Kodable

Kodable is a free iPad app to teach programming logic to kids ages 5 to 8 years old. Cofounders Gretchen Huebner and Jon Mattingly want to encourage kids to think like a programmer even before learning to read, during the period of development where children most readily learn new languages. "By 2020, there will be three times as many programming jobs as there are computer science majors," says Huebner. Kodable was created to address this growing need, as well as encourage participation from more women and minorities, who are underrepresented in the field of computer science.

 To play Kodable, kids program their “Fuzz” character to complete mazes by dragging and dropping commands on the screen. The free app offers 45 levels, and each new concept is introduced with a guided tutorial. Kodable Pro offers additional levels, learning guides, and vocabulary lessons, and removes in-app purchases from the game. Kodable Sync is designed for teachers and offers individual student profiles, progress tracking, and class organization.