What Happens in a MakerKids Virtual Class? A Look Inside an Hour of Learning
July 6, 2026 | MakerKids Team A virtual MakerKids class is a live, small-group online hour where kids build real projects like games, robots, and 3D designs while an instructor guides them step by step on screen. It is not a video or an app. Kids join a real class with a real teacher, work through hands-on build time, and share what they made, all from home. All they need is a computer and an internet connection. What happens in a virtual class? A virtual class runs on the same rhythm as being in the room, just over a screen. Build time takes up most of the hour on purpose, because kids learn to code by coding, not by watching. Does online learning actually work for kids? Yes, when it is live, hands-on, and small-group. A 2014 analysis of 225 studies found students in active, hands-on classes scored higher and were less likely to fail than students in lecture-style classes, with the biggest benefit in small classes. A 2023 review of 66 studies found project-based learning improved achievement, thinking skills, and motivation. None of that depends on being in the same room, only on building, getting live feedback, and working in a group small enough that the instructor knows each kid. Sources : Freeman et al., PNAS (2014) , Project-Based Learning Meta-Analysis, Frontiers in Psychology (2023) Is a virtual class just more screen time? No, not the kind parents worry about. There is a real difference between passive watching and active creating. For kids who focus better in a quiet, familiar space, learning from home is often a plus rather than a compromise. Keep kids building all summer, from anywhere Because classes are online, summer plans do not interrupt them. Kids can join from the cottage, a grandparent’s house, or their own desk, wherever the break takes them, which makes virtual classes an easy way to keep skills sharp instead of losing ground. Kids in Grades 1 to 8 are grouped by age and build with Scratch , Python , Minecraft, robotics, 3D printing, and Unreal Engine . Keep the learning going all summer . Join a live MakerKids virtual class and build from anywhere → New sessions run every week through the summer. FAQ What happens in a virtual MakerKids class? Kids join a live, small-group online class for about an hour. A real instructor introduces one new skill, guides kids through hands-on build time, and gives them a chance to share the project they made, all from home. Are virtual classes live or pre-recorded? Live. Your child joins a real instructor and a small group in real time, not a video or a self-guided app. Do online coding classes actually work for kids? Yes, when they are live, hands-on, and small-group. A 2014 analysis of 225 studies found active classes led to higher scores and lower failure rates, and a 2023 review of 66 studies found project-based learning boosted achievement and motivation. Those benefits carry over to live online classes. What does my child need for a virtual class? Just a computer and an internet connection. The instructor guides kids through everything on screen. Do virtual classes run in the summer? Yes. MakerKids virtual classes run all summer long, with new sessions every week, so kids can keep building from anywhere over the break. The post What Happens in a MakerKids Virtual Class? A Look Inside an Hour of Learning appeared first on MakerKids .