Natalie Rusk is one of the creators of Scratch and is a Research Scientist in the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab. She leads the development of new learning resources on the Scratch Team and researches ways to support young people’s motivation for learning.
Natalie is the author of the Scratch Coding Cards and is developing Scratch Microworlds and other creative pathways into coding.
She co-founded the Computer Clubhouse program, which has grown into an international network of 100 after-school centers in low-income neighborhoods, where youth design projects based on their interests with support from mentors. Last year, she edited a book that shares ideas from Clubhouses around the world called Start Making: A Guide to Engaging Young People in Maker Activities.
Natalie earned a EdM from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a PhD in child development from Tufts University.
Her favorite tools recently added to Scratch are the magic wand tool (for removing backdrops from photos) and the video recording tool (for capturing Scratch projects as you play them).
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