If you are a parent of young children interested in helping them learn computer programming, you most likely have many questions on how to go about it. Even how to begin to explore this for your kids.

The Libertarian Homeschooler, a facebook page with high quality content and a thriving and involved community of parents, wanted to get to the bottom of ‘programming for kids’. They asked if Tynker could help them explore and understand this area better.

Parents posed questions, Tynker answered, and this led to a very informative and insightful discussion on the topic a few days ago over at their Facebook page.

We share with you below the first set of these questions and answers:

Why do children need to learn programming? And similar Qs. Tynker answers..

Q: Why is it important for our children to know programming? My kids are learning word processing, making presentations, using spreadsheets, and browsing the internet – isn’t that good enough?

A: Our children today are surrounded by technology, and their future is going to be even more technology immersed. Instead of being merely passive consumers of this technology, it is important for them to become active participants – to direct, participate, create, and control, literally, their future.

And this is relevant not just for kids who will grow up and become ‘programmers’, it is for practically every career – doctors will be using computing for decision making, so will architects and artists.

Programming is the set of instructions from us that computers follow, for the high-tech world of today and tomorrow therefore, programming really is a basic literacy.

Q: What is computational thinking?

A: Computational thinking is a problem solving process. It includes knowing how and when to use computing tools, knowing what steps you need to take to solve a problem, and logically organizing and analyzing data.

Q: What is STEM learning, especially in the context of elementary or middle school kids, and how does programming fit into it?

A: STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Educators and parents are trying to focus more and more on STEM education for children, at elementary level upwards, recognizing the importance of these subjects in today’s high-tech economy.

Programming unlocks STEM skills in children. Programming and logical reasoning are very closely linked to math, physics and other science subjects. So kids are able to practically apply their understanding of math and science, as well as reinforce their learning.

Is programming hard for my child? And similar Qs. Tynker answers..

Q: Isn’t programming too complex for kids? I have heard of C, Java – how can young kids learn those?

A: Traditionally programming required knowledge of syntax – that is, the use of sequences of text including words, numbers, and punctuation. You are right – this is a complexity that children cannot successfully navigate.

But visual-based programming, that uses Lego(R) blocks like pre-created code, ensures kids can focus on the fundamental programming logic, rather than syntax.

We have a visual programming platform – with pre-created code blocks (see image below) that children can easily drag and drop to ‘write’ a program (that is, build a game, a story) that works. Kids don’t get frustrated with “program not working” because of a missing semi-colon!

Q: Code is important to everything that happens on a computer. Got it. Now what in the world is it?

A: It’s the first step in going from using things to start understanding how things work. Code is what drives a computer – the best way our students understand it is, the set of instructions that tell a computer what to do. That thought, as you can imagine, can be very empowering for kids!

Q: What do kids actually learn when they learn programming? Do they just learn how to use a tool? Or create a game or two?

A: Kids will of course get familiar with the programming tool, say Tynker, but they will also learn how to tell a good story, logically sequence events, and model real situations. They will increase their technical proficiency.

Most importantly, they will develop their algorithmic and design thinking abilities – in programming, the child’s mind is trained to identify and break down a problem into smaller parts, and design an approach to solve it. That’s what kids will learn, without realizing they’re learning it!

Q: Does learning to program help with a child’s other learning? We all know ‘integrated’ education instead of learning subjects in silos makes for deeper and more fundamental understanding among kids.

A: Agreed! Project Based Learning (PBL) inspires students to gain a deeper knowledge of subjects that they are learning. Programming is a great way to apply and strengthen learning across different subjects.

Sharing the experience of one of our elementary school teachers:

Adrienne Guireba, a third grade teacher, very effectively uses Tynker in her classroom for PBL of STEM subjects. Her class was learning about the Baylands in California. Instead of using slides and posters to state what they knew, kids used Tynker to illustrate, animate, and create a representation of it. There are some interesting projects that you can see here in her students’ Baylands showcase .

Q: Will programming really hold my child’s attention? My son shows more interest when learning is hands-on. He doesn’t really enjoy learning from books.

A: Programming is more hands-on than any other subject your child will learn! Programming is all about implementing – you write code, see if it works, and keep correcting and improving, while running the program each time.

And if the program kids get to create is fun and engaging (what’s not to like in creating animations and games! – see below some fun projects built by kids), they get automatically hooked on – no pushing needed. Tynker has been created around this fundamental premise – provide kids the opportunity to be creative and become Makers – learning will automatically happen.

Read the second half of parent Q&As here.

Parents of young children wanting to help their kids learn programming have a number of questions about it – what does programming mean, is my child too young (or old) for it, I do not know programming myself so how do I ensure my child is learning – and so on. The Libertarian Homeschooler, a Facebook page with a vibrant community of involved parents, asked if Tynker could help them explore and understand ‘programming for kids’ better.

Parents posed questions, Tynker answered, and this led to a very informative and insightful discussion on the topic a few days ago over at their Facebook page.

Below is the second set of questions and answers from that discussion. Here is the first half of the Q&As if you missed it.

What ages is programming suited for? What do I need to know about coding? And similar Qs. Tynker answers..

Q: What do the kids need to know about binary to have programming make sense? What do they need to know about operating systems?

A: Nothing! Knowing what the binary system or the OS is has practically nothing to do with programming logic, especially at their age. Without having to worry about those not so relevant concepts, kids will focus on computational thinking – how do I make my score go up by 10 each time the alien is clicked – which is what we should be aiming for!

Tynker is experimental in that sense – DIY and learn through discovery. We deliberately kept concepts like binary out of the picture since they do not add much to the learning and will end up only confusing the child.

Q: What ages is learning programming more suited for? Shouldn’t they be at least in high school before they begin?

A: Visual based programs can be started at a young age. We recommend starting Tynker in Grade 4. Kids are good logical thinkers by that age, and they are comfortable with communication and understanding instructions. We do have some younger kids Tynkering with aplomb – each child is different so make a call based on your own child’s interest and ability. If you decide to start with Tynker, remember, it never expires, so you can keep coming back to it based on your child’s readiness.

Q. Is your grade provision due to reading level? My 7 year old can read well past a 4th grade level, so I was wondering if this was reasonable for him?

A. We do have younger kids Tynkering comfortably, including some 7 and 8 year olds. We specify the 4th grade lower limit so we can guarantee the learning we offer. The grade provision is due to the reading level yes, so the child can understand instructions (all written) and can read and understand the code blocks. Also, the course requires some level of understanding of logic, sequencing, cause-and-effect. Our take – if you think your child can do it, you could go ahead. The course, and access to Tynker, never expires, so if you feel your child is not quite ready, you can always come back to it in a few weeks/months.

Edited to add: Interestingly, here’s a mom of a 6 year old on their experience with the Tynker course.

Q: I don’t know anything about computers or programming. Even if we use a programming learning tool, I feel unsure of how I can guide my child through it. What if they need me to teach them or help them when they get stuck – I don’t think I could do that.

A: On some of the available programming platforms (which are not guided courses that is) this could indeed be an issue. We have tried to avoid this problem by building a product with ‘no programming skills needed’, either in parents, or in child!

We offer children a completely self-paced 16-chapter course that they drive themselves. The course is filled with guided lessons, puzzles, tutorials, quizzes, challenge missions, and training videos. It’s almost like having a virtual instructor taking them through increasingly complex programming concepts.

So a parent’s help is not required. It is of course fun to do things together with our kids so you could go ahead and learn some of it along with your child!

How should I get my child started learning to code? How does Tynker work? And similar Qs. Tynker Answers..

Q: My kids love Scratch. But what would be a good way to scaffold skills or programs into something good, not all messy and helter-skelter?

A: Following some sort of curriculum is a good way to bring structure to programming learning. Here are examples of programming concepts: events, user interactions, messaging, finite and infinite loops, conditionals, delays, keyboard and mouse control, pen drawing, visual effects, turning, directionality and motion, and physics engine. Now these need to be laid out in a structured progressive manner, that is in a curriculum, so that there is a method to the learning.

As an example, Tynker offers a 16-chapter Introduction-to-Programming structured course. You start with the basic programming concepts, and work your way up through progressively more complex ones, while covering all relevant topics. In each chapter you learn with the help of guided lessons and exercises, and reinforce the learning with puzzles, tutorials, quizzes, challenge missions and training videos.

Watch this video for a quick walkthrough of the course:

You could also go over to www.tynker.com/#course101 to learn more, especially to understand what your child will come away with at the end of the course.

Q: What happens if we sign up to Tynker? Do kids just start learning, on their own, and find their way around it?

A: Once you sign up and create your child’s account, they can log in and follow the structured and pre-set path through the chapters – they will not lose their way, or have to wonder “what next”, while going through this Introduction to Programming course.

Q: How long does it take for a child to “complete” learning programming with Tynker?

A: Well, programming is a vast and endless field, but our 16-chapter Introduction to Programming course should take around 16 weeks to complete, especially if the child spends time after every chapter in reviewing learning, creating their own projects using those concepts, and referring back to earlier lessons as they progress.

Q: Does Tynker expire?

A: No. The course never expires – once completed or while going through the chapters, you can go back, revisit a chapter, any time.

Even once your child is done with the course, they have access to the Tynker programming workshop indefinitely. So they can simply continue to program using Tynker – creating games, stories, science and math projects, based on the skills they have already learned.

Q: I have more than one child. Will one Tynker account do for all of them?

A: No. Tynker is a self-learning tool that is built to create a personalized learning experience for each individual child, and you as a parent will have access separately to each child’s creations, progress maps, reports, etc.

We do offer a discounted fee for each additional child, so if you have more than one child you can avail that discount.

Q. I wonder if there is anything like this over here in England. I reckon both my boys would love it .

A. Tynker is available worldwide as long as the child understands English, and we have a large number of users in England, Australia, Canada. There is no physical product to be delivered – its a simple browser login based use, so a child can Tynker anywhere in the world!

Q: I may have more questions once I explore this further. What’s the best way to reach you guys at Tynker if I need to?

A: We look forward to it! We are on facebook at www.facebook.com/gotynker, on twitter at www.twitter.com/gotynker, or we’re happy to connect over email – please write us at info@tynker.com.

Edutopia

10/10/13

Editor’s Note: Helen Mowers, co-creator of the Tech Chicks podcast, contributed to this post.

It’s hard to imagine a single career that doesn’t have a need for someone who can code. Everything that “just works” has some type of code that makes it run. Coding (a.k.a. programming) is all around us. That’s why all the cool kids are coding . . . or should be. Programming is not just the province of pale twenty-somethings in skinny jeans, hunched over three monitors, swigging Red Bull. Not any more! The newest pint-sized coders have just begun elementary school.

If you’re concerned that that a) elementary school students don’t have the ability to code, b) there’s no room in the curriculum, and c) you don’t possess coding chops to teach programming skills, throw out those worries. The following sites and apps can help anyone who has basic reading skills grasp the basics of thinking and planning in order to make things happen (the whole purpose of coding) and create applications: interactive games, quizzes, animations, etc. Best of all, many of these tools are free, or almost free, and require no coding background or expertise!

In no particular order, we have listed all the coding apps that are appropriate for young learners. We’ve used many of them with elementary-aged students.

Tynker

Platform: Web
Cost: Free! (with Premium upgrade option)
Although Tynker is relatively new, we definitely count it as one of our favorite coding apps. The interface looks similar to Scratch. But while Scratch was designed to program, Tynker was built to teach programming. The app features starter lesson plans, classroom management tools, and an online showcase of student-created programs. Lessons are self-paced and simple for students to follow without assistance.

Read More…

Babble

10/16/13

She asked for more ukeleles.

At our Parent Council Meeting last week, the principal brought a funding request to the Council from the music teacher. She wanted money to buy more ukeleles.

I get that music is important. I get that sharing ukeleles in a crowded class of 9 yr olds is not conducive to a positive teaching environment. But .. ukeleles? Listen to the drum beat in the distance. It’s not a snare or a bongo or some cool tribal drum. It’s the echoing call for kids needing to learn how to code.

There have been articles all summer talking about how we need to change how we are teaching our kids.

“Children aged from 5-11 have so much potential for learning about algorithms and computation that it would be a shame to wait until they are teenagers before we teach them the foundations…The most obvious argument, of course, is economic: Demand for software developers already far outstrips supply, and it’s expected to increase 30 percent by 2020 — more than double the average for all other jobs. ” – [Wired]

We need to get them prepared for the real world. More than 90% of schools in the US don’t offer any computer programming classes.

Read More…

ReadWrite

10/18/13

Learning to code is all the rage these days, but not in one place that matters a lot: U.S. schools.

U.S. students already significantly lag their global counterparts where math and science skills are concerned. But computer science is in even worse shape: Of 12 technical subjects examined in a recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics, computer science was the only one that declined in student popularity from 1990 to 2009 (p. 49).

Last year, just 1.4 percent of high school AP students took the computer science exam, compared to almost 40 percent that took exams in English. Far more students took AP exams in Spanish language, psychology, calculus, and history than in programming.

Insufficiencies in school can translate into a bigger problem on an economic level. Each year, U.S. companies need to fill almost 150,000 jobs related to computer science and mathematics, but colleges and universities only graduate about 100,000 students with degrees in those fields.

Bridging The Gap

Recognizing the need for an increased focus in computer science courses in schools, organizations like the nonprofit Code.org are teaming up with industry leaders to promote technology education in both elementary and high schools across the country.

Code.org believes all students in America should have the opportunity to learn computer science, and recently announced the first step in its plan to educate them. The Hour of Code initiative is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to help kids and educators understand coding. The organization will provide both online and “unplugged,” or paper, tutorials and materials designed to assist teachers with the education process.

“Bringing computer science to every kid is the gift the tech industry needs to give back to America,” Code.org cofounder Hadi Partovi said during the Hour of Code launch event on Monday.

The Hour of Code will take place during Computer Science Education Week, December 9-15, and will encourage teachers to include one hour of computer science in that week’s curriculum. The organization is using game-like tutorials including Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies to drum up excitement for coding in the classroom.

Code.org is supported by leaders in technology and education including Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, former president Bill Clinton, NBA star Chris Bosh, and actor Ashton Kutcher.

Paypal cofounder Max Levchin said that teaching young students how to code is critical for maintaining economic competitiveness in the 21st century.

“I think learning how to code, learning how the vast majority of everything around them works, literally, that is to say Internet of Things, and many other trends like it,” he said. “Having that knowledge will prepare children in the generations to come to participate in the economic development of the world.”

Read More…

Looks like it’s never too early to start Tynkering! Kudos Dad and son!

Adventures in Programming: Tynkering with My 5 Year Old

10/22/2013

I wrote my first program when I was 8 years old. It was a Centipede game programmed in BASIC on my ZX Spectrum, an 8-bit personal computer developed by Sinclair Research that my parents got me for birthday.

Last week my 5 year old son wrote his first program, he trained Pixel to be a better guard dog and protect the lab from the evil Dr. Glitch! Though unlike his dad 30 years earlier, he didn’t have to mess with PRINT AT x,y (Sinclair BASIC convention for screen coordinates  ;-) or ASCII control codes. Thanks to Tynker, a new computing platform designed to teach children computational thinking and programming skills, there was no knowledge of syntax required, only pre-created visual code blocks that he could drag and drop to ‘write’ a program.

How Young Is Too Young to Learn to Code?

My son has been talking about “telling the computer what to do”
for sometime now. However, like any good parents, my wife & I have been limiting his daily screen time. Between the iPhone, iPad & iWant TV  my wife wasn’t crazy on the idea of more time spent in front of a computer. Googling the subject I found the following quote from professor Ellen Wartella which I tend to agree with:

“One mistake people make, Wartella said, is focusing on the fact of the screen itself rather than the content of what the screen is showing. “ Is it bad for kids to Skype with Grandma? I don’t think anyone would say that.” 

Regardless of screen time there is also the question of how young is too young for him to learn to code? Wired magazine recently had some fascinating piece on the issue.

Read more..

Why children should learn how to program

10/27/13

I Programmer

10/27/13

As programmers we appreciate why knowing how to code is really important. But if you find it difficult to express why, this infographic gives five reasons – and I’m sure you can add more.

During Computer Science Week, Code.org aims to give 10 million kids an hour of code. It may not be much but at least it’s a recognition that it’s a good idea for kids to learn how to code.

Of all the reasons I think a variation of the third in the list is the most convincing. Learning to program makes you approach problem solving in a better way. For example, It prompts you break down complicated  problems that seen intractable into smaller parts that can be solved. Once you’ve acquired this a way of thinking it extends to everything you tackle – and allows you to succeed where others would simply give up.

Certainly the sooner you introduce programming to kids the more easily they will absorb it and in this sense it is like learning a foreign language. However, at whatever age you introduce it, it is the combination of imagination plus the ability to harness computing power that empowers the individual to turn ideas into action and experience the thrill of empowerment.

The infographic concludes with the economic motivating force behind the current drive towards teaching programming to all kids. Years of neglect of computer science education means the US is now facing a huge shortfall in people qualified to take on jobs that require programming skills. The prospect of an above average salary should motivate kids to learn programming – but it does rather leave unanswered the question of who is going to teach them.

Read More…

ACM Education Council 2013 Meeting

11/14/13

I was honored to be invited to the ACM Education Council meeting on November 2nd, to speak on a panel about teaching young programmers how to code. I spoke alongside Jeremy Keeshin from CodeHS, Krishna Vedati from Tynker, and Neil Fraser from Google’s Blockly open source project. It was a great opportunity to meet people passionate about teaching programming.

Here we are, smiling it up for Dan Garcia‘s camera.

For a nice write-up of what we all talked about, you can read through this blog post. You can also look through all the slides presented here.

Read More…

We were so excited to run this programming workshop exclusively for girls organized by Girls Innovate! and hosted by nestGSV  at Redwood City, CA. It turned out to be a fantastic event, with a room full of enthusiastic girls and their parents who came together to learn computer programming using Tynker.

“Great workshop! We had three girls programming in the car in the way home. Now we have a jealous older brother at home! Thanks!!” – reported by a dad at the workshop.

Way to go, girls. Keep on coding!

Sophia, a 5th grader in a Redwood City, says, “I think Tynker is fun and interactive. Tynker will help you prepare for future programming experiences. Some parts are challenging, some parts are easy.  It’s perfect!”

Anshika, a kindergartener says “Love it! Its easy peasy! I want more, more, more!” Wow Anshika, we are impressed!

Enjoy these pictures from the event, and the full album here

We leave you with what parents had to say about the workshop:

“…My two girls (ages 7 and 9) attended the Tynker workshop and it was amazing!  We’ve worked with Tynker before, but for them to be in a room full of other girls interested in programming, it just changed everything. Looking forward to future events! Gratefully, Sasha”

“Thank you for a great workshop! My daughter can’t stop talking about it, and I’m so thrilled she had this opportunity to spark an interest in programming! - Sanobar Mehta”

“Tynker is a great vehicle to systematically teach children programming skills in a very fun, playful and intuitive way. The best is, the children think they are playing, but actually, they are learning how to program” – Fariha Hilaly

Is your daughter programming yet? Start her off today!

Pea of Sweetness

12/07/13

When we think of programming we usually think of adults or even older children. I know when I would hear the words “programming course” I didn’t assume it would be something children as young as ours could take! Tynker not only makes that possible, it’s what they are all about! They enable children to learn programming and design, and they get to think creatively and use their imaginations as well! They offer home courses, which are great for homeschool families like ours because we can fit it right in to our curriculum, but they can definitely be used by children who attend a school on evenings or weekend as well because the courses are totally flexible! They also offer grade specific curriculum for schools as well!

Tynker’s Introduction to Programming is recommended for children in grades 4th-8th, but we have been using it with our 7 year old who will be starting 2nd grade in a few weeks when we start our new homeschool year. One of the reasons for the age recommendation is that it does require reading, so I knew my husband or I would have to sit with him during the time he was working on his course. He is on the Autism Spectrum, and reading has been a struggle. Doing things on the computer, though, is something he LOVES, so I knew it would be worth it to see his excitement as he goes through the course!

The course introduction does start off with a story that involves a lot of reading, so I definitely saw right off the bat where that recommendation comes into play. I read all of it, though, and actually had all three kids standing around because it starts off as a fun adventure! Who doesn’t like a good adventure? Not only did it start off as a fun adventure where he is gets to be a superhero, but Brayden was told he would earn badges along the way. So he gets to do something on the computer, which he enjoys, and he gets to have a fun adventure and earn rewards, too!

Read more…

We are happy to announce two new programming courses for schools appropriate for Grades 3-8: Programming 101, and Programming 102.

Students learn at their own pace, which frees you up to provide more 1-on-1 attention. Programing concepts are introduced progressively in each lesson in Tynker’s interactive framework with narration, videos, guided tutorials, and projects.

Teachers now have the flexibility to choose and buy just the lesson plans they need, and add more as they go along the school year.

Programming 101

With 15 lessons and 80+ activities, this lesson plan introduces students to visual programming. Students create their own programs to write stories, animate characters and create interactive programs. The topics covered in this course are:

• Introduction to Visual Programming
• Basic Scene creation with Actors, Backgrounds and Sounds
• Drawing your own Actors and Scenes
• Loops and Repetition
• Simple Motion and Animation
• Storytelling
• Making Greeting Cards
• Designing an animated Avatar

Programming 102

With 14 lessons and 80+ activities, this lesson plan is a continuation from Programming 101. Students learn new concepts and techniques such as generating musical notes, math art, and designing games. The topics covered in this course are:

• Generate computer music 
• Positioning using X-Y coordinates
• Pen drawing and Turtle graphics
• Game design and keeping score
• Build a Quiz Game: Conditional Statements
• Build a Maze Game: Navigation, Color sensing, Win-loss

As always, teacher feedback is extremely important to us – please do share your thoughts on these courses by writing to support@tynker.com.

Saathvik Vangati is a twelve-year old seventh grader enrolled in the Quimby Oak Middle School of the Evergreen school district in San Jose, CA.

What do soccer and Tynker have in common? Fun, improvisation, and Saathvik Vangati.

The twelve-year-old soccer fanatic could not believe his parents were sending him off to coding camp in the summer. “Programming is for adults!,” he thought, upset that he would be stuck in a room all week instead of playing his favorite sport and getting some downtime with FIFA video games.

“I thought I’d be bored,” he said. He didn’t think he would understand a thing, not having any previous experience with or exposure to computer programming.

Then he gave Tynker a shot at camp.

Soccer, His First Love

“I’m really passionate about soccer. I always play in my free time; it’s a great hobby.”

World Futsal Championship, Madrid, Spain

Saathvik first kicked the ball when he was four and fell in love with it immediately. He plays for the Hamilton league and practices two to three times a week, competes in regular matches every weekend, travels for tournaments, and plays at school – hours and hours of soccer every month. In fact, recently he spent two weeks in Spain representing the US in the World Futsal Tournament as a member of the Legends team. Wow! He got to mingle with players from all around the world, share his skills and experience, and learn a lot from the new friends he made.

So when it came to getting Saathvik’s attention, Tynker had an uphill task.

What happened at programming camp?

“It started out really well, kept getting better, and in the end it was super fun. Programming didn’t look that hard anymore!” he said, the excitement palpable in his voice as he spoke to Tynker.

His first project was, of course, a soccer game! His game had two players, one per team, whose objective was to dodge the onslaught of soccer balls. “It didn’t feel like learning at all. It was more like playing,” he discovered. Here is Saathvik’s first attempt to blend his old passion with his new -

To Saathvik, like many kids who experience Tynker for the first time, programming had been an esoteric concept, but Tynker completely changed that perception.

Channeling Creativity

“I love soccer and I like creating things. I paint, I draw, I do a lot of art.”

The fiercely competitive soccer player has a sensitive side as well. His parents note how Saathvik has always doodled and created artistic pieces around the house. Their attempts to give that artistic spirit a foundation and an outlet through formal education had not been successful. The challenge? How to channel that creative instinct into fun yet meaningful activities.

By allowing  Saathvik the opportunity to combine his two favorite things, soccer and art, Tynker rose to that challenge.

Here’s one of Saathvik’s art creations using Tynker:

Saathvik found Tynker’s emphasis on visual programming fascinating. Also, the freedom to choose any topic, area, or passion and code something interesting based on it was a key hook, and in sync with his creative spirit.

At camp, he ended up developing several projects and even demoed them on the last day to an audience of parents, instructors and students.

A Better Future

To Saathvik’s proud parents, Sudheer and Madhuri Vangati, Tynker has provided their son with the necessary building blocks and motivation to improve his thinking skills. They believe that exposing Saathvik to programming early in life will give him not just a competitive advantage with respect to his peers, but these core skills can help him make better and more informed choices about his future profession. Sudheer and Madhuri are both from the tech and engineering field and inculcating their passion – “Change the World Through Technology” – in Saathvik has been a big win, thanks to Tynker.

Now that he’s hooked on Tynker, what is Saathvik’s message for you young readers out there? “Do you like video games and stuff? With Tynker, you can create your own games and it’s fun!”

To read more about this multi-talented soccer champ/Tynker whiz/artist, check out his fund-raising page here, and some press coverage here.

Teachalogue

02/13/14

Introducing myself and my students to the exciting world of coding

Author: Anna Miller

I recently wrote an article for my school’s website that focused on a brand new and a slightly intimidating project for me as an educator. As teachers, we are required to be extremely knowledgeable on the material we teach; however, there are some things out there that need to be taught to our students that we may not know much about. I decided to tackle something during a part of our school day called Exploratory. It is a time every few days where the students get to choose an activity not typically offered in classrooms to ‘explore’ something new. Below is the piece I wrote for my school about a really neat and free online tool I am using to introduce coding and computer programming to children.

The next exploratory term at the Middle School is going to be an exciting one and a huge learning experience for me as a teacher. Through my activity on social media sites such as Pinterest, Twitter, and other teaching blogs and teacher resource online communities, I have come to understand the demand for young people who know how to code and program. In our technologically-rich and rapidly changing society, jobs are evolving and this new area has become extremely prominent. I thought I would step outside my comfort zone and try something new with my students.

I do not have experience coding, but I think it is important to provide opportunities for our students that target passions and interests, as well as push them to try something new. I had my first class with my group of 10 students last week and it went extremely well. It is so wonderful to see students being able to continue a passion they are already entrenched in outside of school as well as a bunch of ‘newbies’ that have never tried it out before. We have a few students already writing in official coding languages such as Python and they are actually creating computer games from scratch! Then we have our new students working through a program called Tynker.

Tynker is an online program that uses games and puzzles to teach the basic concepts of coding. Once they move their way through this program, they can start to learn a programming language. Individually-paced work allows students to move at a comfortable pace and they can really see what they have accomplished. I have found it to be an extremely accessible way to reach into a complex and often difficult area. I will also be using Tynker to begin my own journey into the coding world.

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“In the next 10 years there will be 1.4 million Computer Science jobs in the US and only 400,000 people to fill those jobs. Coding is something that every person and student can do, they just need the door opened,” says Vicki Davis, Computer Science Teacher and IT Director at Westwood Schools, Camilla, GA.

Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher on Twitter) blogs at the award winning “Cool Cat Teacher” blog and writes online about how to use technology in the classroom. Her second book, Reinventing Writing, will be out in May from Routledge Publishing. She is a full time teacher and technology director at Westwood Schools where every student receives 2 ½ years of computer and computer science related coursework as part of the curriculum.

During our Hour of Code celebration, my ninth and tenth grade students reviewed all of the resources available and selected the apps that they liked for teaching younger students how to code. Many of the students selected Tynker as their preferred tool. Two student mentors shared their experience teaching:

Teaching Coding to Kids Using Tynker

By: Cole S. and Akshay P., 9th grade students at Westwood

Tynker is an excellent way to teach children in elementary school the basics of programming or coding cool games. This tool can be used to teach children from grades K to 5 but some at higher levels can enjoy it too. The games on the Tynker page are ranked from beginner to intermediate to show the difficulty of coding or programming involved.

We used Tynker to help teach for the Hour of Code^TM. We showed the children a video, and told them how Tynker works. We then let the children loose and let them start one of the games in Tynker. The children understood how to program or code when we used the educational games, like Puppy Adventure (Mini) or Lost in Space, that simply showed them the basics of coding. We took the children through step by step helping and congratulating them along the way as they made their progress through the educational games.

We knew the children were having fun and were excited at the prospect of playing the games. One of the children said “I want to help make the puppy move!” Another child said “I made a space gun to blast the zombies away!”

Westwood high school students teaching students K through 5 the basic principles of programming

After one hour of teaching the kids the basics of programming and coding, we wrapped up our class and gave the children certificates that served as proof of their completion of the Hour of Code.

We received a lot of positive feedback from the parents of the children, one of them saying “my child is excited about learning how to program games, it is like he has entered a whole new world.”

Tynker served as a foundation for learning how to code or program and has opened up another door in young children’s lives. We had more than 300 students participate in the Hour of Code using Tynker. We are looking forward to encourage more young people to try and learn to program or code.

Useful Links:

Hour of Code^TM with Tynker

Tynker Introduction to Programming home course

Tynker for Schools

Knowledge that will keep on giving…

The Lubavitch Education Center (LEC) is a Jewish day school located in Miami that educates over 1,000 children. LEC runs a very succesful programming club using Tynker.

A generous donation from David and Eda Schottenstein helped the LEC set up this comprehensive technology learning program in the elementary division. Says Mr. Schottenstein, “My goal in establishing the computer program at LEC is to provide our children with a strong background in programming and coding. We must seize the moment… By giving them the basic skills at a young age to build an app and write a program, we are giving them skills they will use every day; this is knowledge that will keep on giving. Whatever professional path they choose, to be programmers or not, they will have the skills to build on..”

Rabbi Menachem Tauber leads the development of Lubavitch Education Center’s coding curriculum and is the technology educator for the school. Rabbi Tauber chose Tynker Premium for Schools as the learning platform for the programming curriculum. Rabbi Tauber says, “Tynker is a great online learning platform created specifically for kids. Fundamental concepts used by professional programmers are taught through fun and easy-to-understand activities.”

(LEC’s Tynker Programming Club video starts at: 8:52)

Every student in the programming class is learning the principles of programming using Tynker. Children have been introduced to programming skills since the beginning of the school year.  Although they have just begun learning the basics of coding, their progress has far exceeded expectations. At the LEC Programming Club the children see how math, science, art, and music come together to create a product. They think they are simply having fun—but it’s actually serious learning.

See some of the amazing apps students are creating with Tynker: http://lecprogramming.com/apps

Tynker’s new iPad app debuted just a few days ago, and we’re already feeling the love! Thank you everyone for your encouraging words and your support on Twitter, Google+  and Facebook.

We are also glad that our app made it to the Best New App in Education on Apple’s App Store!  If you haven’t had a chance to try it get it here.

 Recent quotes about the Tynker iPad App…

“Tynker aims to make programming and engineering more accessible (and fun) for kids, regardless of prior experience,“ says Rip Emson of TechCrunch. He describes the app as “a tablet-optimized, immersive gaming experience that allows kids to continue learning on the go and while in ‘airplane mode’.” Read more: With 5M Users Already on Board, Tynker Goes Mobile to Help Kids Learn to Code on the iPad

Stuart Dredge writes in The Guardian that British parents should find this particularly useful to explore, “ahead of programming’s introduction across the national curriculum later this year, including for pupils as young as five years old.”

“Tynker spontaneously held a hands-on workshop in the [SXSWEdu] playground space that was so popular that the conference had to bring in more chairs.” notes Katrina Stevens in Edsurge.

Jamie Lypka, editor at SMATOOS, an educational app review site, offers an important insight. “The learning curve here is perfect, leaving you feeling accomplished, but never frustrated. It’s a great approach that makes a complicated process into something intuitive and fun!”

We’re thrilled that Tynker’s iPad app has met with approval and praise from not just tech writers and users but also from moms, dads, and teachers…

“My son is very interested in video games and so really loved learning with Tynker,” says Lisa Nelson, founder of Squishable Baby and mom of 3. For Lisa, the power of the app was in the incremental learning with each puzzle.

“All of my kids love to play with the iPad since there are so many amazing games that are available for it.. Tynker teaches programming skills with the use of fun games. I have two boys who are very hands on, and love to build things, so this app was perfect for them to “tinker” around with!” Homeschooling mom of 4, Jennifer finds it a great supplement to her curriculum.

“I’ve been trying out the iPad App for the last few days and have been super impressed with the colorful graphics and interactive yet educational game play,” says blogger Ricky Shetty.  Read more

Melissa Ford’s 9 year son particularly enjoyed Puppy Adventure, saying “it was simple, easy, and fun.” He returned to play it several more times, unlocking all the levels.

Teacher Christian Duckworth of the St. Mary and St. Andrews private school has already made plans to include it in his school curriculum. “I’m planning the curriculum for September 2014 now so it arrived at just the right time!” he says. “It is great fun and will be an excellent addition to our programming lessons.”

Teachers with Apps, who review apps with educational value, say “You will see students immediately become addicted to this app. More importantly, you will see excited, engaged kids having fun, all while Tynker fosters a plethora of critical thinking skills – computational and programming.”

Here are some videos mom and founder of app review site bestappsforkids.org Mary Buchanan created to demonstrate the app as she reviewed it, at the same time commenting that these videos will only “give you a look into a fraction of the opportunities for hours of creativity and learning for your kids.”

After spending time with the Tynker App, parent Patrick Jordan can see why the app is a good fit for kids 4 and up. “I think the fun and charming style of Tynker is a good fit for youngsters of that age.” He adds, “[the Tynker App] does a wonderful job of showing children the power of coding and the great satisfaction that comes with creating even a simple program.”

USA TODAY

03/16/17

The popularity of Minecraft, a video game that puts kids in the role of creator, has sparked an interest in coding (computer programming). By learning to code, kids can create their own games, websites, apps, pictures and stories while also learning how to think logically and solve problems.

There are apps, websites and even a new board game that turn coding into child’s play. Here are some of my favorites:

MOBILE APPS

Tynker – Learn programming with visual code blocks

Best for ages 8-14, Free, iPad

Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 4)

Kids learn the basics by going on an adventure with Pixel the dog. After a day in the park, Pixel’s family forgot him; you help him get home by programming his path down a sidewalk full of obstacles.

Presented as 20 puzzles, each with a different, progressively-harder goal, the app offers an easy interface for learning and experimenting. Kids build programs to control the dog by dragging and dropping code blocks into the programming workspace. The puzzles start out easy by teaching kids to program the dog to run when touched. To do so, kids drag the code block “run” into the “build-your-program” area and position it below the “when touched” block. The “run” command snaps into place as if it were a puzzle piece. Then kids press the play button to see if what they programmed actually works to meet the specific goal of that puzzle.

Kids will learn to recognize repeating patterns and to program the repetition using loops. The app also introduces conditional logic, so that kids learn to build programs that contain “if…then” codes. For example, kids can program the dog to jump “if” the dog sees a log.

By teaching coding inside a fun story environment, this app isn’t intimidating. Kids learn by experimenting and failing. While the failure means they don’t earn the maximum three possible stars, they can also hit redo and try it again. The app builds in hints; and it rewards programming that contains the fewest possible code blocks.

If your kids like the Puppy Adventure, two other adventures can be purchased inside the app for $1.99 each or $2.99 for both.

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On a recent visit to a 5^th grade classroom, we had the opportunity to hear from students and their teacher about why they like Tynker.  Along with kids and parents who are using Tynker at home, Tynker is viewed as an easy and fun way for kids of all ages to get started with programming, to build skills critical for their future.  Let’s hear what they have to say!

The conventional belief has always been that kids interested in programming should develop strong math skills. But teachers and parents around the world are starting to talk about how computer programming can help children build math skills and make math learning more fun.

Michelle Lagos, a computer science teacher at the American school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, observes, “One of the most common cross curricular benefits of computer programming is that the kids have an easier time learning math skills.” She has started using Tynker in the elementary classes and adds, “When they have to work on long division, it is easier for them to visualize the numbers now instead of counting with their fingers. They visualize the equation and think of the best way to solve it. We have seen kids in many grades improve their math skills.”

Parents are also realizing that programming related activities can make math fun for kids. “My kids ask to program with Tynker because they enjoy it.  I love watching them solve puzzles because of the mathematical thinking required,” says Jennifer Apy, parent of a 15 year old, 11 year old and 8 year old.  “Without realizing it, my kids are identifying attributes and grouping variables, applying conditional logic, developing algorithmic functions, and calculating angles within geometric shapes.  But most of all, they are patiently articulating hypotheses to solve problems, and boldly applying trial-and-error experimentation – strategies required by any field of study.  And this is in addition to some of the coding that requires real math – to correctly calculate wait times, set score counters, calculate points, and time interactions between characters in their games.”

Sri Ramakrishnan of Tynker points out that kids develop stronger math skills when applying concepts in a real-world context. Creating spaceships or saving puppies with Tynker can be a great way for a child to see the application of math strategies. “The computational thinking involved in computer programming involves logic, organizing and analyzing data, and breaking a problem into smaller and more manageable parts. Much of this, if you really think about it, is also required when solving math problems!” she says.

Parents, teachers, and technology specialists are also using Tynker help children visualize abstract math concepts, which can be a hurdle to many kids and put them off the subject. Jesse Thorstad, Technology coordinator for the Fergus Falls Public Schools district in Minnesota states, “Tynker provides kids with a concrete example of the power of decimal places. When studying decimals in math, the students experience a heartwarming ‘Ah-ha!’ moment when they see how moving a decimal block of code can affect the objects on the screen tenfold.”

Tynkering kids also experience the creativity inherent in math. Here is an example of math art that kids can create with Tynker.

10-year-old Jacob Myers, who is a big math buff and regularly competes in math contests, uses Tynker to make math art with spirals and triangles. Can programming make kids perform better with math?  Possibly.  Math teachers think programming is a real-world way to teach mathematical thinking.  When students create or debug a program, they practice problem solving, and they also find that Tynker’s beginning lessons are a great way to incorporate identification of patterns as well.

But the biggest benefit may be that programming makes learning math fun and exciting for kids. Says Jennifer, “If kids realize they are using math when programming Tynker games, it could actually build their confidence with math, and show them that mathematical thinking can be cool.”

Math becoming cool? What could be better than that?

Do you have other examples of how programming helps develop math skills?  Share your stories with us below.