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• Tutorials

  Step-by-step guide for building mini-projects

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  Introduction

   

  In part 1 of this tutorial, we built a basic AI controller for the game. That AI could already move the truck to random locations, and even seek and attack the opponent.

  In this second part, we’re going to supercharge our AI! We’ll add two major new skills: collecting power-ups and avoiding tree obstacles. With these upgrades, our AI will become a much tougher competitor in battle.

  Here is a demo of what we’ll be building:

  detour2.gif

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

  Version 4 - Collecting Powerups (Difficulty: 4)

   

  To get our truck to collect powerups, it first needs to know where they are. Then, it has to drive over to them. A key part of the logic will be deciding when to go for a powerup versus when to keep attacking the opponent.

   
   

  Step 1 - Duplicate the Previous AI Code

   

  We’ll be building on the AI controller we made in Part 1 (Version 3). Go ahead and open that project, and then save a copy of it. This way, you’ll always have the original version to go back to if you need it.

   
   

  Step 2 - Check for Powerups

   

  To collect powerups, our AI first needs to know that they’ve appeared on the map. It only makes sense to change the truck’s behavior after a powerup is available. The best spot for this check is right at the start of our main forever loop.

  Let’s create a new custom block and name it check powerups. Important: Make sure to check the box for “Run without screen refresh.” This gives our code a nice little speed boost.

  cbb87297-8004-41a3-a631-2aa8acb22c26-image.png

   
  And we will place this new block at the beginning of the main loop:

  45833864-1dcc-432a-a1e6-ece31fffedb9-image.png

   
   

  Step 3 - Check Our Life Count

   

  Remember, there are two types of powerups in the game:

  Sugar: Increases our truck’s life count (up to a max of 3). Gas: Boosts our truck’s speed (up to a max of 120).

  It makes sense to prioritize survival. If our truck has fewer than 3 lives, getting a Sugar powerup should be the top priority. Let’s start by adding a check for that.

  6719afe5-2e75-42b8-90b3-9256da7445a2-image.png

   
  Note that the ☁ my lives variable keeps track of the life count for our truck, which is identified by the my team ID. This sensing block is very handy when you need to access any private property of a clone so long as you know its ID.

   
   

  Step 4 - Look for Sugar Powerups

   

  If our truck needs health (meaning it has less than 3 lives), it’s time to scan the area for any Sugar powerups. We can do this using the special find clones of sensing block.

  b4b1e8a3-906c-416f-a351-1fada5611c7f-image.png

   
  This block is incredibly useful. It searches for all visible clones of a specific sprite within a certain distance. Since we want to find Sugar anywhere on the map, let’s use a large distance like 1000. Any Sugar clones it finds will be listed in the table1 variable.

   
   

  Step 5 - Check If Table1 is Not Empty

   

  If the find clones of block successfully located one or more Sugar sprites, it will add them as rows to table1. So, to see if we found anything, we just need to check if the number of rows in table1 is greater than 0.

  c4cdd455-ad89-4022-a13b-8432f10c8804-image.png

   
   

  Step 6 - Update Mode and Target Location

   

  Okay, we’ve found a Sugar powerup! The next step is to drive to it. The table1 is conveniently sorted by distance, meaning the very first row always points to the closest clone. For example, this screenshot shows that one Sugar clone was found. It has a clone ID of 1, is located at X: 160 and Y: -65, and is 96.43 units away from our truck.

  9703166c-6275-4db8-b8bf-1bdf4fa5acb0-image.png
   
  Now, we could create a whole new mode like “collect sugar,” but there’s a clever, simpler way. We can just reuse our existing wander mode! All we have to do is update the target x and target y variables with the location of the Sugar item. The existing code in the wander block will then automatically navigate our truck right to it.

  4e730dc1-66f1-4de3-9955-88612152a8fa-image.png

   
   

  Step 7 - Return from “check powerups”

   

  Once we’ve spotted a Sugar clone and decided to go for it, our job inside the check powerups block is done for this cycle. There’s no need to continue and check for Gas powerups. We can use a return block to exit the custom block immediately.

  1e04af61-9176-4c8e-ad32-c4316474f250-image.png

  Pro Tip: It’s a common misunderstanding that the return block is only for reporter blocks (the ones that return a value). You can also use it in regular stack blocks like this one to simply stop the block from running any further. Its return value is just ignored. This is equivalent of using the stop [this script] block.

   
   

  Step 8 - Look for Gas Powerups

   

  If our truck is at full health, or if there were no Sugar powerups to find, the code continues. Now we can check for Gas powerups. But, there’s no point in grabbing a Gas powerup if our speed is already maxed out at 120. So, let’s first check our ☁ my speed variable.

  a794da49-9c47-4c70-9dd0-9cd7a8a22943-image.png

   
   

  Step 9 - Complete the Rest

   

  The logic for finding and collecting Gas clones is nearly identical to what we just did for Sugar. See if you can build the rest of the code yourself! It’s great practice.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Here is the complete solution for the check powerups block:

  d2e9237d-676c-4501-b8f7-e548cec0e7d2-image.png

   
   

  Step 10 - Test This Version

   

  Time to test our new powerup-collecting AI! To focus just on this new skill, let’s keep the tree count at 0 for now (you can change this in the Setup sprite).

  It’s also really helpful to make the table1 variable visible on the stage. This way, you can see exactly when the AI finds a powerup.

  One last tip for faster testing: in the Sugar sprite, you can shorten the time it waits before reappearing. For example, try changing the random wait to between 3 and 9 seconds.

  a5d7f091-2195-474d-ad4d-c21cdff56bd8-image.png

   
  Now you can test your AI by opening the project in two browser tabs and letting them battle. It should look something like this:

  collect.gif

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

  Version 5 - Avoiding Trees (Difficulty: 5)

   

  Now for a real challenge: obstacle avoidance! Right now, our truck will just drive straight into trees and get stuck, completely stopping it from chasing the opponent or grabbing powerups. We’re going to fix this by teaching our AI how to detect when a tree is in the way and then plot a “detour” to get around it.

   
   

  Step 1 - Export Version 4 for Backup

   

  First thing’s first. Let’s make a backup of our working powerup-collecting version. Export your Controller sprite as a file (it will be named something like sprite3). This way, if anything goes wrong, you can easily import this version and start again.

  a8868a00-4c11-4e0d-9e16-769f250b99c2-image.png

   
   

  Step 2 - Define a New Reporter Block

   

  To avoid trees, our AI first needs a way to “see” if its path is blocked. We’ll create a new custom block that can answer a simple question: “Is this direction blocked?”. Let’s name it direction is blocked, and it will take the command as an input. Make sure to select “Run without screen refresh” and define it as a reporter block. A reporter block returns a value; ours will return 1 if the path is blocked and 0 if it’s clear.

  44a2c9ee-ca6a-4c17-9804-997c0ab06b35-image.png

   
   

  Step 3 - Discussion On How to Detect Tree Obstacles

   

  Before we jump into coding, let’s talk strategy. How can our Controller sprite, which only sends commands, know if the Truck sprite is about to hit a tree?

  In standard Scratch, you might try a “ghosting” technique: quickly move the sprite forward, check for a collision, and move it back before the screen refreshes. But that won’t work here, because our Controller sprite and Truck sprite are separate. The Controller can’t directly move the Truck to test for collisions.

  So, we need a different, more clever approach:

  We’ll temporarily move our invisible Controller sprite to the exact location of our Truck. We’ll point the Controller sprite in the direction we want to move. From that position, we’ll use a new sensing block to scan a rectangular “detection area” in front of the sprite to see if any trees are inside it.

  f4986eed-18f1-4579-bb80-c3b2c3ffc0f1-image.png

   
  Let’s implement this idea in the next few steps.

   
   

  Step 4 - Move the AI sprite to the Truck

   

  First, let’s get the current X and Y position of our truck using its my team clone ID. Then, we’ll use a go to x y block to instantly move our Controller sprite to that same spot.

  175785d7-a156-4a1c-8912-5bf7c015687b-image.png

   
  Remember, the Controller sprite is invisible, so you won’t see anything change on the stage. The whole point of this move is to establish a starting point for our tree-detection scan.

   
   

  Step 5 - Face Upward if Command is 1

   

  If the command we’re checking is 1 (move up), we need to check for trees above the truck. To do this, we’ll point our Controller sprite upwards (direction 0). This step is crucial because the detection area we’re about to create is always relative to the direction the sprite is facing.

  7685dd78-7648-4247-91ed-471070c53c5d-image.png

   
  Again, we’re just using the invisible sprite’s direction to set up our detection area.

   
   

  Step 6 - Handle the Other 3 Directions

   

  Similarly, we’ll handle the other three possible commands (2 for down, 3 for left, and 4 for right), pointing the Controller sprite in the corresponding direction each time.

  fbccfb61-6302-48cd-bf48-84755e14ddb7-image.png

   
   

  Step 7 - Detect Tree Clones in a Rectangle Area

   

  With our Controller sprite now at the truck’s location and pointing in the direction of intended movement, we’re ready to scan for trees. We’ll use the find clones of sprite in rectangle block. Here’s how this powerful block works for our setup:

  c23887b5-3c95-4658-b4dc-95616a62c3ce-image.png

   
  Explanations:

  We are looking for visible clones of the Tree sprite. The original Tree sprite is hidden, so this check will correctly ignore it. The rectangle is defined relative to the Controller sprite’s forward direction. So if the command is 1 (up), the Controller is facing upward, and the rectangle will extend 60 units forward and expand 90 units wide, like this:
  e53ff571-b6ed-40ee-bf1a-ac615cddc752-image.png
    We will store information about all clones found in the table1 variable.

   
  Feel free to fine-tune the distance and width values. Think of distance as how far ahead the AI can “see,” and width as its “peripheral vision,” or how wide you want to scan.

  If the center of any Tree clone is inside this rectangle (i.e. its center point falls into this rectangle), it will be listed in the table, which includes columns for clone ID, x, y, and distance.

  884533a1-10be-42c5-b409-1fab2058027b-image.png

   
  If more than one clone is found, the table will be sorted by distance, with the closest one listed first.

   
   

  Step 8 - Check If Table is Empty

   

  We don’t need the specific details of the trees, just whether any tree was found. So, we can simply check if table1 has any rows. If the row count is greater than 0, a tree is blocking the path, and our block should return 1. Otherwise, the path is clear, and it should return 0.

  85f2ebe6-6b1d-4a3c-8d31-42ce5156a618-image.png

   
   

  Step 9 - Check if Command Direction is Blocked

   

  Now we can put our new reporter block to use! Back in the main loop, right before we set the new command, we’ll call direction is blocked to check the path.

  Also, to make our AI more responsive and quicker to react to obstacles, let’s reduce the wait time in the main loop to 0.1 seconds. This allows it to check for blockages more frequently.

  dd6c0245-3d1d-4259-bab7-207b0f9a1321-image.png

   
   

  Step 10 - Calculate a Detour Command

   

  If our check finds that the intended direction is blocked, we need to calculate a detour. We’ll create another new custom block, calculate detour, to handle this logic. This block will figure out a new, unblocked detour command which will then temporarily override the new command.

  3fb16588-9fe2-4fb8-b205-ac2716cf1e9c-image.png

   
   

  Step 11 - Discussion on How to Make a Detour

   

  So, how do we calculate a smart detour? There are many complex pathfinding algorithms, but we’re looking for a solution that is effective, fast, and simple to build.

  Imagine the truck needs to get the Gas on the top right, but a tree is blocking the path to the right.

  a412f367-612a-4b1e-b283-0d401eaac2ed-image.png

   
  We have a few command options:

  new command: The original, blocked command (e.g., move right). alt command: The other direction towards the target. Since the Gas is also above the truck, moving up would be a good alternative. alt command 2: The opposite of the alt command. This is a backup plan if the alt command is also blocked. back command: The opposite of the new command. If all forward and side paths are blocked, our only choice is to back up to escape the “trap”.

  Our strategy will be this: when we’re blocked, we will check these alternatives in order. Once we find a clear path, we’ll execute a two-step detour (e.g., move sideways for 1 second, then move toward the target for 1 second) before returning to our normal logic. This simple strategy will handle most situations very effectively. Let’s build it!

   
   

  Step 12 - Initialize Detour

   

  Inside our new calculate detour block, the first thing we’ll do is set up a couple of variables to manage the detour process:

  in detour: A “flag” variable. We’ll set this to 1 to signal that the AI is currently executing a detour. detour start time: We’ll record the current timer value here. This will help us time each step of the detour.

  f6ecfbf9-17a3-44ef-b20c-dd5562b93e8e-image.png

   
   

  Step 13 - Calculate the Alt Command

   

  Next, we need to determine the best alternative command (alt command). This command should still move the truck generally closer to its ultimate target.

  If our original new command was vertical (up/down), the alt command should be horizontal (left/right). We can pick the correct horizontal direction by looking at distance x. If distance x is positive, the target is to the right, so our alt command should be 4 (move right).

  3a1a1f08-0484-49ec-a60d-4118f1640434-image.png

   
  Similarly, if the new command was horizontal (left/right), the alt command should be vertical (up/down). We can use distance y to decide whether to move up or down.

  c407b2cf-b9f4-472f-8e39-683bd1184d14-image.png

   
   

  Step 14 - Calculate the Alt Command 2

   

  The alt command 2 is always the opposite of the alt command. We can use a neat little math trick for this: since (left=3) + (right=4) = 7, we can calculate the opposite by subtracting from 7. This logic works whether the new command was vertical or horizontal.

  6d2c1877-59ee-4beb-adb6-64e82dbb4d8c-image.png

   
   

  Step 15 - Calculate the Back Command

   

  The back command is always the opposite of the new command. We can use a similar calculation based on whether the command is vertical or horizontal.

  f3e0c2e3-979f-4070-90bc-3d5acd43ecb2-image.png

   
   

  Step 16 - Take the Alt Command If Available

   

  Now we’ll decide which detour path to take. Our first choice is always the alt command. We use our direction is blocked reporter to check if that path is clear. If it is, we’ve found our detour! We’ll set up a two-step plan:

  detour command: Set to the alt command. detour command 2: Set to the original new command.

  This means the truck will first move sideways, then try to resume its original path. Since we’ve found a plan, we can use a return block to exit the calculate detour script.

  d8dd9db1-4783-496e-9570-1dfe91045fa0-image.png

   
   

  Step 17 - Take the Alt Command 2 If Available

   

  But what if the alt command path is also blocked? This means obstacles are in front of us AND on one side. Our next best option is to try alt command 2 (the other side). If that path is clear, we’ll set our detour plan to use alt command 2 first, followed by the original new command.

  11d44863-29a4-4af4-9391-9e0010c78439-image.png

   
   

  Step 18 - Take the Back Command as a Last Resort

   

  In the worst-case scenario, the paths forward, left, and right are all blocked. The truck is trapped! The only way out is to back up. We’ll set the detour plan to use the back command first, and then follow it up with the alt command to try and steer around the trap.

  bbc8c789-da7f-4c2e-94e8-b7e3486d8d39-image.png

   
   

  Step 19 - Add a New Branch for Detour

   

  Now we need to modify our main loop to actually execute the detour. When the in detour flag is set to 1, we need to bypass all our normal logic (checking powerups, finding the opponent, etc.). Instead, we will run a separate branch of code dedicated to the detour.

  The animation below shows how to restructure your main loop with an if/else block based on the in detour variable. Notice that the block that sends the command to the truck is now outside and after the if/else, so it runs in every situation.

  restructure.gif

   
   

  Step 20 - Stop Detour in 2 Seconds

   

  Inside the new “detour” branch of our if/else block, we’ll manage the two-step detour sequence. The whole detour will last for 2 seconds. By default, the new command will be our detour command. If the timer shows that 2 seconds have passed since the detour start time, the detour is over. We’ll set the in detour flag back to 0, so that on the next loop, the AI will go back to its normal behavior.

  c01a326f-df6f-49de-b426-52a67b4b9c54-image.png

   
   

  Step 21 - Switch to Second Detour Command in 1 Second

   

  The detour itself has two parts. For the first second, the truck will follow detour command. After one second has passed, we’ll switch the new command to detour command 2 for the second half of the detour. This creates the “go sideways, then go forward” maneuver.

  f3fed8c3-0722-4602-82f5-f816c64a6093-image.png

   
  And that’s it! Our detour logic is complete. In short, when the AI “sees” a tree, it will now intelligently try to move sideways or even back up for a moment to get around it.

   
   

  Step 22 - Test This Version

   

  It’s time for the final test! Go to the Setup sprite and set the tree count to 6 (or even more to make it really challenging). Run the project and watch how your AI truck now cleverly navigates around the trees instead of getting stuck. You can also speed up the powerup spawn times again for a more action-packed test.

  Here is a demo:

  detour2.gif

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

  Further Improvements

   

  This AI controller is already much smarter, but there’s always room for improvement! If you want to take your AI to the next level and win battles, consider these enhancements:

  Smarter Attack and Dodge: Have you noticed your truck sometimes has a perfect shot lined up but decides to wander off instead? Improve the attack mode to recognize when it’s aligned with the opponent, take the shot, and then immediately move sideways to dodge any return fire.

  Strategic Powerup Denial: Right now, your AI only grabs powerups it needs. But what if your opponent is low on health and a Sugar powerup appears? A truly smart AI would grab that powerup just to prevent the opponent from getting it! Modify your check powerups logic to consider the opponent’s status, too.

  Don’t Waste Ammo: Firing donuts into a tree is a waste! Before shooting, you can use a similar detection method to the one we built for avoiding trees. Check if the line of sight to the opponent is clear. If it’s blocked by a tree, hold your fire and reposition.

  Press the Advantage: When your truck is stronger (more lives, more speed), it should be more aggressive! Instead of firing one shot and then wandering away, why not make it stay in attack mode and keep firing as long as it has the upper hand?

   
  These are just a few ideas to get you started. The best way to improve your AI is to watch it battle. What mistakes does it make? When does it get outsmarted? Every battle is a chance to learn and come up with your own unique strategies to build the ultimate champion

• 2D Blocks

  How to use each 2D block

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  Introduction

   

  In game projects, clones are commonly used to create objects like enemies, obstacles or powerups. However, it is not easy to scan for them in our code, which is often needed when we need to do something clever, such as “find all the enemies near me”, or “check if I have a clear line of fire”.

  In CreatiCode, every clone has a clone ID, and the original sprite can also be treated as a clone with an ID of “originalsprite”. There are 2 new blocks that can be used to scan for clones of a given sprite: one is simply based on distance from this sprite, and the other based on a scan area.

   
   

  Find Clones by Distance

   

  You can use this sensing block to find clones of a given sprite within the given distance from this sprite, and save their information in the given table:

  e831e32e-e0a6-432e-8007-0f4a6a0b3998-image.png

   
  Notes:

  You can pick any sprite, even this sprite itself The original sprite can also be treated as a clone, with a clone ID of “originalsprite”. The distance is the direct-line distance between this sprite and each clone of that sprite, calculated using their x and y positions. If any clones are found within this distance, they are listed in the table in order of increasing distance (nearest first). The table will always have at least 4 columns: clone ID, x, y and distance. If the clone has any private variables, they will also be added as additional columns.

   
   

  Example

   

  Here is an example program showing how it works: play.creaticode.com/projects/685e804081a45ef495ae5fdf

   
  In the Tree sprite, we create 5 clones of the tree. Each clone will go to a random position, generate a “secret” that is private to itself, and then say its clone ID to identify itself.

  de3a9b35-fc8d-4d65-9d6d-797ce583e98f-image.png

   
  So on stage, you will see 6 tree objects like this:

  eebfc0d0-71f5-4490-b138-ff65e1035acc-image.png

   
  Now, in the Truck sprite, we can use this sensing block to find trees that are with 100 units distance from the truck:

  5733089a-dea8-4b91-826c-b9f3f49a05f7-image.png

   
  Then we can look at the content of table1:

  dc341578-fed3-42a9-befe-8dc385511c30-image.png

   
  As shown, there are 3 clones whose distance is less than 100 from the truck.

  The nearest clone is the original tree sprite, which is at x of 0 and y of 0. It is about 64.85 units away from the truck.

  The second nearest clone is the one with ID of “clone_3”. It is a bit further away, and its secret is 78.

  You can try to change the distance threshold or drag the trees around, and observe how table1 changes. For example, when the distance threshold is very large, all clones should be listed in the table; and when it is very small, the table should become empty.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

  Detect Blocking Clones in the Forward Direction

   

  Another very common question we need to ask is whether there are obstacles in front of our sprite, which may block our sprite’s movement or block the shots it fires.

  One way to do this checking is to use the block above to find all clones on the stage, and then check the position of each of them. But the calculation become more complex when the sprite is facing an angle (not straight left/right or up/down).

  Instead, you can use the following block for this task, which defines a rectangle “scan area” in front of this sprite, and list any clone of the given sprite it finds in this area in the given table.

  77abc8c2-dde9-4ebd-bceb-5d54e2459d29-image.png

  Notes:

  You can pick any sprite, even this sprite itself The original sprite can also be treated as a clone, with a clone ID of “originalsprite”. The distance is going forward along this sprite’s current direction. So if this sprite is facing 45 degrees, you can imagine it moves forward along this direction for 200 units, and check if there are any clones that’s 20 (half of 40) units away on the left or right side. If any clones are found within this distance, they are listed in the table in order of increasing distance (nearest first). The table will always have at least 4 columns: clone ID, x, y and distance. If the clone has any private variables, they will also be added as additional columns.

   
   

  Example

   

  Here is an example program showing how it works:

  play.creaticode.com/projects/685e928081a45ef495ae82c0

   

  The truck is facing -30 degrees (upper left direction). In the Tree sprite, 2 clones are created in a similar way.

  You can drag them to a formation like this:

  4073efa3-a883-42b8-ad09-497a09e283bc-image.png

   
  The original tree sprite is directly on the forward path of the truck. The clone 2 is slightly blocking the path on the right side, and clone 1 should not be a blocker.

   
  Now, suppose we run this block in the truck sprite:

  050c0b67-7a27-4784-8877-e6861b7942e5-image.png

   
  The detection area will be 200 by 70 in front of the truck:

  00d68337-ca4b-489e-b34c-bf0442c7c8d7-image.png

   
  The table1 will contain 2 rows:

  9ab900f3-a6be-4785-b614-c9d1b9611a4c-image.png

   
  Explanation:

  The center point of both the original sprite and the clone 2 are inside the red rectangle, so they are included in the result table. For clone 1, although its edge touches with the red rectangle, its center point is outside the rectangle. Since we only look at the x/y position of each clone, and not their size, the only thing that matters is their center point’s position.

  Therefore, when deciding the width of the detection area, you need to consider the width of both this sprite and the clones.

  Now, suppose we change the block to use width of 100, then the table will contain 3 rows, because the detection area now includes the center point of the clone 1 as well:

  b147a6c9-6ee4-44bc-9367-fd5737041030-image.png

   
  You can try to play with different truck direction, tree position, distance and width settings to understand how this block works better.

• 3D Blocks

  How to use each 3D block

  90
  Topics
  90
  Posts

  

  Introduciton

   

  You can now add joystick-style user controls for your 3D games, which is a natural input method for users on touchpads and smartphones.

  Note that this new feature only works in 3D projects, and a 3D scene must be initialized first.

  joy.gif

   
   

  Add a Joystick

   

  A virtual joystick is made of 2 parts:

  A “base” that is composed of 2 circles. Whenever the pointer is pressed down, the base will not move as the pointer is dragged around it. A “puck” that is a smaller circle with a dot at its center. It shows the current position of the pointer relative to the base.

   
  a8027378-beb1-4d73-9a39-d4d128f4f0c5-image.png

  You can add a new joystick using the following block:

  4bb6149b-de59-4249-9f70-59f503e8e92e-image.png

   
  The inputs are:

  Left or Right: you can add a left or right joystick using this block. The left one only covers the left half of the screen, and the right one only covers the right half. Use this block 2 times to add both joysticks. Color1 and Color2: These two color inputs control the colors of the base and the puck. Scale: This is a scaling factor that controls the size of the virtual joystick. By default, it is 100, which means 100% of the default size. If you would like to double the size of the joystick, you can set this value to 200.

   
   

  Read joystick properties

   

  You can read the properties of a joystick using this reporter block:

  232b6132-f657-4750-8c3c-ff51abe69ddc-image.png

   
  It has 2 inputs:

  Side: left or right Property: x or y: the position of the puck relative to the center of the base. Note that both x and y are between -1 and 1. For example, if the puck is at the right edge of the base, then x will be 1 and y will be 0. dir: the direction of the puck relative to the base in degrees, which is between -180 and 180. Distance: the distance of the puck from the base between 0 and 1. pressed: whether the joystick is pressed down. 0 means not pressed down, and 1 means it is pressed down. This should be the first value to check, since if the joystick is not pressed down, then all the other properties are not valid.

   
   

  Remove all joysticks

   

  You can use this block to remove all the joysticks you have added so far:

  a2e02fc4-f3bc-474b-9f7f-35f17a72c3e8-image.png

   
   

  Demo

   

  In this demo program, we first add a 3D glass object, then add 2 virtual joysticks of different colors and scales. Then we enter a forever loop: whenever the left or right joystick is pressed down, we read its properties into a few variables, and also rotate the 3D glass based on the “dir” property:

  blocks (42).png

   
  Here is the project link:

  play.creaticode.com/projects/673e98585e434ba9fd49f96a

• Live Books

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  ChatGPT for K-12 Students - Understand, Build, Innovate
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  What’s a Prompt?

   

  DALL·E 2023-10-20 20.10.21 - Cartoon style image showcasing a cute chatbot labeled 'ChatGPT'. The chatbot has large friendly eyes and a digital screen on its chest displaying a bl.png

   

  You’re already familiar with ChatGPT, but let’s go deeper into the mechanics of your interactions: the prompts. Every message you send to ChatGPT is actually a prompt. Instead of thinking of a prompt as a standalone question or command, imagine it as your contribution to an ongoing dialogue with ChatGPT. This isn’t just a Q&A session; it’s more like a flowing conversation where each prompt serves a specific role.

  Here are the core types of prompts you’ll use:

  Questions: These are straightforward inquiries that seek a direct answer. For instance, “ChatGPT, how does photosynthesis work?” or “What is the square root of 64?”

  Requests: This type is for when you need ChatGPT to perform a specific task. For example, “ChatGPT, summarize this chapter for me,” or “Create a list of renewable energy sources.”

  Information: These prompts add extra context or clarification to the conversation. Maybe ChatGPT misunderstood a previous prompt, or perhaps you want to add more detail to get a better answer. For example, “I meant to summarize the chapter about World War I, not World War II,” or “By renewable energy, I’m referring to sources that are not fossil fuels.”

  In a real-world chat with ChatGPT, you’ll often use a mix of these types of prompts. You could start with a question, then make a request based on ChatGPT’s answer, and provide additional information to clarify or steer the conversation.

  Understanding these different types of prompts allows you to have a more dynamic and meaningful conversation with ChatGPT. With this knowledge, you’re better equipped to make ChatGPT a valuable tool for learning, creating, and exploring.

   
   

  Building a Great Prompt: The CORE Framework

   

  If you are just having a casual chat with ChatGPT, you can pretty much speak your mind freely in your prompts. However, when your goal is to ask ChatGPT to carry out a task and deliver satisfactory results, the prompt often needs to be more complex and structured.

  Although there are many ways to write a prompt, some are more effective than others in getting a high-quality response. You may often hear others giving very different opinions on what ChatGPT can do: some people may tell you ChatGPT is awesome and can do great things, while other people may say ChatGPT is very confused and can’t get anything useful out of it. Most of the time, this difference is caused by the difference in the prompts they have used. ChatGPT is like a gold mine, and a well-written prompt is like a well-calibrated metal detector that allows you to find gold in it.

  To help you get started, let me introduce a simple but powerful framework called CORE. It stands for Context, Objective, Requirement, and Example. Using these four elements, you will be able to create prompts that bring out the best in ChatGPT, giving you answers that are as awesome as you hoped they would be.

   
   

  Context: Setting the Stage

   
  Context is like the setting in a story. It tells ChatGPT the background details: who you are, what you are trying to do, and why you’re asking ChatGPT for help. Good context is like giving ChatGPT a backstage pass to your situation. Without it, ChatGPT might give you an answer that’s sort of like a one-size-fits-all t-shirt — kind of okay but not a great fit. For example, if you ask ChatGPT “How can I earn some coins?”, its answer will be very different depending on whether you are talking about “Super Mario” or real life.

  Usually, an easy way to describe the context is to start with “I”, such as “I’m a 6th-grade student, and I need to …”, “I am trying to …”, or “I need your help with …”. Alternatively, some people prefer to start with “You” (i.e. ChatGPT), such as “You are helping me with …”, or “You are talking to a 6-th grade student”.

  Sometimes, you may need to provide additional information or reference to ChatGPT in the context. For example, if you need ChatGPT to help summarize an article, then you need to include that article in your prompt. Your prompt may look like this:

  I am reading an article about the French Revolution: [insert the entire article] It is a bit too long. can you summarize it for me?

   

  Examples of Using Context

   

  Math Homework Help: Less Effective Prompt: “Help me with fractions.” Effective Prompt: “I’m a middle school student struggling with my math homework on fractions. Can you help me?” Explanation: The effective prompt specifies that it’s a middle school student needing help with homework. This helps ChatGPT tailor the explanation to a middle school level, making it more accessible for the student.
    Science Fair Project on Renewable Energy: Less Effective Prompt: “How do solar panels work?” Effective Prompt: “I’m working on a science fair project about renewable energy, specifically focusing on solar panels. How do they work?” Explanation: This prompt sets the stage for a more educational and project-focused response, informing ChatGPT that the user isn’t just curious but has a specific academic goal.
    Writing a Poem for English Class: Less Effective Prompt: “How do I write a poem?” Effective Prompt: “I have an English class assignment to write a poem about nature. How do I get started?” Explanation: The effective prompt makes it clear that the task is for an English class assignment about nature, allowing ChatGPT to offer more targeted tips and suggestions.
    Learning to Play a New Instrument: Less Effective Prompt: “Tips for learning the guitar.” Effective Prompt: “I just joined my school’s music club and chose to learn the guitar. Any tips?” Explanation: The context specifies that the user is a beginner who has joined a music club. This helps ChatGPT provide tips that are suitable for someone who is new to playing the guitar and perhaps working in a group setting.

  Each of these examples shows how a little bit of context goes a long way in getting a response that really fits what you need.

   

  Objective: What’s the Mission?

   
  Once you’ve set the stage with your context, it’s time to get down to business with the Objective. This is where you tell ChatGPT exactly what you want it to do for you. You’re essentially giving it a mission to complete. Without a clear objective, ChatGPT would have to guess what it needs to do, and sometimes may take the wrong action.

  For example, imagine you tell ChatGPT “I failed my math test today”. If you don’t say anything else, most likely ChatGPT will offer some advice on how to improve your math skills. However, if you say “I failed my math test today. How should I tell my parents about it?” you will get very different answers.

  Usually, the objective should contain a verb that describes the action that ChatGPT needs to take, such as “explain”, “describe”, “list”, “design”, “summarize”, etc.

   

  Examples of Great Objective Descriptions

   

  Math Homework Help: Less Effective Prompt: “I’m a middle school student struggling with my math homework on fractions. Help me.” Effective Prompt: “I’m a middle school student struggling with my math homework on fractions. Can you walk me through how to solve ( \frac{1}{2} + \frac{3}{4} )?” Explanation: The highlighted objective clearly asks for a walkthrough on solving a specific fraction problem. This directs ChatGPT to provide a step-by-step solution tailored for a middle school student.
    Science Fair Project on Renewable Energy: Less Effective Prompt: “I’m working on a science fair project about renewable energy, specifically focusing on solar panels. How do they work?” Effective Prompt: “I’m working on a science fair project about renewable energy, specifically focusing on solar panels. Please explain how they convert sunlight into electricity.” Explanation: The highlighted objective narrows down the query to ask how solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. This specificity guides ChatGPT to deliver a more focused explanation, ideal for a science fair project.
    Writing a Poem for English Class: Less Effective Prompt: “I have an English class assignment to write a poem about nature. How do I get started?” Effective Prompt: “I have an English class assignment to write a poem about nature. Please give me a template or outline to start my poem?” Explanation: By asking for a template or outline, the highlighted objective specifies the type of assistance needed. This helps ChatGPT provide a useful starting point for writing the poem.
    Learning to Play a New Instrument: Less Effective Prompt: “I just joined my school’s music club and chose to learn the guitar. Any tips?” Effective Prompt: “I just joined my school’s music club and chose to learn the guitar. Please list the basic chords I should start with.” Explanation: The highlighted objective asks for specific information on basic chords, directing ChatGPT to provide a beginner’s guide that’s useful for someone in a school music club.
   
  By stating your objective clearly, you’re setting up ChatGPT for success, making it way more likely that you’ll get the answer you’re really after. Up next, we’ll add even more finesse to our prompts by introducing requirements and examples.

   
   

  Requirement: The Nitty-Gritty Details

   

  After you have laid out the Context and Objective in your prompt, ChatGPT would know what it needs to do. However, there are many different ways to carry out the same task, so we need to provide some requirements that specify how to do it.

  There are many things you can include in your requirements. For example, you might specify the tone, such as “formal” or “casual,” or the length, like “detailed” or “brief.” You can even specify a limit on the number of words, though ChatGPT may not be able to strictly control its output word count. You could also ask for the answer to be formatted in a particular way, like a list of bullets or a paragraph. You may also tell ChatGPT what you don’t want in your requirements.

  In many ways, the requirement is very similar to the rubrics your teacher gives you for some assignments. So imagine you are a teacher assigning a task to ChatGPT, then design your rubrics for ChatGPT to follow.

  One commonly used technique in writing the requirement is to assign a “role” to ChatGPT. For example, you can say “Write the answer as an expert in …”, and ChatGPT will use the tone and level of details that are typically used by experts. On the other hand, if you say “Pretend you are 5 years old”, then ChatGPT’s response will look like written by a very young kid with very simple words and sentences.

   

  Examples of Giving Requirements

   

  Math Homework Help: Less Effective Prompt: “I’m a middle school student struggling with my math homework on fractions. Can you walk me through how to solve ( \frac{1}{2} + \frac{3}{4} )?” Effective Prompt: “I’m a middle school student struggling with my math homework on fractions. Can you walk me through how to solve ( \frac{1}{2} + \frac{3}{4} )? Please use simple language and show all steps.” Explanation: The highlighted requirement specifies the language level and detail needed, ensuring that the explanation is both understandable and comprehensive for a middle school student.

   

  Science Fair Project on Renewable Energy: Less Effective Prompt: “I’m working on a science fair project about renewable energy, specifically focusing on solar panels. Please explain how they convert sunlight into electricity.” Effective Prompt: “I’m working on a science fair project about renewable energy, specifically focusing on solar panels. Please explain how they convert sunlight into electricity. Keep it concise but include the basic science behind it.” Explanation: The requirement narrows down the focus to a concise explanation while still including the basic science. This helps prevent ChatGPT from writing lengthy explanations.

   

  Writing a Poem for English Class: Less Effective Prompt: “I have an English class assignment to write a poem about nature. Please give me a template or outline to start my poem?” Effective Prompt: “I have an English class assignment to write a poem about nature. Please give me a template or outline to start my poem? Make sure to include at least three different poetic devices.” Explanation: The requirement specifies the inclusion of different poetic devices, guiding ChatGPT to offer a more educational and enriching starting point for the poem.

   

  Learning to Play a New Instrument: Less Effective Prompt: “I just joined my school’s music club and chose to learn the guitar. Please list the basic chords I should start with.” Effective Prompt: “I just joined my school’s music club and chose to learn the guitar. Please list the basic chords I should start with. Pretend you are an experienced music teacher.” Explanation: By asking ChatGPT to take on the role of an experienced music teacher, the highlighted requirement ensures that the guide will be intuitive and well-designed.

   

  By being meticulous with your requirements, you’re fine-tuning the ChatGPT’s responses to fit like a glove. You get to be the director of how you want your information served.

   
   

  Examples: Show and Tell

   

  So, you’ve given ChatGPT the context, objective, and even the fine details of your requirements. What’s left? Examples! While this step is optional, it can be incredibly effective in getting the response you’re after. If you find ChatGPT’s answers are not what you expect, but you don’t know how to change the objective or requirements, then it is probably a good time to provide some examples directly.

  Examples can illustrate the style, tone, or format you prefer. If you’ve ever heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” well, in this case, an example can be worth a thousand guidelines. It’s like giving ChatGPT a mini “preview” of your ideal answer.

   

  Examples of Providing Examples

   

  Math Homework Help: Less Effective Prompt: “I’m a middle school student struggling with my math homework on fractions. Can you walk me through how to solve ( \frac{1}{2} + \frac{3}{4} )? Please use simple language and show all steps.” Effective Prompt: “I’m a middle school student struggling with my math homework on fractions. Can you walk me through how to solve ( \frac{1}{2} + \frac{3}{4} )? Please use simple language and show all steps. For example: ( \frac{1}{3} + \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1 \times 4 + 3 \times 1}{3 \times 4} = \frac{4 + 3}{12} = \frac{7}{12} ).” Explanation: The example provides a sample walkthrough for adding fractions, setting the expectation for the style and format of the answer.

   

  Science Fair Project on Renewable Energy: Prompt: “I’m working on a science fair project about renewable energy, specifically focusing on solar panels. Please explain how they convert sunlight into electricity. Keep it concise but include the basic science behind it.” Explanation: For this prompt, it is not easy to provide an example since you would have to include an entire paragraph that explains another concept.

   

  Writing a Poem for English Class: Less Effective Prompt: “I have an English class assignment to write a poem about nature. Please give me a template or outline to start my poem? Make sure to include at least three different poetic devices.” Effective Prompt: “I have an English class assignment to write a poem about nature. Please give me a template or outline to start my poem? Make sure to include at least three different poetic devices. For example, start with a simile, include some alliteration, and end with a metaphor.” Explanation: The example outlines the structure and poetic devices desired, providing ChatGPT with a blueprint for crafting the template or outline.

   

  Learning to Play a New Instrument: Prompt: “I just joined my school’s music club and chose to learn the guitar. Please list the basic chords I should start with. Pretend you are an experienced music teacher.” Explanation: For this prompt, it is also not easy to provide an example, and it might not be necessary.

   

  In short, providing an example is like giving ChatGPT a cheat sheet for acing your query. It’s your way to make sure you get the answer that fits your needs to a T.

  With this, you’ve completed the C.O.R.E framework, and you’re all set to craft prompts that will make your interactions with ChatGPT as fruitful as possible.

  Absolutely, a hands-on activity is a fantastic way to cement the understanding of the CORE framework. Here’s how you could set up this educational exercise:

   
   

  Hands-On Activity: Fix that Prompt!

   

  You’ve learned about the C.O.R.E framework — Context, Objective, Requirement, and Example. Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are some less effective prompts that lack one or more elements of the CORE framework. Your mission is to figure out what’s missing or poorly written, and then rewrite the prompt to make it better.

  For each case, you can try both the original and the improved versions on ChatGPT to see how they compare. Does your prompt yield a better answer? You can keep improving your prompt until you see a clear improvement.

  You can use this chat project to run the tests:

  https://play.creaticode.com/projects/6531b7e60fdce080a4481c1d
  
  

   

  Prompts for Analysis and Improvement Prompt: “Tell me about the solar system.” Hints: Is the context clear? What’s the objective here? Any requirements or examples?

   

  Prompt: “I need to write a story for my class.” Hints: Who are you? What exactly do you need for your story? What should it look like?

   

  Prompt: “I am preparing for my Spanish exam. How do I improve?” Hints: Which area are you looking for improvement?

   

  Prompt: “I’m hosting a party. Give me a recipe for salads.” Hints: Any dietary restrictions? How detailed should it be?

   
   

   
   

  Follow-Up Prompts: It’s a Conversation, Not a Monologue

   
   
  DALL·E 2023-10-28 00.10.54 - Minimalistic illustration with the phrase 'Follow Up Prompt' in bold and clear letters positioned at the top center. Below, there is a user on the lef.png

   

  You’ve got your CORE framework down, but let’s be real — nobody’s perfect. It’s rare to get exactly what you need from ChatGPT with just one prompt. And guess what? That’s totally okay! Working with ChatGPT is more like a conversation than a monologue. Sometimes, you need to clarify, adjust, or even backtrack to get to the answer you’re looking for.

  The key to effective follow-up prompts is to identify what went wrong (or what could be better) with the initial response. Is ChatGPT missing some background information? Were your original requirements unclear? Did your example mislead the model? Once you spot the issue, your follow-up prompt can address it, refining ChatGPT’s understanding and output.

  Don’t worry if you have to go through several iterations. The goal is to gradually narrow down to the most accurate and helpful response, and that usually takes a bit of back-and-forth.

   

  Common Issues and How to Address Them Through Follow-Up Prompts

   

  Missing Background Information

  Explanation: Sometimes ChatGPT doesn’t have enough context to give a tailored response. This usually happens when the initial prompt is too vague or general. In such cases, you’ll likely get a broad or generic answer that might not meet your specific needs. The key is to pinpoint what additional information would make your question clearer and include that in your follow-up prompt.

  Example 1: Initial Prompt: “Tell me about photosynthesis.” Initial Response: “Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll pigments.” Follow-Up Prompt: “I’m interested in understanding how chlorophyll plays a role in photosynthesis. Could you elaborate?” Improved Response: “Absolutely! Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis in plants. It’s the molecule in plant cells that absorbs sunlight and uses its energy to convert CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen.” Example 2: Initial Prompt: “Explain the concept of renewable energy.” Initial Response: “Renewable energy is energy that is collected from resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, and rain.” Follow-Up Prompt: “Can you focus on how solar energy is harnessed and converted into electricity?” Improved Response: “Certainly! Solar energy is harnessed using photovoltaic cells commonly found in solar panels. These cells convert sunlight directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.”

   

  Misleading Descriptions

  Explanation: At times, the words you use in your prompt might inadvertently guide ChatGPT down the wrong path. For example, asking for a “quick recipe” could still yield a complex dish if ChatGPT’s definition of “quick” differs from yours. It’s important to clarify any terms or phrases that could be interpreted in multiple ways.

  Example 1: Initial Prompt: “Give me a quick recipe.” Initial Response: “How about Beef Bourguignon? It’s a delightful French dish, although it takes about 2 hours to make.” Follow-Up Prompt: “I’m looking for something quick and easy to prepare. Do you have a recipe that takes less than 30 minutes?” Improved Response: “Of course! A quick and easy option would be a classic Spaghetti Aglio e Olio. You’ll need spaghetti, garlic, red pepper flakes, and olive oil, and it takes just about 20 minutes to prepare.” Example 2: Initial Prompt: “How do I become popular?” Initial Response: “Gaining popularity can involve a myriad of factors such as your social media presence, networking skills, and even your charisma.” Follow-Up Prompt: “I was referring to becoming well-liked among my local community members. Do you have any tips for that?” Improved Response: “Ah, I understand. In a local community setting, becoming well-liked often involves being actively involved in community events, being kind and approachable, and showing genuine interest in the well-being of others.”

   

  Unclear Requirements

  Explanation: If you have specific requirements for how you’d like the information to be presented, it’s crucial to state them clearly. Whether you want a detailed explanation, a summarized list, or any other specific format, not stating this clearly can lead to getting a response that doesn’t meet your expectations. Always specify your requirements in your prompt or follow-up to get the answer you’re looking for.

  Example 1: Initial Prompt: “Write me a poem about the ocean.” Initial Response: “The ocean’s waves dance to and fro, a ballet of nature, don’t you know.” Follow-Up Prompt: “Could you write the poem in a sonnet form?” Improved Response: “The ocean’s waves in moonlight gleam so bright, a dance of liquid sapphire through the night. Each crest and trough an artist’s stroke, it seems, a living, breathing, ever-changing dream.” Example 2: Initial Prompt: “Tell me how to take care of a dog.” Initial Response: “Taking care of a dog involves feeding, exercise, grooming, and regular veterinary check-ups.” Follow-Up Prompt: “Could you provide the information in a detailed list format?” Improved Response: "Certainly! Here’s a detailed list: Feeding: Choose nutritionally balanced food and provide fresh water. Exercise: Daily walks and playtime are essential. Grooming: Brush regularly and keep nails trimmed. Vet Visits: Annual check-ups and vaccinations are a must."

   

  Misleading Examples

  Explanation: Sometimes, you might use an example to indicate the style or format you’re interested in. But if your example isn’t spot-on, ChatGPT might take it too literally or misunderstand your intention. Be mindful of the examples you use and make sure they align closely with what you’re actually looking for.

  Example 1: Initial Prompt: “Write me a story like Harry Potter.” Initial Response: “In a dystopian future, young Sarah discovers she’s a tech wizard capable of controlling machines with her mind.” Follow-Up Prompt: “I meant a fantasy story set in a magical world.” Improved Response: “Ah, got it. In the magical kingdom of Eldoria, a young orphan named Tim discovers an ancient wand that bestows upon him incredible magical powers.” Example 2: Initial Prompt: “Suggest a hearty dinner recipe.” Initial Response: “How about a seafood paella?” Follow-Up Prompt: “I was thinking of something more along the lines of a meat and potatoes kind of meal.” Improved Response: “Ah, I see. How about a classic meatloaf with a side of mashed potatoes? It’s a hearty, comforting meal that’s sure to satisfy.”

   

  Needs Additional Information

  Explanation: Even when you think you’ve provided enough details, sometimes ChatGPT might still need more information to give you the best possible answer. This could be additional context, specific preferences, or other factors that weren’t included in your initial prompt. If the initial response is lacking, think about what additional details could make it more precise.
   

  Example 1: Initial Prompt: “What laptop should I buy?” Initial Response: “The ideal laptop depends on various factors, including what you’ll be using it for, your budget, and personal preferences.” Follow-Up Prompt: “I’ll mainly be using it for video editing.” Improved Response: “For video editing, you’ll want a laptop with a strong processor, at least 16GB of RAM, and a high-resolution display. MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15 are good options.” Example 2: Initial Prompt: “What pet should I get?” Initial Response: “Choosing a pet depends on your lifestyle, living situation, and personal preferences. Dogs and cats are popular choices, but there are also birds, fish, and small mammals like hamsters.” Follow-Up Prompt: “I should add that I live in an apartment.” Improved Response: “If you live in an apartment, you might consider smaller pets that require less space. Small dog breeds, fish, or even a rabbit could be a good fit.”

   

  Understanding these common pitfalls and knowing how to navigate them can greatly improve your interactions with ChatGPT. A good prompt often requires some iteration and fine-tuning, so don’t hesitate to refine your questions in follow-up prompts.

   
   

  Hands-On Activity: Mastering the Art of Follow-Up Prompts

   

  Objective

  In this activity, you will practice writing follow-up prompts to fine-tune ChatGPT’s responses. You’ll start with some initial prompts that are intentionally less effective. After getting the initial responses, you’ll identify issues based on the categories we’ve discussed and write follow-up prompts to address them. Finally, you’ll evaluate the improved responses to see if they meet your expectations.

  Guidelines for a Great Response Relevance: Does the response answer your question directly and completely? Clarity: Is the response easy to understand, with no ambiguous or confusing parts? Depth: Does the response provide a sufficient level of detail? Tone: Does the tone of the response match what you were looking for (e.g., formal, casual, educational, etc.)? Formatting: Is the response formatted in a way that makes it easy to read and understand?
    Initial Prompts “Tell me how solar energy works.” “What’s a good meal I can make quickly?” “How can I make my bedroom more comfortable?” “How do I get better at playing basketball?” “Explain how a car engine works.”
    Steps Step 1: Copy one of the initial prompts and put it into the same chat project used in the previous activity. Step 2: Examine the response you get. Identify any issues based on the categories we’ve discussed (Missing Background Information, Misleading Descriptions, Unclear Requirements, Misleading Examples, Needs Additional Information). Step 3: Write a follow-up prompt to address the issue(s) you’ve identified. Put your follow-up prompt into ChatGPT. Step 4: Again, examine the new response. Is it improved? Does it meet the guidelines for a great response? If not, go back to Step 3 and write another follow-up prompt. Step 5: Once you’re satisfied with the response, move on to the next initial prompt and repeat the process.
    Example of the Process Initial Prompt: “Tell me how solar energy works.” Initial Response: “Solar energy works by capturing the sun’s energy and turning it into electricity for your home or business.” Issues Identified: Missing Background Information, Unclear Requirements Follow-Up Prompt: “I’m doing a project on renewable energy sources. Can you explain how solar panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity, in a detailed manner?” Improved Response: “Certainly! Solar panels are made of photovoltaic cells, which contain semiconductors. When sunlight hits these cells, it energizes the electrons, creating an electric current. This electricity is then converted from DC to AC and can be used to power your home. Solar inverters and battery storage systems can also be used for a more constant energy supply.” Evaluation: The improved response is relevant, clear, detailed, educational in tone, and well-formatted, meeting all the guidelines for a great response.

  Feel free to go through all the initial prompts to get the most out of this hands-on activity. Remember, the key to a meaningful interaction with ChatGPT often lies in the art of the follow-up prompt!

   

   

  Chapter Summary

   
  In this chapter, we explored the CORE framework to craft effective prompts for ChatGPT. The CORE framework consists of Context, Objective, Requirement, and Example, each adding clarity and precision to your questions. We illustrated this with detailed examples and explained how to fix common issues through follow-up prompts. Hands-on activities were included to offer practical experience in writing both initial and follow-up queries. By mastering these principles, you’re set to get the most relevant and accurate responses from ChatGPT.

   
   

  Project - An Improved Chat App

   

  It’s time to do some coding now. Please follow this tutorial to build an improved chatbot.

• Programming

  How to design and develop a solution program

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  Topics
  1
  Posts

  

   

  Prerequisite The For-Loop Block The Repeat Block The Repeat Until Block The Forever Block

   

  What are Loops?

  A “loop” is a block for playing other blocks repeatedly. Below are some loop blocks you can use on the CreatiCode playground;

  
   

  What are Nested Loops?

  When you put one loop inside another loop, it becomes a “nested loop”. You can even have a third loop inside the inner loop.

  
   

  How Nested Loops Work?

  When you run a program with a nested loop, the inner (child) loop will work like a normal loop. However, because of the outer (parent) loop, the inner loop itself will be repeated.

  Here is a step-by-step example:

  Step 1: The main loop is played.

  
   

  Step 2: The Nested loop is started.

  
   

  Step 3: The blocks inside the nested loop are played until the condition of the nested loop is completed.

  
   

  Step 4: The blocks after the nested loop are played (if there are any).

  
   

  Step 5: The main loop is restarted.

  Note: All of the above 5 steps keep repeating until the condition of the main loop is completed.

  For example, as shown below, “repeat until ” is the nested loop, which keeps the monkey moving until it touches the edge of the stage. And “repeat (5)” is the main loop which repeats the nested loop 5 times.

  
   

  Use of Nested Loops

  We use Nested loops when we want to repeat multiple blocks at the same time, until multiple conditions are completed.

  For example, as shown below, nested loops are used to make the monkey move and eat bananas at the same time.

  
   

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  Welcome to the CreatiCode Playground

   

  The CreatiCode Playground is a fun online platform where you can create and share projects using Scratch blocks. It builds on the open-source MIT Scratch framework but adds exciting new tools and features to make your projects even more awesome!

  This tutorial will guide you through the basics of using the CreatiCode Playground, perfect for beginners to block-based coding. If you’ve used MIT Scratch before, it is recommended that you quickly skim through and check out what’s different.

  Let’s dive in and get started!

   
   
   
   

  Create a New Account with Email and Password

   

  Good to Know: If you have a Google email, you can sign in directly without creating a new account!

  Here’s how to sign up using an email and password:

  Go to creaticode.com.
    Click the “Join” button in the top-right corner.
  Join Button
    Choose whether you’re a student or an educator.
  327188b0-f119-4fa0-ba21-bab98e2b7269-image.png
    Fill out the sign-up form with your details, then click “FREE SIGN UP”.
  Note: The “Full Name” field is your username, and it doesn’t have to be your real name.
  Sign-Up Form
    If you’re 13 or younger, you’ll need to provide a guardian’s email (like a parent or teacher). Your account won’t work until your guardian approves it.
  Guardian Approval

   
   
   

  Sign In to Your Account with Email and Password

   

  Here’s how to sign in using your email and password (created by you or your teacher):

  Visit creaticode.com.
    Click the “Join” button at the top.
    On the next page, click “SIGN IN” in the top-right corner to open a dropdown menu.
  Sign-In Dropdown
    Enter your email and password, then click “Sign In”.

   
   
   
   

  Sign In with a Google Account

   

  If you have a Google account (like a Gmail or school email), signing in is super easy — no need to sign up!

  Go to creaticode.com.
    Click “Join” in the top-right corner.
  Join Button
    Click “SIGN IN” in the top-right corner, then select the “Google” button in the dropdown.
  Google Sign-In
    Enter your Google email and password to sign in.
    Select account type (student or educator) if this is the first time.

  Tip: Always use the same sign-in method going forward (either email/password or Google) to avoid any mix-ups.

   
   
   
   

  Explore Projects from the Community

   

  Scratch — and by extension, CreatiCode — is all about Create → Share → Remix! You can make a project (like a game), share it for others to play and give feedback, and even let others “remix” it to create their own versions. It’s a fun way to inspire each other!

  To check out projects shared by others:

  Click the “Explore” link at the top of the page.
    The top four rows show Editor’s Pick projects — cool demos that highlight what you can build on CreatiCode.
  Explore Projects
    Below those, you’ll see all community projects. Use the two dropdown menus on the right to sort them: Time Period: Choose a timeframe, like the past month or year. Sorting Method: Pick how to sort projects: Trending: Most likes. Popular: Most views. Recent: Newest projects. Inspiring: Most remixes.
  Sort Options

   
   
   
   

  Understand Project Stats

   

  Each project has a preview image with three key stats below it to give you a quick idea of its popularity and complexity:

  Love Count: How many users clicked the heart button to mark it as a favorite. View Count: How many times the project has been played. Block Count: How many coding blocks are in the project. A higher number usually means a more complex project.
  Project Stats

   
   
   
   

  Search for Community Projects

   

  With so many projects in the community, searching helps you find exactly what you’re looking for! Here’s how:

  Type a keyword (like “car”) in the search box and press Enter. You’ll see projects with that word in their name.
  Search Bar
    Click the small triangle in the search box to add filters, like finding only 3D projects or projects with a specific number of blocks.
  Advanced Search

   
   
   
   

  Check Out a Project’s Home Page

   

  When you click on a project, you’ll land on its home page, which has everything you need to explore it. Here’s what you’ll see (from top to bottom):

  Green Flag: Click this to play the project. Remix Button: Make your own copy of the project to edit. See Inside Button: Peek at the project’s code blocks and assets in the editor. !Report: Flag the project for the CreatiCode team if it has anything inappropriate. App Link: Send a link to the project as an app via email. Project Link: Get a direct link to the project. Comments: Share your thoughts (like compliments or ideas) and read what others have said. Remixes: Check out other users’ versions of this project, created by copying and modifying it.

   
  Project Home Page

   
   
   
   

  Remix a Project

   

  Want to put your own spin on a project you like? It’s easy!

  Click the orange “Remix” button on the project’s home page. A copy of the project will appear in your CreatiCode Playground. Make any changes you want, then share your version with the community!

   
   
   
   

  Share or Publish Your Project

   

  Your projects are private by default, so you can experiment without anyone seeing your work. When you’re ready to show it off, you can share or publish it.

  Sharing lets others play your project, view its code blocks, and remix it. This is called “open-source” because the code is open for everyone to see and use. Publishing lets others play your project, but they can’t see the code or remix it. This is called “closed-source” and is great for sharing finished projects, like a puzzle game where the secrets in the code must remain hidden.

  When sharing, you can choose who sees your project:

  Share: Open to all users. Share with friends: Only your CreatiCode friends can see it. Share with password: Only users with the password you set can access it. Share Unlisted: Not shown in Explore or search results — only users with the direct link can see it. Make private: Hide the project from everyone.
   
  Sharing Options

   
   
   
   

  Create a New Project

   

  Here’s how to make a new project:

  Click the “Create” link in the top navigation bar.
    Your new project comes with two default sprites: Sprite1: A cute dog with costumes for walking in all four directions—perfect for animations! Empty1: A blank sprite for your own ideas.
  Default Sprites
    If you don’t need the dog, just delete Sprite1 and start fresh!

   
   
   
   

  Browse Your Projects in “My Stuff”

   

  The “My Stuff” page is your hub for managing all your projects. To get there:

  Click the folder button in the top-right corner or select “My Stuff” from the dropdown menu.
  My Stuff Button
    You’ll see a list of all your projects, showing each project’s name, last modified date, and view count.
  My Stuff Page
    Use the menu on the left to filter projects by shared, published, or private. Click “See inside” on any project to open and edit it.

   
   
   
   

  Search for Projects in “My Stuff”

   

  If you have lots of projects, finding the right one is easy with the search box:

  Type a project name in the search box (upper or lower case doesn’t matter).
  My Stuff Search
    Tip: Give your projects clear, memorable names so you can find them quickly later!

   
   
   
   

  Find Blocks in the Block Palette

   

  The block palette on the left side of the Playground lists all the coding blocks you can use. Here’s how to use it:

  By default, the palette is folded to give you more workspace. Click any block category to open it.
    Want to keep it open? Click the “pin” button.
  Block Palette
    With tons of new blocks in CreatiCode, use the search box to find specific ones quickly. Clear the search by clicking the “X” button.
  Block Search

   
   
   
   

  Adding Blocks to the Editor

   

  To create a program with blocks, just drag them into the editor area. You can snap them together vertically, much like stacking LEGO bricks:

  drop2.gif

   
  In some cases, you’ll need to insert one block inside another. When doing this, make sure to align the left edge of the new block (not the middle) with the target slot:

  dropblock.gif

   

  You’re now ready to explore, create, and share in the CreatiCode Playground! Have fun building your projects and remixing others’ ideas. If you get stuck, revisit this tutorial or ask a teacher for help. Happy coding!