Thunkable is a cross-platform app builder that enables anyone to build their own native mobile apps. All apps built on Thunkable work for both Android and iOS devices. You can easily design beautiful apps, program powerful functionality with drag & drop blocks and then upload your apps to the Google Play Store and App Store. From the layout and screen flow to all the coding elements, it's a unique way to put computational thinking (decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms) into practice. This is real-life, hands-on learning with the potential for a truly authentic audience. And the most exciting part of Thunkable: You can build a real app that will actually run on a device and can be published.
To start, you must choose Android or iOS. Then, in design mode, you add elements to a cell phone-sized screen. Users can add buttons, text, images, and even map functionality to create a fully functional app. Once each element is added, you can code its function by switching to Blocks and adding interlocking code blocks.
Refer to the comprehensive steps to get you started.
Step 1. Sign in to Thunkable
Step 2. Try the Tutorials
They are helpful! Thunkable tutorials cover both basic concepts and advanced features.
Step 3. Download the Thunkable Mobile App
With the Thunkable Live mobile app, you can preview your apps directly on your personal devices.
Step 4. Components
They have custom components and third-party integrations that you can drop directly into your projects. These components will allow you to build more advanced features.
Step 5. Blocks
The language of blocks is a visible programming language. By dragging and dropping blocks together, you can program your app.
A good way to use Thunkable is as part of a full-fledged app design project. You can work with a design-thinking model to conceive of and develop an app from beginning to end.
Other less time-intensive ways that Thunkable can be used include:
- - Differentiated independent learning: Students choose Thunkable tutorials to build skills and create apps independently.
- - Application and practice: After teaching mini-lessons on coding elements, have students use Thunkable to apply learning.
- - Demonstrating learning: For students who are already comfortable with Thunkable, it provides them with an amazing medium for demonstrating their learning through the creation of multimedia projects.
A set of 10 tutorials on YouTube that provide a good start in both understanding what the site is capable of and getting you initiated to building apps.