Transition+to+Python

=Scratch to Python= toc

I've been using Scratch for about 1.5 years now (as of Jan 2009)
 * mostly with Grade 9 students using exploration and
 * project-based learning (make a game, tell a story)

Positive things

 * students are very motivated to learn even though the projects had to be rated General
 * students want to learn stuff the teacher doesn't even know

Negative or undesireable stuff

 * some students (mostly girls) prefer not to explore -- puzzling as to why
 * students need more structure in order to develop good programming habits
 * There appears to be no easy transition to a conventional language

Questions

 * 1) Grade 9 students do not have very developed sense of logic. At what stage is the student ready for more rigorous development of programming skills?
 * 2) What are the indicators of readiness?
 * 3) What type of "self-test" or programming project could be developed to identify this milestone?

other educators' thoughts
>> He introduces to his son to //the [|“Pummel the Chimp” tutorial]// with success
 * [|Tom Gleeson's Blog] in Ireland, //I decided that Python, being [|one] of my own [|favourite languages], would be an ideal next step, particularly when I discovered [|PyGame], a Python library based on [|SDL].//

for educators

 * http://www.redware.com/scratch/
 * http://www.redware.com/scratch/links.html
 * http://www.redware.com/scratch/lessons.html - videos


 * http://learnscratch.org/ - Lesson Plans
 * Scratch 1, Getting Started, includes of 8 Lessons
 * Scratch 2, Step-by-Step, includes 24 Lessons organized into 5 Units
 * Scratch 3, Scratch Projects, includes 32 Lessons organized into 7 Units.


 * http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/~karplus/tech_club/
 * http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/~karplus/scratch_programs/


 * http://mywebspace.wisc.edu/dhawk/scratch/


 * http://www.scratched.co.nr/


 * http://www.kidslike.info/scratch_computer_programming_tutorials


 * a book [|**//Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners//**] by **Warren D. Sande and Carter Sande**


 * [|Show Me Do video tutorials] on
 * [|Python]
 * [|pyGame]
 * [|Blender] (I know it's off topic. It's here so I don't forget.
 * [|linux] & [|ubuntu] - ditto