Programming for Beginners - Build games using Scratch
- 3 hours on-demand video
- 7 articles
- 10 downloadable resources
- Full lifetime access
- Access on mobile and TV
- Certificate of Completion
Get your team access to 4,000+ top Udemy courses anytime, anywhere.
Try Udemy for Business- Register an account in Scratch
- Understand the code building blocks of Scratch
- Use motion sensors to track movement
- Use controls to make decisions in programs
- Use the Pen operator to add some fun
- Employ sound code blocks in a game
- Adding additional Sprites with controls and sensing
- Using randomization in games
- Creating and using variables
- Using mathematical operators for control
- Creating animations by switching constumes
- Sharing your program
MIT has developed one of the most amazing and powerful environments for teaching programming. Programming is complex, but MIT's Scratch strips out all the unnecessary issues and allows you to focus on learning the key aspects of programming, such as motion, control, operators, etc...and to see the results quickly. That's what makes learning in Scratch fun! In this lesson we will show you how to setup your Scratch account.
We need to get some formalities out the way - because, after all, who wants to spend so much quality time with people you don't know. So, in this first lesson we will introduce you to the unique team who will be guiding you through your learning journey - one with a PhD in technology and the other with a Passion in technology. Come on in and let's get acquainted.
It's time to dive in to the Scratch environment. What's so great about Scratch is that you can get going quickly...but, like with all things its useful to just take a few minutes to have a look around. So, sit back and enjoy a short overview of the Scratch environment. You will find that you are very much at home in Scratch, but we want to just make sure it feels just like home!
Your first program! Yes - with the basics out of the way you will write you first program. You'll create a moving cat and also get a feel for how code blocks work and the basics of a program.
The previous lesson saw you reach that exciting starting point of getting your very first program to work. Now we begin the journey of a lifetime - one where you continue to learn new aspects about coding that will only be limited by your imagination. In this lesson we will look at some of the motion controls that Scratch offers.
The Control code blocks are amongst the most important in coding. This lesson introduces you to some of the more important control code blocks. In coding it is important to be able to control the logic of the program through controls like if...then, if...then...else, repeat until...., etc. You will be introduced to some of these in this lesson and will be using them when you build your Flappy bird game.
Scratch uses a common coding concept of Sprites. Sprites are manipulated to do things, as we will see when you create your game. One of the aspects of sprites is the ability to change how they look with programming code. This section looks at costumes and how these can be switched programmatically to create interesting effects.
In order for code to respond, as in the case of a game, it is necessary for there to be a way to sense events or objects. In this lesson you are introduced to some of the basic sensing commands, such as sensing the mouse pointer. This will be important as our Flappy Bird will want to sense his surroundings. Have fun learning sensing...we will have even more fun with this later.
Variables are a very important element of coding. They are temporary storage spaces that can be used to remember important things like scores or the state of some counter. In this lesson you will learn how to create a variable and easily change its value. Of course this is going to be important later on when we create our game.
Here's what you are going to build - a fully working, sound effects included, Flappy Bird game. By the end of this section you will have a working game. So, what are you waiting for? Get going.
So we have got the pipes moving across the screen, but in Flappy Bird they also move randomly in a vertical direction. This is what makes it fun. In this lesson you will learn how to do this and also learn how to use the random function - an important function when it comes to games.
The bird has flap but it does not recognise the objects around it - like the pipes and the ground. The object of this game is for the bird to fly through the gaps in the pipes - and so in this lesson we will use the sensing commands to enable the bird to recognise the pipes and the ground.
- All you require is a knowledge of how to operate your computer...nothing more
A UNIQUE FATHER-SON TAUGHT COURSE
Who is this course for?
This course is specifically designed for people who are wanting to learn to program, especially children, teenagers, university students…oh yes, and those more mature and looking for a change of direction or career!
What's the course about?
“Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer…because it teaches you to think" (Steve Jobs). Steve Jobs is not alone in this thinking. Many of the people who are shaping our modern world are saying the same thing – programming is the language of the future. This course will introduce you to programming in the most fun, easiest, and most unique way possible.
- Fun…because you will build a game, a really great game - the famous Flappy Bird game!
- Easiest …because you will learn to program in Scratch, developed by MIT to teach programming.
- Unique…because you will be taught by a unique duo - one with a PhD and one with a Passion
You will learn all the basics of programming, and by the end of this course you will be able to push the limits of what can be done in Scratch. You will learn about sprites, about code blocks that control them, about useful elements like sounds, randomization, sensing, and lots more. While the environment is easy to learn in, what you will learn will be amazing.
Why this course?
There are lots of courses that teach you programming…and of course I suggest you do as many as you can. However, if this is your first time, or if you are wanting to see if programming is for you, or your children, then this is the best course for you. Why?
Firstly it will be fun! Learning that is not fun is not fun…OK, I suppose that makes sense ;-) Every step of the process is fun, plus what can be more fun than making your very first program a game…and a fun game too!
Secondly we will be using Scratch to teach you. Sure you will eventually want to learn programming languages like C++ or Swift or Java…as these will allow you to write mobile apps. However, I have seen countless people give up because these environments are so complex. You need to grasp the basics first…and that is exactly why MIT University developed Scratch. This is the best platform, used at schools and universities around the world, to learn to program. From here your options are limitless!
Thirdly when you learn to program you need to learn it in a special way…and that is exactly what we are going to do for you. You will be learning from two people – myself (Craig) and my son, Joshua. I have a PhD in educational technology and have been involved in technology and teaching it for over 30 years. I will share with you the benefit of my knowledge of teaching. Joshua, who began programming at 12, has a passion for programming and sharing it with others. He has written many successful apps and shares his unique skills in this unique course. Together we are going to share with you how you can learn to program and set yourself up for the most needed career of the future. Everything is going to need software to work, whether it's your fridge, watch, phone, car…all of these are programmed. Software is the language of our world, and those who know it hold the key to the future.
What kind of materials are included?
The course includes everything you need. The lectures are professionally created, as people have come to expect from my courses. We will explain everything to you and give you access to the source code files in Scratch. Plus in addition to this we have attached additional exercises with solutions to the end of most lessons. This means you can try other things to see if you have grasped the concepts.
How long will the course take to complete?
There are 3 sections to this course, with each section providing short powerful videos on individual concepts. Learning to become proficient in programming takes time…but this course will give you a jump start into what is one of the most needed and lucrative careers around…ask Mark Zuckerberg if your don't believe us!
How is this course structured?
This is an action course. So the course starts with getting to the doing straight away. The course starts with setting up your Scratch account and then in no time you have written your first program. The course is structured in the following way:
1.Section 1 – Introduction to Programming in Scratch - The purpose of this first section is to introduce you to the importance of programming, and the Scratch programming environment.
2.Section 2 – Making the Flappy Bird game - In this section we will guide you in a step-by-step way through the building of the Flappy Bird game. Here you will learn key programming constructs such as controls, sensing, data, and more.
3.Section 3 – Advanced Programming Features - This section now introduces some more advanced elements to our game including more on data and variables, sounds, etc.
Why take this course?
It is quite simply the best course, in the best starter programming environment, by the most qualified and unique teaching team!
- Would-be programmers
- Creative people
- Logical people
- Children interested in learning programming
- Students who are using or planning on learning to program
- Adults who would like to learn to program
- Anyone who wants to learn to code