Features of developing mobile applications on the Thunkable platform

This article discusses the possibility of using a cloud environment for developing mobile applications, called Thunkable, in educational processes. The main features of working with the environment, its advantages and disadvantages are considered.

Keywords: mobile application, platform, thunkable, algorithm.

In 2023, We Are Social, an international analytical agency, published the Global Digital 2023 report on the global digital market. According to research, almost half of the world's population has access to the Internet and uses it regularly. In addition, more than half of Internet users prefer to access the Internet from mobile devices rather than personal computers (only 43): 52 % use smartphones, 5 % use tablets. In addition, people use mobile applications more often (7 times) than mobile versions of browsers. Facebook, one of the most popular social networks in the world, confirms this fact: according to their data, only 5 % of the global audience of the social network uses the platform only from a personal computer, and the rest prefer to access it through the Facebook mobile application. Moreover, about 180 million of them are teenagers between 13 and 17 years old. [1].

Today's world is the world of movement, the world of mobile devices and applications. Mobile development is one of the most promising areas of the IT industry, and today's schoolchildren can take their first steps in this direction with the help of special services and platforms.

Thunkable (https://thunkable.com) is a cloud environment for developing cross-platform mobile applications (Android/IOS) that uses a visual approach to building programs from blocks.

To start working with it and creating applications, it is not necessary to know a specific programming language (C++, Java, Swift, etc.), its syntax and rules. It is enough to know the basics of the algorithm.

What opportunities does this platform provide in the learning process?

For the teacher:

— organizes the learning of algorithms and basic concepts of programming in a creative and interesting way;

— introduces elements of professional orientation into the system of your lessons;

For students:

— can learn and improve algorithmic skills in an interesting way before starting text programming;

— learn the basic principles and various strategies of creating mobile applications, try themselves at each stage of development (design, programming, testing, debugging);

— gains experience in creative, effective work, feels like a real program developer not only in theory, but also in practice.

The Thunkable platform has a number of features.

1. Projects created in Thunkable can be implemented for different mobile platforms (both Android and IOS), which makes this platform interesting for all students [2].
2. This program is completely in English. This factor is very important because even today English is the main programming language. Working with Thunkable helps to form the habit of interacting with the interface in English, as well as the culture of writing programs (correct naming of variables, functions, etc.).
3. In addition to this platform, there is a free mobile application Thunkable Live, which greatly simplifies the process of testing projects, and also allows you to perform it in synchronous mode.

The service offers the ability to work with a wide range of mobile application components: from simple text elements and buttons to working with location sensors and databases.

In September 2023, an 80-hour master class was held for computer science teachers of Akmola region to learn how to work with the Thunkable program as a trainer at the «Orleu» national training center in Kokshetau. According to the results of the master class, 95 % of the participants declared that they are ready to conduct lessons using this mobile development environment. Also, within the support of the master class, video lessons and methodological tools for teachers were developed on the Thunkable platform, including descriptions of 10 lessons and several additional projects.

The platform can be useful for artists, designers, teachers, small business owners and startup founders, freelancers and people who want to connect their hobby with a mobile application.

So entrepreneurs and freelancers can use Thunkable to promote their business or services online, teachers can teach a variety of topics including foreign languages, music, grammar and more. can create educational games that teach.

The platform offers access to a large community (albeit English speaking). However, if you do not know the language, you can freely communicate with other Thunkable users, find answers to questions and solve problems with the help of a translator.

This service can be used during the educational process in computer science classes (to study and practice the basic concepts of algorithmization and programming), as well as in extracurricular or project activities (for students to create IT products on their own).

To work with this platform, it is enough to have a personal computer (or laptop) with Internet access, as well as a mobile device or its emulator. Working on this platform is possible at the earliest stages of learning programming. Exploring its capabilities will be understandable and accessible to students over the age of 13.

References:

1. Overview of internet use. — Текст: электронный // WeAreSocial: [сайт]. — URL: https://wearesocial.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Digital-2023-Global-Overview-Report.pdf (дата обращения: 02.02.2024).

2. Соколова, В. В. Разработка мобильных приложений: учебное пособие для среднего профессионального образования / В. В. Соколова. — 1-е изд. — Томск: Издательство Томского политехнического университета, 2015. — 176 c. — Текст: непосредственный.