Learning Computer Science at Home — Thunkable Education Resources
Learning computer concepts during the COVID-19 quarantine
Welcome educators, students, and parents! As schools are closing around the world and we are all doing our part with social distancing in the face of COVID-19, we’d like to offer students a way to continue learning from home.
What is Thunkable?
Thunkable is a blocks-based mobile app building platform. We grew out of a research project between Google and MIT. Thunkable is used around the world to teach students computer concepts and mobile app building.
To create an account, please sign up here.
Education Resources
Below are some Thunkable tutorials that teach computer science concepts through blocks-based coding. We’ve also included some additional resources at the bottom of this document, including the 2019 Thunkable Hour of Code activity.
Some highlights include:
- Creating your own text-to-speech app (beginner tutorial)
- How to build a random answer generator (like a fortune teller app)
- How to build an ABSURDLY DELICIOUS DONUT GAME
We are also developing a more structured curriculum and additional education resources in the coming weeks.
Please be safe and let us know how we can help at support@thunkable.com
Beginner Tutorials
1. Platform Overview
Welcome to Thunkable! Learn the lay of the land and how to get started on your app building journey.
3. Change Screens with a Click
In this tutorial, learn how to navigate to different screens within your app by clicking buttons.
4. Random Answer Generator
Want to create a fortune telling app? Random joke generator? Click here to get started.
5. How to Change Screens with Navigators
This tutorial explains how to set up navigators in your app. Navigators are components that you can use to organize your app.
7. How to Add Animation to your App
Adding animation can make your apps more interactive. Learn how to access a free animation library and use animations in your apps with this tutorial.
8. Camera and Image Recognition
In this tutorial, learn how to create an app that can take a picture and use image recognition to identify what you just photographed.
9. How to Organize and Move Components
This is a very important tutorial! Learn how to move things around and place components while building your app.
10. Scavenger Hunt App
Forget writing things down on a piece of paper, build a scavenger hunt app instead.
11. Shortcuts for Adding Screens
Learn some great shortcuts for adding screens while you build your apps.
12. Spreadsheets and Data Storage
Learn how to build an app that can store information from your phone to an online database.
15. Change Button Shape
This tutorial explains how to customize the shape of different components in your app.
16. Loading Icon
Need to tell your users to wait while something loads? Learn how to add a loading icon into your app!
3. Tic-Tac-Toe
It’s an old and boring game, but you can easily customize tic-tac-toe with your own pictures.
5. Quiz App Part 1
Want to create your own quiz app? This 3-part tutorial will show you everything you need to know!
Quiz App Part 2: Design Tutorial
Quiz App Part 3: Program Tutorial
6. Admob Tutorial
Want to monetize your app and make some money from ads? The admob component allows you to put ads into your app.
8. Slider
Learn how to use the slider component, a tool that allows your users to change values by sliding your finger across the screen.
9. Quote of the Day
This Quote of the Day app is great on its own or as a small feature to a larger app. Learn how to store information and have it sent to your mobile app.
11. Push Notifications
Learn how to set up push notifications, which allow you to send messages to your app’s users.
12. Lunch Poll with Slack: Design Video
Learn how to create a lunch poll and integrate it with your team’s Slack channel!
Programming a Slack lunch poll
Learn how to create a lunch poll and integrate it with your team’s Slack channel!
13. Hamburger Menu
A hamburger menu is a great way to navigate around your app. This tutorial explains how to create one!
Advanced tutorials
1. API Tutorial
What’s an API? How do you program API’s into your Thunkable apps? Find out how in our advanced tutorial series.
2. Web API Yelp App Part 1
Learn how to incorporate Yelp’s API into your own apps.
Web API Yelp App Part 2
Learn how to incorporate Yelp’s API into your own apps.
3. Weather App Part 1
Did you know that you can easily add a weather API into your app? This tutorial shows you how to easily incorporate weather data.
Weather App Part 2
Did you know that you can easily add a weather API into your app? This tutorial shows you how to easily incorporate weather data.
4. QR Code Scanner Part 1
QR codes are awesome features that allow you to direct users to information on the internet. Learn how to create a QR code scanner in this easy tutorial. PLEASE NOTE: A QR component exists on Thunkable, so if you do not want to build one from scratch, you can easily add one to your app.
QR Code Scanner Part 2
QR codes are awesome features that allow you to direct users to information on the internet. Learn how to create a QR code scanner in this easy tutorial. PLEASE NOTE: A QR component exists on Thunkable, so if you do not want to build one from scratch, you can easily add one to your app.
5. Web API Advice App
Need some advice? Learn how to build your own advice generator. This tutorial is another example of how to incorporate an API into you app?
6. Designing a Beautiful App
Building beautiful apps can be challenging! This tutorial shares some helpful basics that will turn you into a mobile artist.
7. Bluetooth LE
You can connect bluetooth devices to your Thunkable apps. Learn how in this tutorial!
8. Checklist Tutorial
Need help keeping track of your schedule? This tutorial explains how to create your own checklist app.
9. Maze Game Tutorial
Learn how to build your own interactive maze game that allows you to tilt your phone to move your player.
10. Donut Game Tutorial
Step-by-step written instructions for how to create your own donut making game written by Sofia Galan. Sofia is a developer and maker based out of Mexico City. She is very creative and excellent at explaining gaming components. This tutorial is also available in Spanish.
2019 Hour of Code videos
- City Services App
Learn how to build an app that provides people with shortcuts to important city services.
- City Reporting App Part 1
In this tutorial, learn how you can build an app that allows your users to submit reports about potholes, broken lamps or dog poop to a central database.
Thunkable Recommended YouTube Channels:
- Thunkable X tutorials
These tutorials were created by Darren, a power thunker and terrific tutorial maker. His tutorials cover many different aspects of Thunkable. We strongly recommend this resource!
