Computer Game Design by Dr. Ian Perera, Research Scientist, IHMC

November 11, 2023

In November we used the Scratch programming language to implement a simple computer game. Third and fourth graders learned simple programming, including variables, loops, and conditional statements. They customized their games by choosing their own sprites and backgrounds, and they experimented with ways to change the difficulty of the game. Fifth and sixth graders were able to make more advanced customizations, including obstacles, projectiles, and two-player functionality. All of the students came away with the ability to tinker and explore in code — setting them up for success as programming skills become more ingrained in education and everyday life.