Assignment 9: Mobile Apps

The assignment for Mobile Apps used an open source program called AppInventor recently taken over by MIT. This is a fairly easy way to create and test mobile apps for Android and tablets. The website is http://www.appinventor.org/ and comes with a variety of tutorials and screencasts that will take you through the app building process for many creative apps. It has drag-and-drop capabilities, which makes it very easy for even the amateurs to learn how to build a successful app for a mobile device. One of the major features is that it was developed with teachers and students in mind and comes with a course in a box, which consists of all the materials one needs to successfully implement the program in the classroom setting. This is based on the teaching methodology that includes the following:

1. Build it
   
2. Conceptualize it
3. Customize it, and
4. Create it!

Each of the modules includes the necessary lesson plans, notes, tutorial videos, worksheets, projects, readings, and tests and quizzes. Everything a teacher needs to get students to begin creating and building their own mobile apps.

With today's technology savvy students, this would be an excellent way to get them involved and engaged in the learning process. This would be especially helpful for my graphic design students who are always seeking ways to enhance their learning. They would be able to create their own images and add sound and/or action to their own creations. I imagine students who are quick to finish assignments taking it a step further by incorporating the AppInventor. I am also certain that many of the students would be very quick learners with the process, and would probably be able to teach me many new things.

I did try to build a couple of the apps, like the HelloPurr and MoleMash, and it was fairly easy to do, as well as fun. It is not really something that I would enjoy doing on a regular basis, but I can definitely see the potential for the students. They are so creative and always coming up with new ways of doing things, so this would just be an extension of what they already know and a capable of producing.