McKenna Prepares for Her Future!

Meet McKenna from Ohio, our newest Featured Maker! She is ten years old and loves to code, draw, and sing. When McKenna grows up, she would like to be an animator, singer, or biologist. While she is in school, her favorite subjects include reading and writing. McKenna is currently on the fourth book of the Warriors book series. Read on to learn more about why McKenna loves to code!

How long have you been coding? I’ve been coding for a while, but my coding club got me into Tynker.

How did you learn how to use Tynker when you were first starting out? I was self-taught and remixed other people’s projects. If there was something that I wanted to figure out how to do, I would remix their project and look at the code. Since I don’t want to be accused of copying, I just put it back!

How have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker? I’ve definitely learned more animation skills. I love doing animations because they’re really fun, but it takes a while!

How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured? My friend already had her project featured and I was talking about how I wanted my project featured. Then I went on Tynker that day and was like, “Ohh my gosh, my project!”

McKenna’s Featured Project, “The Impossible Quiz”

What is your favorite project you’ve made so far? My favorite one that I’ve made so far is probably my Wolf Dress Up! I like that you can change the fur. I put a ton of accessories and a ton of work into it. It’s become a little popular, so I guess it’s kind of paid off.

McKenna’s Favorite Project, “Wolf Dressup!”

How do you get inspiration for your projects? Usually, I just go out and see what cool stuff I can make or I already have an idea because maybe one of my friends brought it up or something. Or I’ll see something on TV that I might want to animate!

Why do you like to code? It helps me connect with other Tynkerers and helps me improve my art skills, too.

What is your favorite way to use code? I usually just code in the Tynker app.

What do you do with a project when you’re done with it? I’ll play it once or twice. Then I’ll debug and publish it.

What are you planning to make next? I am still working on this “Anime Eye Tutorial.” I’m making a series of these projects where you can take care of a dog or your very own cat. Then I’m making one where it’s your very own unicorn and then a dragon!

What’s the best thing about Tynker? I like to connect with other people and I like to draw on it. It helps me get into drawing and art more! Drawing with technology. When I first started, I was horrible, but now I can draw the way I do on paper.

How do you think learning to code has prepared you for the future? It will help me get a job! It will help me get a degree and kind of gives me an idea of what I want to be when I grow up.

Do you think other kids should try coding? Yeah, I think they would learn a lot from it! It’s really fun.

What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker? If something doesn’t work at all, just don’t give up! You can go to the community board because there is probably something there that can help you. I know some Tynkerers that actually make “How to do” projects and it’s actually titled that, so they can always just figure it out. That’s kind of how I did it.

Brooke, McKenna’s mom, sat down with us as well and talked about what she thinks about Tynker and her daughter learning how to code! “I think it’s amazing! She wanted to do the coding club and I honestly don’t know what that entailed,” Brooke said. “She would come home from school and would be on it for a really long time, and I told her that she needed to go play or do something else! Then she showed me these projects that she’s doing, and looking at it, I view at it as school work. I see it as more of a learning thing rather than a video game.”

Brooke loves how it’s fun and educational. “There’s imagination involved and artistry and all these different aspects,” Brooke told us. “The projects that she’s created–I love the dress up one. She did a Pink song with her own art; I love that one!”

Brooke truly believes that this will help McKenna in the future: “I think it’s amazing that if she wants to have a career in coding, she definitely can. Tech is the future and she can do whatever she wants in that area!”

We want to thank McKenna and Brooke for taking the time to speak with us about McKenna’s experience with Tynker. We are looking forward to seeing more of your projects, McKenna! Happy coding!