Digital Maestro Magazine

Scratch
Coding
For
Story Telling

Free Teacher Accounts

Curate Student Work

I NTEGRATE CODING INTO YOUR CONTENT

www.digitalmaestro.org
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Table of Contents
Scratch Story Starter ………………………………………………………………………….3
Creating A New Project --------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
The Stage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
The Characters ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
Positioning the Characters ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
The Welcome Dialogue ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
Testing the project -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
Costumes Please! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
Act II Scene 1! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14
Saving your project ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
Creating a Teacher Account ………………………………………………………………..16
Creating Accounts ……………………………………………………………………………19
Create One Account at A Time ----------------------------------------------------------------------21
Upload A CSV File for Accounts ---------------------------------------------------------------------24
The Passwords ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------28
Uploading student accounts -------------------------------------------------------------------------30
Studios for Student Projects ………………………………………………………………..31
Creating A Studio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------31
Curators ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 33
Curator Invitation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------34
Removing Curators -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------36
Collecting Student Projects …………………………………………………………………37
Sharing Before Collecting -----------------------------------------------------------------------------37
Considerations when Sharing ------------------------------------------------------------------------37
Teachers Adding Projects ----------------------------------------------------------------------------38
Curators Adding Projects -----------------------------------------------------------------------------40
Adding to An Open Studio ---------------------------------------------------------------------------41

"2
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Scratch Story Starter


Scratch is a coding environment for creating where we get a visual of what we develop
applications and games. It can also be used with code scripts. The stage includes a white
to create interactive stories. These interactive background and a character. This cat
stories can be used to teach reading, writing, character is called Scratch and is referred to
vocabulary and language skills. as a Sprite. A Sprite is any two-dimensional
Scratch is a free online application that can graphic-element that is integrated into a
be used on most computers. Scratch still larger scene.
uses the Flash extension so you will need to
use a computer with a browser and the Flash
plugin. Most computers have this plugin
installed.
The instructions in this story starter can be
used with the lesson plan available from
Teachers Pay Teachers. A full five-day lesson "
is also available which includes greater detail The center section contains a panel with
for classroom integration and standards different code scripts and script categories.
covered in the lessons. If you are a teacher, This is where we begin to build our
make sure to read the following sections application. The scripts connect to one
related to teacher and student accounts. another like puzzle pieces.
Go to https://scratch.mit.edu and create your
free account.

Creating A New Project

Click the Create link in the menu bar.

"
The section on the right is the coding canvas.
This is where we build the application from
the scripts in the center panel.

"
The Scratch environment is divided into three
sections. The section on the left is our stage

"3
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

The Stage
Click the Ok button to insert the backdrop
onto the stage. We can also double-click the
Before we begin the project, let us set the image to insert the backdrop.
stage and our characters. Below the stage on
the left, we have some tools to import or
create our stage from backdrops. Click on
the choose image icon.

"
The backdrop thumbnail will appear next to
the Sprites section. The Stage information
box is informing us that we have two
"
backdrops.
The Backdrop library contains several images
that can be used for the stage. This story is
going to take place indoors so we need a
backdrop image of the indoors. Click on the
Indoors category.

"
When we add the backdrop, Scratch opens
the Backdrops tab. In the Backdrop tab, we
see the image we added and the original
white backdrop.
"
Click on the Room 1 backdrop.

"

"

"4
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

The Characters
Find and click on the Abby character. Below
the Abby character name, we see the
Scratch the cat is on the stage in front of the Costumes 4 descriptor. We will learn more
backdrop we added. Scratch isn’t the only about this as we develop our story. Double
character, Sprite, we can use in our click the character to add her to our Sprite
application. library or click the OK button in the lower left-
hand corner.

"
Click the New sprite icon to add a Sprite from "
the Sprite library. We can create or import our Abby will be placed in the Sprites section and
own Sprites. The Sprites in our library are a selected.
good place to begin until we are more familiar
with the Scratch development process.

"
She is also placed on the stage next to
"
Scratch.
There are lots of images in our Sprite library.
Click the People category.

"

"

"5
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Let’s add another Sprite. Click the Sprite icon can have a part in our story later. To hide
to add another Sprite and select the People Scratch we will remove the check mark from
category. Find Avery and add her to the the Show option.
Sprite library. Double click her image or click
the OK button.

"
Scratch will be removed from the stage. But
" he will still be part of the supporting cast.
Avery will be added to the Sprite library and
placed on the stage with the other Sprite
characters.

"
Click the back arrow to return to the Sprite
library.
"
In this story, we won’t be needing Scratch.
We can either hide Scratch or delete him from
our application library. Click once on Scratch
and click the “i” icon.

"

"
The Sprite information panel will open for
Scratch. We don’t need to delete Scratch. He
"6
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Positioning the Characters

Click and drag the Abby character to the left

of Avery.

"
Close the Avery Sprite configuration panel.

"
The Avery character is facing to the right like
the Abby character. I would like for her to face
Abby. Click on the Avery character in the
Sprites library and click the “i” icon.
"

The Welcome Dialogue

Scripts are associated with elements on the

stage. Sprites are one of those elements.
Abby will begin the conversation and
welcome Avery. Click once on the Abby
"
Sprite.
Click the flip image icon so it turns blue.

"
"
Turn the direction handle to the left.

"7
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Click on the Events category in the Scripts border will appear between the pieces when
panel. Look for the When clicked script. they are close enough to connect.

" "
Click and drag the script onto the Click once on the word Hello!. This is the text
programming canvas. This script is used to argument field. Modifications we make to the
begin the whole scripting process. There are script are called arguments in coding.
other ways to begin a script but this is the Arguments come from mathematics where
usual way to begin a script when we are arguments are passed into functions. We
learning to use Scratch. don’t need to know any math for now but it
does help to know where these terms come
from.

"
Click the “Looks” category and look for the
“Say Hello” script. "
Change the text so it reads “Hello!, my name
is Abby”.

"
Click and drag this script onto the
programming canvas. Make sure it attaches "
to the bottom of the first script. A white

"8
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

The Avery character is going to be

responding to Abby. Like real people
characters, Avery will listen for Abby to same
something. The “Say” script has the
information that will be sent to Avery with
another script called broadcast. Click the
Events category.
"
Click the disclosure arrow to the right of the
word message1 and select new message.

"
Find the “broadcast and wait” script. Add it to
the program on the canvas below the
"
previous script.
A new message box will open so we can
provide a name for the message container.

"
The broadcast script is a container like an
"
envelope. This container has the message
spoken by Abby. The name of the container is Type “Abby Hello” in the box and click the OK
called message1. This is the generic name for button.
the message. We want our message to be a
little more personalized.

"

"9
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

When we run the program the message said that Avery is already listening to the message
by Abby will be saved in the Abby Hello sent by Abby. Avery needs to respond to
container. Abby.

" "
Let’s have Avery respond to Abby. It would be Click on the “Looks” category and place the
rude not to reply. Click on the Avery Sprite Say script below the first script.
character in the Sprite library. Code is
assigned to Sprites.

"
Let’s type something for Avery to say. How
" about, Hello!, my name is Avery.
The program canvas for Avery is empty. Each
Sprite get’s their own coding canvas. The
Events category should still be selected. Find
the “When I receive” script and place it onto
the canvas.

"

"
The container we created with Abby’s
message is already in the script. This means
"10
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Testing the project

Okay, that’s a good start. Let’s see what we

have built so far. It’s a good idea to check
your progress and your program regularly to
make sure everything is working as you want.
Click the green flag above the stage.
"
Place a “Say” script below the broadcast
script and type “Welcome to my school
library.” into the text argument.

"
A speech bubble will appear above Abby for
two seconds.

"
Go to the Events category and place a
broadcast script below the Say script. The
broadcast script still has the previous
container for the argument. If we don’t create
a new container for the new message the
" broadcast script will broadcast the same
After the two seconds, a speech bubble will message as before to Avery.
appear above Avery.

"
"
Wow! That looks great! Let’s add some more
to the conversation. Click on the Abby Sprite.

"11
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Click the disclosure arrow and create a new Click on the Looks category and find the
message. “Switch costume” script.

" "
Title it “Abby Welcome” and click the Ok Insert the script after the first broadcast
button. script. A white border will appear when we
can release the script.

"
The broadcast script will update to include "
the new message container. Click the costume selector and select abby-
b.

"
"
Costumes Please!

I think you can see where this is going. Before

we go over to Avery and have something for
her to say, let’s change things up so the
characters don’t look so plastic. Let’s give
them some movement.

"12
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Click the Avery Sprite.

"
" Switch to the Look category and place a
Click the Events category and place another Switch costume before the Say script. Use
“When I receive” script on the canvas. costume Avery-b.

" "

Click the listening selector and choose “Abby

Welcome”.

"
Add a say script and type “This is a really
great library!”.

"13
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Act II Scene 1!

Let’s see what we’ve done. Click the green

flag.

"
To prevent this from happening, we need to
make sure they are in the proper costume
when the program starts. Places everyone!
"
Click on the Abby Sprite. Go to the Looks
When Abby speaks the second time, her category and place the Switch costume script
posture changes. This is the costume change at the beginning and select the first costume
we added. abby-a.
Click on the Avery Sprite and add the Switch
costume script to the first receive code block
before the Say hello script. Select the avery-a
costume.

"
Avery’s posture changes too when she
speaks for the second time.

"

"
Click the green flag to run the script again.
Notice that Abby and Avery’s position are
stuck from the last position they were in when
we ran the program.

"14
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Saving your project

There is no save button because the project
is saved automatically.
The project is constantly being saved but it is
a good idea to provide a descriptive name for
the program so we can find it later. Click the
title above the stage and replace the
“Untitled” name with something more
descriptive.

"
Okay, the rest is up to you. Keep the
conversation going. Add more characters and
switch up the costumes.


"

"15
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Creating a Teacher Account


Scratch has special accounts for teachers.
With a teacher account, you can add
students that would not normally be able to
have a Scratch account. This is because
Scratch requires that accounts be given to
people 13 and older. With a teacher account,
we can create classes and organize class
"
projects into Studios. Studios allow teachers
to collect and view assignments submitted by Click the request account button.
students. A studio is a collection of
assignments based on a theme or a project.
Classes can have multiple studios for student
projects.
Creating a teacher account is very similar to
creating a personal account. If you already
have a personal account it cannot be "
converted to a teacher account. Create a username and password. If the
To create an educator account, go to the username is already being used by a member
following link, https://scratch.mit.edu/ of the Scratch community it cannot be used.
educators. If you are already using a personal account
from Scratch, that account cannot be used
because it is already in use by you. You will
need to create a different username for the
educator account.

"
Click the ‘Teacher Accounts’ button.

"

"16
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Create a username and create a password

for the account. Click the ‘Next Step’ button.

"
Provide information about your school district
" and your role in the district.
Provide the information to verify your birth
month and year. Fill in the rest of the
information on the page and click the button
to go to the next step.

"
Although it is not required, a website to your
campus or district can help identify you as an
educator. Especially if your name is
" somewhere on the site or page.
Provide your first and last name then click the
next step button.

"

"
Provide a contact number for the Scratch
team to call if necessary. They might call if
they have questions about your status as an
educator. The information in the following
prompts will help identify your status as an
educator.
"17
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Provide the information for your district or the email. You will be able to log into Scratch
campus location. but it could take about two days for the
options to create classes and student
accounts to be available.

"
Let Scratch know how you plan to use
Scratch in your classroom. "
Make sure to click the button or link to
confirm your account email address. Clicking
the link will take you to the account we just
created.

"
Provide your district email address. Email
addresses that end with an edu are good
indicators of a teacher account. If your
account does not end in edu use it anyway " 

because it can be used to verify your status
as an educator.

"
The last page will inform you that a
confirmation email has been sent to the email
you just provided. Go and confirm the
information in the email by clicking the link in
"18
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

account and click on the “My Classes”

Creating Accounts
button.
In this section, we will learn how to create
accounts for students in a class using
Scratch. The accounts we create in a class
can only be used in that class. We can create
more classes in Scratch but each class must
have a unique set of accounts for the class to
be used by students. It does not matter if
"
students have their own accounts. Classes in
Scratch require a unique username and those There are two buttons to create a class.
usernames can only be used in that class. Choose one to create your first class.

If we want the same students to be part of

another Scratch class, perhaps with the same
or different teacher, then they will need new
accounts that will be used with that class
only.
This lesson includes steps to quickly generate
sets of usernames and passwords that can "
be distributed to students. Generating several Provide a name and description for the class
sets of usernames and passwords is then click the ‘add class’ button. We can
important for teachers that have multiple create several classes. It is possible to create
classes per day. I recommend generating a specialized classes for special projects. Keep
large list of usernames so they can be issued in mind that each class needs a separate
to new students as needed. Scratch allows account for each student. Instead of creating
us to upload up to fifty (50) usernames at one separate classes I encourage you to use
time. We will upload the list of accounts with Studios within a class. We will cover studios
a CSV, Comma Separated Value, file. in the next section.
In the Curator section we look at ways We don’t have to create multiple classes for
around the student account creation the same set of students. In a class, we can
process and some concerns you should be have multiple Studios. Studios are a way to
aware of when using this process when collect, and curate student projects within a
adding students to your class. class. We will be looking at Studios in the
Before we create student accounts we need next section.
to create a class. Log into your Scratch

"19
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

instructions below we look at one possible

naming convention for usernames and
passwords.
We can upload a Comma Separated Value
(CSV) file to create multiple accounts. We can
also get a special link for this class so
" students can sign up for the class. We’ll take
The class will be created and displayed so we a look at this process first. Click the button to
can create student accounts or invite see the sign-up link. This process does not
students to enroll themselves in the class. A allow students to use an existing account.
link can be created so students can create They will need to create a new account.
their own account to join the class. We will
learn how to get that link in a moment. They
cannot use an existing account when joining
the class. They must create a new account.
Click the ‘students’ tab.

"
A link generator box will open. The link
doesn’t get generated automatically. We need
to click the ‘generate’ button.

"
We can create or add student accounts to
the class with one or more options. Using the
button on the left we can add one student
account at a time. This is fine for one or two
students but gets tedious if we need to create "
multiple accounts.
The accounts created in Scratch are not
private. They can be viewed by anyone. It is
important to create accounts that do not
include any student information. You might
want to consider using a naming
convention for usernames that are not tied
to personal student information. In the
"20
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

We can copy and paste this link and email it link only works for students that are 13 or
to students. After clicking the link they will be older. This is because Scratch does not allow
prompted to create an account and register accounts to be created by students that are
for the class. 12 and younger.
If the student uses the link and is 12 or
younger, the student will be prompted to
provide a parent or guardian email address
before the account is created. The parent or
guardian will then need to confirm the
account when they receive the email
requesting account access for the child.
"
This is the page students will see after
Create One Account at A Time

clicking the link.

Now we will go back and learn how to create
individual student accounts. This is slow but it
is a good solution when we need to create a
couple of accounts for new students that are
not 13 or older.
Click the Scratch logo to return to the
Scratch main page.
"
They will be prompted to create an account
after clicking the next button.

"
Click the ‘My Classes’ button.

"
Using a link for students to create their
accounts is useful and easy. A drawback with
using a link is that the link can be used by
anyone that has access to it. Sometimes
teachers like to have better control over who
joins the class. Another drawback is that the "
"21
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

The ‘My Classes’ list page will open. All the makes it hard to know which student is using
classes we create will be listed here. the account but it also keeps student
Click the ‘students’ link. information anonymous.

" "

Click the ‘add student’ button. Enter the first username and click the ’add
student’ button.

"
"
A username creation box will open. The
student account name has to be unique from The account will be created without
others in the Scratch community. This can be prompting for a password. The password that
difficult because there are many accounts in is automatically assigned to a new account
the community. using this process is the teacher username.
The student will click the sign-in button, then
When creating student accounts I enter the username followed by the teacher’s
recommend using some form of pattern that account username for the password. After
makes it easy to create many distinct providing this information the student will be
accounts. For example, we can create prompted to create a password for the
accounts that all begin with the class name account that will be used to log in the next
like ‘geometry’. This name can be followed by time.
the class section name or a number like ’63’.
After the number, we can begin numbering
each account in sequence like ’s001’, ’s002’,
’s003’, and so on. The ’s’ is for student. The
first account name could be geometry63s001
when we use this pattern. This process

"22
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

" "
We can choose to create a password for the When we prompt the student to change his
student instead of having them create one of or her password the prompt button will turn
their own. This could help us manage their grey.
accounts. Students will inevitably forget their
password and we can easily look it up for
them.
To add a password we need to edit the
account. Click the ‘account settings’ link.

"
Clicking the button to manually change the
password will prompt us to create a
password and verify the password. This
option is useful if we are managing a list of
" student accounts and passwords.
The properties page has a button so we can
manually set the student password. We can
use the ‘prompt student’ button to prompt
the student to change his or her password.
This is a useful option if are not managing
their account information on a list somewhere
or if the student created his or her own
"
account with a link.
This process is good for a handful of students
but tedious for large groups of students. In
the next part of this lesson, we will learn how
to create multiple accounts.

"23
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

I keep referring to the option of managing a Create a blank Google sheet or Microsoft
list of accounts for students. Scratch is such Excel. Type the first part of the pattern for the
an easy development tool for students that it usernames in the first cell, geometry63s. I
can be used by very young students. Young typed only the pattern as it relates to the
students often have trouble remembering name. The number sequence will be
their account information. Managing a list of generated in the next column.
accounts with a printed list is often helpful.
Some teachers use index cards with the
student name, account name, and password.

Upload A CSV File for Accounts

Creating multiple accounts with a CSV file has

some advantages. First of all, it is easy to "
create a large number of accounts that follow
Go to the adjacent cell and type the first
a pattern for student usernames. Uploading
number in the sequence. This is usually the
multiple accounts has another benefit I often
number one.
use whenever possible. I create accounts for
students that will be using Scratch in multiple
classes and in multiple years. It is likely that I
will be using Scratch for student projects for
several years. We can create up to 50
accounts at one time using a CSV file. If I
have a class of twenty students then I have
an extra 30 accounts I can use later when "
new students enter my class or for next year
Click once on the cell with the name pattern.
when I need another batch of accounts.
Look for the blue square in the bottom right
Before a professional development training corner of the selected cell.
with teachers, I create multiple accounts for
them. This speeds up the training process so
they can join my class and start learning to
use Scratch as students in a Scratch class.
I will be using Google Sheets to generate the
account usernames and passwords but you
can use Excel or any spreadsheet program. I
"
use Google because it is free and anyone can
get an account. Excel online is also free with
a Microsoft email account.
"24
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Move your mouse pointer over this blue

square until it turns into a plus symbol. Click
and drag this blue box down until you reach
row 20.

"
We need a sequence of numbers that
increases by one for each cell down the
column. To do this we need to establish a
" pattern. Type the numbers 2 and 3 in
Release the box when you have reached row separate cells below the first number.
20.

"
" Click the first cell and drag the mouse down
The name pattern we created will be copied to the third cell. This will highlight the three
to all the cells in the first column up to row cells. Highlighting the cells informs Sheets
20. and Excel that we want to use this as a
pattern for the numbers we want to generate
for the subsequent cells in the column.

"
Return to the cell with the number for the
"
username sequence.

"25
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Click the blue box at the bottom and drag the After the word concatenate, type an open
box to row 20. This will create a list of parenthesis. In the open parenthesis, we will
numbers from 1 to 20. instruct the function what cells we want to
concatenate. Cells are referred to by their
column letter and row number. The first cell is
A1. Type A1 after the open parenthesis.

"
In the next step, we need to merge the
information in these two columns. There is a
special function in spreadsheets used to "
perform this operation. The function is called After the cell reference to A1, type a colon (:)
concatenate. The process of concatenating is followed by the cell reference B1. Close the
the linking of items together in a series. parenthesis after the cell reference. Press the
Click once on the cell to the right of the return key on your keyboard to save and
number one. perform the operation.

" "

Functions and formulas in spreadsheets

begin with the equal sign. Type the equal sign
followed by the word concatenate.

"
"26
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

The name pattern and the number are

merged. Click the blue box for the
concatenate function we just created and
copy it down to row 20.

"
Click on edit in the menu and move your
mouse to the ‘paste special’ option. When
the sub-menu opens, click on the option to
" paste values only.
We are almost done. The concatenation is
just a link to the values and not actual values.
We need to copy these linked values and
create the actual values.
Make sure the column is still selected.

"
The values will be pasted into the column.
Looking at the formula bar, we see the
username and not the function that links the
values.
"
Go to the Edit menu and select copy.

"

"
Click once on the first empty cell to the right
of the first concatenated value.

"27
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Compare the concatenated values with the

function that concatenates the cells. The
function can be seen in the formula bar.

"

The Passwords

" The password should be at least six

Now that we have created and concatenated characters or numbers or a combination of
the usernames we don’t need the values in both. Spreadsheets can help us generate a
columns A and B. Click once on the letter ‘A’ random set of numbers for our password.
for column A. This will select all the cells in Click once on the first cell to the right of the
column A. first username. Type the equal sign followed
by the word rand. This function is used to
create random numbers. The RAND function
by itself will generate random numbers
between 0 and 1. We need our random
numbers to have a minimum number of place
values. We need the RANDBETWEEN
function. Type “=RANDBETWEEN” or Select
"
the RANDBETWEEN function when it
Hold the Shift key on the keyboard and click appears.
once on the letter ‘C’ for column ‘C’. This
selects all the cells in columns A, B, and C.

"

"
Click edit in the menu and select the option to
delete columns A and C.

"28
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

The RANDBETWEEN function uses two

values and generates numbers between
those two.

"
Each username is now accompanied by a
six-digit password generated at random by
" the spreadsheet.
Type 100000 after the open parenthesis, type The last step in the process is to convert our
a comma and then type 900000. Close the username and password spreadsheet into a
parenthesis and press the return key on your CSV file. Click on File in the menu and select
keyboard to save the operation. ‘download as’. Select the option to download
the file as a CSV. In Excel, choose the option
to save the file as a CSV.

"
The number generated in the cell is random
and includes a six-digit value. "

"
Click on the value we just created and use
the blue square to copy this operation to the
rest of the cells in the column.

"29
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Uploading student accounts

Go back to Scratch and the classroom where

the accounts will be created. Click the
student section and click the CSV upload
button.

"
The upload button will spin while the
accounts are being uploaded and created.

"
Click the ‘choose file’ button when the upload
information box opens.

"
When the process is complete, you will see all
the accounts appear in the student section.

"
Select the file we downloaded from Google
Sheets or exported from Excel.

"
Remember that the accounts are only valid
for the class and we will need to generate a
whole new set of accounts if we want to
create another class. In the next section, we
will go over Studios that can be used instead
" of creating multiple classes. Studios can be
Click the upload button to create the used to organize and curate student projects.

accounts.

"30
 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Studios for Student Projects


Within classrooms in Scratch, we can have Creating A Studio

Studios. Studios are like assignments and

places for students to submit their projects. Log into Scratch and go to the My Classes
Studios are also a location where projects are section.
curated or exhibited with other projects from
the class.
When Studios are created, we can choose to
allow students to add their projects to the
Studio or we can choose to restrict their
ability to add projects. Keeping a Studio open
for students to add their own projects has "
advantages. In a Studio where students add
Click on the Settings link for the class where
their own project, the teacher doesn’t have to
you will create the Studio.
manually add student projects to a Studio.
The other option is to prevent anyone but the
teacher from adding project to the Studio.
The teacher will need to manually add the
projects to the Studio. This isn’t very difficult
but it does add a little more work on your
part.
"
Another option is to promote a student as a
Curator. A Curator can add or delete projects Click the Studios tab. This class has one
from a studio. One or more responsible Studio created already.
students can be selected to manage the
addition or removal of projects from a Studio.
Curators can also create studios and modify
information related to a Studio.
A Curator does not have to be a student. A
Curator could be another teacher. A Curator
can use his or her own Scratch account "
without the need for a new account for the
class. This is different from the way students
access Studios in your Scratch Class.

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 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Click the button that reads “New Class

Studio”.

"
Click the name of the newly created Studio to
" take a look inside the studio.
Provide a descriptive name for the studio and
a description for the studio. For example, title
the studio, “New Student Project” and
provide a short description of what the
students will be creating in the project. The
description here is important because Studios
can be shared, and a good description
"
informs visitors about what they can expect
The Studio has several tabs and the title at
to find in the Studio. This information is useful
the top. The title is a little too generic now
when we have several studios. Studios are a
that I look at it. Click once inside the name to
great way to showcase what students have
change the project title to “Introducing
done with Scratch.
students to the School”.
In the projects tab, we see an option to add
student projects to the studio. To the right of
the button, we see an option to allow anyone
to add projects to this studio. The option is
not checked. If you want students to add
their projects to this studio, then you will need
" to place a checkmark next to this option. I will
Click the “Add Class Studio” button. place a checkmark on this option to
demonstrate how students can add their
projects to the studio. Remember, when this
option is not checked, the teacher or a
curator will need to manually add projects to
a studio.

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 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Keep in mind that this option allows Scratch

members that are not part of your class to
add projects in the studio. This is not very
likely but something you should consider
when enabling this option.

"
A username box will become available where
we can provide the username of a Scratch
community member. Invited members don’t
have to be students. They can be teachers
" with a Scratch account that is not part of your
class.
Curators

Curators can add and delete projects from a

Studio. They can also create studios. One or
more students can be promoted to curator.
The entire class can be promoted as curators
if needed. Promoting all students as curators
will allow all students to add their projects to "
a Studio. The decision to promote all In this example, I typed the username of one
students as curators is a decision you will of my other accounts. When we click the add
need to make based on the dynamics of your button, the user does not automatically get
class. access. The user needs to accept the
Click the Curator’s tab. The Curator’s tab is invitation to be a curator.
where we invite other Scratch members to be
the curator of a studio. Inside the Curator tab,
we see the managers of a Studio. The
teacher is always the manager of a studio.
Curators can be promoted to managers of a
studio and they will have the same rights as a
teacher in the studio.
"
Click the button to Invite curators.
Another way we can add curators is to select
one of the students in the class with a class
account. The list of students in the class is

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 Scratch Coding Story Starters

available in the explorer bar at the bottom of

the Studio page.
When adding curators from our list of student
accounts we have access to all student
accounts created for any of our classes. In
the image below we see accounts from the
Geometry class and accounts from the Payan "
class.
Remember that a curator can add projects Curator Invitation

to a Studio. This includes projects created Every Scratch account has a mailbox for
by the curator. Inviting students as curators information and invitations from Scratch
in studios is one way to get around the need members in the community. Click the mail
to have different accounts created for each icon to view the invitation to become a
class. With curator accounts, students can curator.
access any studio for any class. Keep in
mind that as curators, students can also
remove projects from studios.
Inviting students to a studio involves the
same process as inviting any community
member. The student must accept the
invitation before given access to a studio. To
Invite a student, move your mouse over a "
student account and click the ‘add’ button. The invitation message instructs us to visit the
studio and accept the invitation. The
message includes a link to the studio and the
curator section of the studio. Clicking the
“curator tab” link will take us to the studio and
the curator section to accept the invitation.

"
In the image below we see several student
accounts but only part of the account
username is visible because the name is too
long. We can hover the mouse over the
username and read the full username at the "
bottom of the browser.
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 Scratch Coding Story Starters

In the Curator tab, we see a link to accept the pass it off as his or her own project. The
invitation. Click the link to become a curator name of the original creator of the project is
in the studio. always attached and we can easily
determine if the project was copied, but you
might not always have the time to make
sure the project was not copied from
another account.

"
Curators are listed below the managers. Note
that the account used in this example is not a
student account. The account was outside
the classroom list of accounts. This provides "
another option for students to use their Promoting students as Curators provides a
personal accounts in your classroom. lot of flexibility but it may also include some
unwanted consequences. Keep this in mind if
you want to promote student accounts to
curators.

"
Students go through the same process to
accept the invitation to become a curator.
Their account will be listed alongside the
other curators.
Keep in mind that curators have the ability
to add any project to the studio. This
includes projects created by others.
Cheating is a possibility because all Scratch
projects are open and freely available to
copy and modify. This means that a student
curator can easily copy another project
modify the information slightly and try to

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 Scratch Coding Story Starters

Removing Curators
Keep in mind that curators can remove their
own accounts or the accounts of other
We can revoke a curator account at any time. curators.
Hover the mouse over an account and click
the remove button in the upper right corner of
the account icon. If we want a student to be
a curator again, the student needs to be
invited again.

" 


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 Collecting Student Projects

When students are curators in a studio they A message will appear congratulating the
can add their own projects to the studio. If student on the publication of their project to
they are not curators then we as teachers or the Scratch community.
another teacher as the curator can add
projects to a studio. We could also create a
studio where anyone can add a project to the
studio. In that case, the process is similar to
that of a curator with some limitations.

Sharing Before Collecting

"
Before a project can be collected by a
teacher as manager or curator, the student Considerations when Sharing

must share the project with the Scratch

community. To share a project the student will When sharing projects it is common for
select the project to be shared. The student developers to include information about the
can click the project thumbnail or the project project. This information is useful for those
title. that will be looking at the project and using
the project for the intended purpose. The
project includes a space for instructions. This
is where students should include information
about the project and how the project works.
For example, if the user needs to click the
green flag or press the letter ’S’ to start.
Writing instructions in this section is a good
" opportunity for teachers to collect a grade for
When the project is open the student will click the written portion of the project. Writing
the Share button. instructions is a good way for students to
think about their audience as they write.
Students can reflect on what the audience
needs or wants to know about their project.
The notes and credits section is where
students can attribute any graphics they used
in the project. This is another opportunity to
gather grades. Citing sources is important
"
whenever they use information or media from
"37
another source. If the project is based on
another project in the community, then it
provides students the opportunity to give the
original developer credit for the concept
which was used as the foundation of his or
her project.
The project tags section is a location where "
students can place their project into a Click the Add Projects button under the
category. For example, the project could be a Projects tab.
game, a presentation, an interactive
demonstration, or a series of instructions like
a DIY, Do It Yourself.
None of this information is required but it is a
good idea to include some information in
these sections. Requiring that students fill in
this information reinforces their role as
developers and publishers of content. It is "
part of the responsibility of developers and On option to add a project through the
publishers to provide information about their project’s URL, Uniform Resource Location will
project to the world. It is a common part of become available. We don’t have to use this
what authors and developers do with projects option when students are enrolled in the
during the development process. class.

Teachers Adding Projects

If students are not given Curator access or

the studio is not open to adding projects,
then teachers and curators will need to add
projects to a studio. A studio can be used to
collect projects under one theme. Collecting "
student projects under one studio makes it
easy for students in the class to view projects
created by others. Teachers can quickly look
at projects and provide feedback to students.
To add projects to a studio, click on a class,
go to the Studios tab, and click one of the
studios

"38
At the bottom of the studio page we have
four buttons to help add projects. Click the
button that reads “My Students’ Projects”.

"
Once the projects are in the Studio, teachers
and students can view the projects. Click
" once on the project to see the project
Student projects that have been shared will information page. A poster image of the
be visible in the explore projects section. project will be viewable and any notes related
to the project will be available on the panel to
the right.

"
Move your mouse over the project thumbnail
"
and click the Add button.

"
The project will be added to the studio.
Repeat this process with other projects
shared by students for the studio.

"39
Teachers, curators, and other students can
leave comments on the project. These
comments are visible to anyone in the
Scratch community. Comments are a great
way for teachers and other student to leave
feedback to the developer. Comments are
one way that developers in the world outside
"
of education get feedback to make their
product better. Once the project has been shared, students
will see the Studio button below their project
poster image.

"

Curators Adding Projects

"
When students click the Studios button, they
If students are given curator access they can
will see all studios that are part of the class
add their own projects to studios. Before they
and accessible to them.
can add a project to a studio it must be
shared. To share a project the student will
click the project title in their project portfolio.

"
To assign the project to a studio, they will
click on the check mark icon to the right of
"
the studio name.
They will click the Share button.

"40
" "
When a student is a curator he or she can
add student projects from within the Studio Adding to An Open Studio

section. They can enter the studio by Students that are not curators can add their
selecting the My Studios section and clicking projects to an open studio in the same way a
on a studio title. curator can add a personal project. The
Studio must be enabled with the option for
anyone to add projects.
The student will open the project and click
the share button. Once the project is shared
the student will have access to the Studio
button below the project. The student will
" click the Studio button and place a
checkmark next to the studio where the
In the studio they will see a button to add
student will share the project.
projects.
Students that are not curators will not be able
to add projects from within the Studio.

"
They will be able to view their projects and
projects shared by other students in the
class. To add the project, curators will hover
over the project thumbnail and click the Add
button.

"41