Programming is the
New Literacy

Tynker Online is an end-to-end solution to easily and successfully teach kids how to code, as they create games and animated projects. When kids get started with Tynker, they’ll

• Learn to code using Tynker’s own visual programming language, featuring visual drag-n-drop logic blocks that eliminate the need to understand programming syntax.
• Learn on their own with self-paced lessons and interactive tutorials are designed to build early confidence with programming, while guiding and inspiring them to advance their skills.
• Get lifetime access to Tynker’s powerful yet easy-to-use Creativity Suite – including animation tools, art studio, visual programming tools, and a rich media library-- engages kids’ creativity, and supports open ended opportunities for creating games and projects beyond the course.

When kids are ready, the solid foundation in programming acquired when building games and animations using Tynker, prepares them to learn any mainstream object-oriented programming language, like Javascript and Python.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Schools are focusing more and more on these subjects, recognizing their importance in today’s high-tech economy.

President Obama has launched a campaign called "Educate to Innovate." It’s a call to action for schools, businesses and nonprofits to increase and improve STEM education across the US. We’re answering that call.

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.

Anyone can Tynker! There’s no "right" age to learn how to code. We typically find that 3rd grade students, who can read, write, and understand cause-and-effect relationships, are perfect candidates to start Tynkering. However, kids as young as 1st grade have successfully created projects with Tynker. And 8th grade+ students motivated by the game-like Tynker development environment, quickly progress to take advantage of the open-ended creativity tools that allow them to create their own games and animated projects.

Tynker provides a game-like environment for kids to create their own games and animated projects, while learning to code along the way. Filled with challenges, badges and unfolding storylines, kids are engaged in hands-on creation as they build knowledge of programming basics. Kids’ creations are real web apps that can run in any browser – and as kids gain programming experience, they can use Tynker’s powerful development tools to create any apps they want. With Tynker, kids can learn and be creative at the same time.

Tynker offers interactive videos and guided tutorials to get kids started in a simple and focused way, and give them a structured path to success. Also, Tynker is visual, self-paced, and designed to deliver progressively more challenging hands-on activities that build their knowledge of programming in a seamless way. Kids can’t get lost, not knowing what to do.

Using visual code blocks, Tynker guides kids through programming concepts – such as loops, conditional logic, sequencing, and algorithmic thinking. In the early lessons, kids are presented with the correct set of blocks required to make something happen – kids need to use the blocks efficiently and effectively to create the desired result. As kids gain the skills needed to handle more complex situations, they are given more blocks and eventually work their way into DIY mode – where they can create their own projects, their own way.

Tynker is a goal-oriented game for making games. Kids are engaged in a storyline and are challenged to solve puzzles and earn rewards that will make them successful coders, and each time they earn a badge, they are building more of their own game or project that they can show friends and family when they are done. The Tynker workshop development environment is styled to reflect the high quality gaming environment that keeps kids engaged.

Absolutely! Tynker teaches the fundamentals of programming, which translate to all mainstream programming languages. Through Tynker, kids will learn about many of the same concepts found in other languages like Java and Python, such as variables, loops, functions, etc. More importantly, Tynker teaches kids logic and design thinking skills. These skills are necessary to think like a programmer.

Tynker courses are structured as learning modules with specific learning objectives. Quizzes assess knowledge of concepts at each milestone. Parents have access to a parent dashboard that shows kids’ progress and what they have learned so far.

Kids today are surrounded by technology. It is clear that computers and programming are central to most aspects of our lives. Kids who learn the basics of programming can become better architects of their future world. Kids relish the challenge to become “creators” – be active participants instead of passive consumers. In addition, the computational thinking (analytical, logical) skills that underlie coding will be required for future knowledge workers to continuously adapt to our increasingly data-filled world. There is growing recognition that computer literacy is essential for a 21st century workforce.

Introduction to Programming is an excellent introduction to basic concepts, for kids without any experience, regardless of age. The tutorials and interactive videos give everyone the guidance they need to start, and the DIY projects and open-ended creative projects motivate progress and engage older kids who are ready for more. For those with some experience with programming, Game Design 101: Drone Menace guides kids through the basics of implementing more complex gameplay.

Our iPad app is a great complement to our online courses. Over 200 puzzles across 4 adventures introduce basic programming concepts, with rapid advancement to intermediate challenge levels. The iPad puzzles reinforce the early concepts learned in Introduction to Programming, and the storyline will attract kids to coding at an early age. If you want your children to learn programming, enroll them in Introduction to Programming, and download the Tynker mobile app to boost programming skills while on the road.

Tynker iPad puzzles are built using the Tynker visual programming tools that all kids have lifetime access to when they enroll in the online courses. So if kids enjoy playing the iPad puzzles and want to build something like it, get them started with the online courses.

The understanding of syntax required to learn these languages often frustrates kids who do not have programming experience. Therefore, it is difficult for kids to get started programming using these languages, despite tutorials or courses. Tynker was designed to teach the fundamentals that underlie any programming language without having to know programming syntax – so it’s easy to make the transition to mainstream programming languages. With Tynker, kids gain understanding of the concepts in a fun and intuitive way, and get to the end result quickly, increasing their motivation and confidence early in the learning process.Once they gain sufficient proficiency, we transition them to Javascript coding within the Tynker learning system.

Tynker’s visual development environment makes it easy and compelling for kids to use. Tynker courses deliver guided self-paced learning modules and do-it-yourself exercises to build proficiency and quickly put kids on a path to success. The media and creativity tools provided with Tynker courses enhance kids’ enjoyment and accelerate their success in building what they imagine. Also, Tynker’s development environment follows open standards (finished projects run in any browser without special tools or plug ins), which is not true of all programming environments for kids.

Tynker is a proud provider of curriculum for the Hour of Code. Tynker’s Hour of Code puzzles and creative activities are designed to teach students computational thinking and the basics of computer programming. Students solve each puzzle by programming visual code blocks to achieve a goal.

If kids have tried Tynker’s Hour of Code, they have a sense of what coding is all about. Leverage their interest by enrolling them in Introduction to Programming, to give them a chance to build their own projects using their own artwork, characters and ideas.

Start with the award-winning Tynker iPad app, with over 200 puzzles that offer an easy introduction to programming concepts. Lighter reading requirements combined with an intuitive touch interface make it easy to get young students started with visual programming.

When they are ready, they can get started building their own apps and games with Introduction to Programming. Although we recommend this for 3rd grade and up, we have found that with Tynker’s fun, intuitive approach, motivated students as young as 1st grade can successfully complete the intro course as long as they are reading proficiently at a 3rd grade level.

With Tynker’s open-ended development environment, which includes powerful tools such as the Physics Engine, Animation Studio, and Character studio, high school students can quickly master the basics, then use Tynker to quickly build interactive simulations, develop their own custom games, and add realistic gameplay using the physics engine.

Tynker uses puzzles and tutorials to introduce the basics in a fun and successful way, but goes beyond by gradually introducing more advanced concepts and challenges using the same development environment – kids don’t have to learn a new tool to advance their skills. When kids are ready they can try do-it-yourself exercises and projects to create their own apps for web and mobile, using the same tools. With Tynker, you get years of learning & creativity value – going well beyond “learning to program”.

Absolutely! Tynker courses are self-paced, allowing kids to start and continue at their convenience, which accommodates busy schedules. Plus, Tynker courses are delivered online -- all kids need when traveling is a computer with internet access. Their work is saved to their account, so it is readily accessible wherever and whenever they are ready to continue their course.

As a mobile option, our iPad app provides an excellent supplementary introduction to the fundamentals of coding, with puzzles and challenges that use the same Tynker coding environment.