Barbara Ericson will lead this workshop. Scratch is free software from MIT that can be used to teach introductory computing concepts such as variables, loops, conditionals, message passing, event-driven programming, lists, and strings. Scratch can be used to teach all the programming standards for Computing in the Modern World. It can also be used as early as elementary school (ages 8 and up) to introduce students to computing. It is used at Harvard to introduce undergraduates to computing.

All teachers who attend will receive a copy of the book Scratch 1.4 Beginners Guide by Michael Badger. Teachers will do several hands-on projects in Scratch: how to create 2d animation, how to make a simple game, how to make interactive art, how to make a madlib, and more. Teachers with experience in Scratch can do more advanced projects. Teachers will also work with the LEGO WeDo kits and PicoBoards to make projects that interact with the real world.