According to him, the approach would promote creative coding among young learners, particularly in underserved comAmunities where access to electricity, computers, and the internet is limited.
Mr Afram, the developer of the scratch blocks, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani.
He explained that the innovative teaching tool would help bridge the resource gap in deprived areas and introduce children to programming from an early age, noting that, “Even in areas without access to computers, the physical blocks can be used to teach the foundations of coding”.
He explained that Scratch was a visual programming language that allowed users to create interactive stories, games, and animations.
Mr Afram said the blocks were developed after receiving a grant from the Scratch Foundation, based in the United States, saying, the concept was borne out of a need to provide unplugged coding resources for children living in areas without electricity or digital infrastructure.
He hoped that incorporating Scratch into classrooms through tactile tools such as 3D Scratch blocks would foster creative thinking, systematic reasoning, and collaborative learning.
“This project was designed to ensure inclusivity in coding education,” he said.
Mr Afram stressed that early exposure to coding was essential in today’s technological world and recommended introducing coding at the primary school level to enhance critical thinking and stimulate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“STEM education requires hands-on engagement, our 3D Scratch blocks are manipulatives that support learning through playing, where children build, explore and learn coding principles physically, making the experience both memorable and effective,” he added.
He observed that integrating the blocks into the curriculum would empower teachers in remote areas and equip students with foundational coding skills, even in the absence of computers and internet connectivity.
According to him, the 3D Scratch blocks have been piloted in 30 public and private schools across the Sunyani Municipality and Jaman North District in the Bono Region.
Mr Afram said more than 500 students have benefited from the initiative since its launch as part of the Scratch Education Collaborative (SEC) 2022–2024 cohort.
GNA
