptability (Ahmad et al., 2024).

            •           Scratch: Best for teaching programming basics and creating interactive educational tools or games.

 

Most Popular Language

Python stands out as the most popular language due to its simplicity, versatility, and extensive library support. Its widespread adoption across industries such as data science, web development, and artificial intelligence ensures its continued dominance (Zybooks, Section 2.10; Ahmad et al., 2024).

 

Scratch Project URL

I couldn’t share the URL from Scratch. I attached the project with my final paper.

 

References

Ahmad, A., Ray, S., & Nawaz, A. (2024). Current and emerging trends in Python programming learning. 2024 9th International STEM Education Conference (ISTEM-Ed), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1109/iSTEM-Ed62750.2024.10663187

 

Mao, Y., Tang, J., Wang, W., & Cheng, L. (2023). The impact of online creative classroom environment on students’ creativity: A case study based on online Scratch visual programming. 2023 11th International Conference on Information and Education Technology (ICIET), 349–353. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIET56899.2023.10111185

 

Zybooks. (2024). TEC101: Fundamentals of Information Technology & Literacy. Sections 2.8–2.11.