Tynker creates tutorials for code.org to bring free interactive courses to kids in support of nationwide "Hour of Code"

December 5, 2013-MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA-Tynker™ (www.tynker.com), a leading education startup that enables schools, teachers and parents to help children learn how to code, today announced 8 free interactive tutorials for students in grades 1-3 and grades 4-8 in support of the CSEdWeek and Code.org nationwide "Hour of Code" initiative. Tynker has launched these new tutorials (www.tynker.com/hour-0f-code) to support the Hour of Code, which asks schools, teachers and parents across the country to help introduce more than 10 million students of all ages to computer programming during Computer Science Education Week, December 9-15, 2013.

“Computer science is important for all students to learn at an early age,” said Hadi Partovi, co-founder and CEO, Code.org. “New tutorials such as the ones Tynker created have made computer programming incredibly easy and accessible for even very young children to try.”

The Hour of Code is a nationwide initiative organized by Computer Science Education Week and Code.org to introduce computer science to students and encourage them to learn programming. During Computer Science Education Week, December 9-15, students, teachers, parents, clubs and communities across the country are organizing Hour of Code events, where students will learn computer programming in one hour.

Tynker has built its new Hour of Code tutorials with a view to inspire and motivate beginning programmers-children who know nothing about programming and are perhaps wary of it. Tynker's visual coding blocks make it easy for children to drag and drop blocks of code to create simple games, stories, animations, and more-a great way to demystify the concept of programming and provide early successes.

“Code.org continues to do a great job at promoting computer science education and the Hour of Code initiative builds on the foundation they have set to date,” said Krishna Vedati, co-founder and CEO of Tynker. “Any time a child is exposed to programming-whether developing a puzzle, maze game or just drawing in an interactive way, a light goes on and we move one step closer to our goal: to make programming so intuitive and fun that it becomes an interest, a passion, and a reward in itself.”

The Tynker Hour of Code tutorials have been created for two categories of learners-students in grades 1-3 and grades 4-8. Kids get to solve a series of graphical puzzles where they look for clues in the visual blocks provided and connect them in the right sequence to complete a task. Since Tynker tutorials are completely visual, there is no programming syntax to learn. Tynker's 8 free new Hour of Code tutorials include:

• Puppy Adventure Mini-a Beginner coding puzzle;
• Maze Craze-a Beginner maze game;
• Puppy Play Time-a free play activity for Beginners;
• Lost in Space-a Beginner coding puzzle;
• Sketch Racer-an Intermediate coding puzzle;
• Space Zombies-an Intermediate Build-a-Game tutorial;
• Puppy Adventure Complete-an Intermediate puzzle and debugging tutorial; and
• Math Art-an Intermediate tutorial to learn how to program to draw shapes.

"I think Tynker is fun and interactive and helps you prepare for future programming experiences," said Sophia, a 5th grade student in Redwood City, CA. “Some parts are challenging, some parts are easy. It's perfect!”

Parents like that the tutorials help children get used to the concept of programming, and generate enough interest that they want to continue learning. “I'm so thrilled my daughter had this opportunity to spark an interest in programming!” said Sanobar Mehta of her daughter's experience, Fariha Hilaly, another parent, commented: “The best thing is, the children think they are playing, but actually, they are learning how to program!”

All 8 Tynker Hour of Code tutorials can be accessed for free at www.tynker.com/hour-of-code. Tynker also provides a range of online interactive programming courses for schools and for home use. The full suite of Tynker offerings is available at www.tynker.com.

“By having kids solve fun puzzles, our new tutorials help them learn computational thinking, problem solving, and important programming concepts like sequencing and conditionals, without even realizing it,” added Vedati. “Puzzles get progressively harder, gradually building on the concepts already learned. At the end of the set of tutorials, a student has covered the basics of programming concepts-all in an hour of fun and play.”

About Tynker

Tynker helps children develop programming and computational thinking skills in a fun, intuitive and imaginative way. Tynker builds a strong foundation in STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and math) and other critical thinking abilities, preparing children for 21st century degrees, careers and lives. Tynker's innovative visual programming language, interactive self-paced tutorials, and the engaging Tynker Workshops empower children to create complex and creative projects.

Tynker was founded by a seasoned team of technology entrepreneurs who realized what they wanted most now was to give children the critical life skills of design thinking and programming, to become makers for the technologies of tomorrow. Tynker is based in Mountain View, CA and is backed by 500 Startups, Cervin Ventures, Felicis Ventures, GSV Capital, NEA, New School Ventures, and prominent angel investors.

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Contact: Alana Logan
Cell: 650.868.2341
E-Mail: alana@tynker.com