Click here to download a handy pdf of the main changes to Scratch 3.0. Feel free to share this!
** Over the past few days, we have been conducting briefing and demo sessions for our students to tell them about the new changes to Scratch 3.0 and prepare them for the change coming in just a few days on January 2nd. These have been very fun sessions where we show the cool new functions of Scratch 3.0. What do you think about these new changes? Do you have any questions or feedback on Scratch 3.0? Email us at create@computhink.com.sg and let us know! **
Scratch 3.0 is coming on January 2nd 2019!
Scratch 3.0 is a new version of Scratch that students have been using to code, and it will “go live” on January 2nd 2019!
On January 3rd 2019, when students log on to scratch.mit.edu, the website would have changed and they will be able to start using Scratch 3.0!
All students using Scratch online on scratch.mit.edu will see the new changes.
So what is new, and what is not? Not to worry, we’ll guide you through the main changes!
Scratch 2 (Technical stuff and a bit of history)
Scratch 2 was built using a web technology called Flash using a programming language called ActionScript. Flash allowed us to run animations and the Scratch Program and do all those cool projects on a website!
But Flash had one major problem, it could not run on mobile devices due to security and performance limitations. That was why students could not show their projects to their parents and friends on mobile devices. Additionally, Flash support will also be discontinued from 2020.
Scratch 3.0 (New and improved technology!)
Scratch 3.0 is built using industry-standard HTML5 and WebGL and runs on any modern web browser. That means it will run on mobile devices! To note, you can code and view projects on tablets (i.e. iPad or Android), but you can only view on smartphones (i.e. iPhone, Android Phones etc)
Desktop Browsers
- Chrome (63+)
- Edge (15+)
- Firefox (57+)
- Safari (11+)
Internet Explorer will NOT be supported.
Tablet Browsers
- Mobile Chrome (62+)
- Mobile Safari (11+)
Scratch 3.0 – What’s New?
Scratch 3.0 Screen Layout has changed
Scratch 2 used to look like this, with the stage on the left and the script area on the right
Now, Scratch 3.0 looks like this! The stage has been shifted to the right and the script area to the left. This was done for a better user experience.
Scratch 3.0 has an improved sprite library
New sprites have been added to the library, but the coolest thing is that when you put your mouse over the sprites, the sprites will start animating if it has multiple costumes. This helps you see at a glance which sprites have multiple costumes, and how the animation looks like. It’s cool!
Scratch 3.0 has an improved image and sound editor
In Scratch 3.0, all costumes now show in vector mode by default (instead of bitmap mode), vector editing functions have mostly remained the same.
In the Sound editor, new sounds and sound effects have been added. One cool feature is, when you put your mouse over the sound, you immediately hear what it would sound like. The Scratch team also added in some fun sound effects such as “faster” and there is even an option to add a “robot” filter to make it sound like a robot. Sound recording is also improved with a much more user-friendly way to record and edit sound.
Pen, Music and Video Sensing blocks have been moved to Extensions
Some blocks such as Pen (useful for drawing shapes) and Video Sensing (Kinect projects anyone?) have been moved to a new option called “Extensions“. New functionality has also been added here such as “Text to Speech” and “Translate”
Fun Extensions – Your sprites can really talk!
In Scratch 2, we could use the “Say” block to make speech bubbles appear on your sprite. Now, you can really make your sprite talk using the “Text to Speech” Extension.
Fun Extensions – Say it in another language!
Additionally, now you can translate what you say into another language! It’s awesome!
Scratch 3.0 – What’s Not New?
Qn: Do you have to re-learn how to code?
All the Programming concepts you have learned earlier has not changed!
For example, code sequences, events, loops, conditions, data variables, operators and more remains the same! The code blocks for these are still there in Scratch 3.0
Qn: What about your old projects? Is everything gone?
All your old projects will automatically be upgraded to the new Scratch 3.0 when you log in on Jan 3rd 2019.
The Scratch Team has been working hard to make sure you don’t have to do anything to upgrade!
Qn: Will my backpack items still be there?
The backpack will still be there, but as part of the upgrade, all items in the backpack will be removed.
To keep your items from the backpack, create a new project, and drag all your backpack items into the new project.
You must do this before Jan 2nd 2019.
What is going to happen on Scratch 2?
Scratch 2.0 will be available for download as an offline editor along with Scratch 1.4. You can still upload projects online to scratch.mit.edu from Scratch 2.0
All projects created online previously on scratch.mit.edu will be upgraded to Scratch 3.0. Projects created on online Scratch 3.0 will not run on offline Scratch 2.0
Scratch 3.0 offline editor will also be available later in 2019.
Click here to download a handy pdf of the main changes to Scratch 3.0. Feel free to share this!
** Over the past few days, we have been conducting briefing and demo sessions for our students to tell them about the new changes to Scratch 3.0 and prepare them for the change coming in just a few days on January 2nd. These have been very fun sessions where we show the cool new functions of Scratch 3.0. What do you think about these new changes? Do you have any questions or feedback on Scratch 3.0? Email us at create@computhink.com.sg and let us know! **