How to Design a School App Using Mit App Inventor
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There are thousands of apps available that provide solutions to our real-life problems that we face on a daily basis. We use these apps on our smartphones, tablets, PC, and laptop. You might think that only a professional developer could develop these apps. But in reality, numerous platforms allow anyone, even children, to develop their own apps! Among these is MIT App Inventor. MIT App Inventor allows you to create your own apps with only basic coding skills. In this article, we will shed light on the MIT App Inventor in detail.
What is the MIT App Inventor?
MIT App Inventor is an application that helps you to create apps for Android phones with a web browser. You can test your apps either by connecting a phone or an on-screen phone emulator. With an account, MIT App Inventor server can save all your work and help you keep track of your projects.
MIT App Inventor uses an intuitive and visual programming environment with a goal to allow everyone, even children, to build completely functional apps for their phones and tablets. Anyone new to MIT App Inventor can get started designing apps by following only a few simple tutorials.
MIT App Inventor comes with a user-friendly interface that has two main editors. The first one is the design editor, while the other includes the block editor. Basically, the design editor is a drag and drop interface. It helps to layout all the elements of the application's user interface.
On the other hand, the block editor allows the app inventor to visually layout their apps' logic using color-coded blocks that snap together like puzzle pieces to describe a program. It also provides a mobile app known as App Inventor Companion that helps develop and test. Therefore, developers can use this app to make real-time changes in their developed app. Thus allowing everyone to create mobile-friendly apps quickly.
What type of apps can you make with MIT App Inventor?
MIT App Inventor comes with tutorials for a wide variety of apps that you can create freely and quickly. Generally, most people start building games like MoleMash or other fun games that can allow you to draw funny faces and pictures on your friend's face. You can also move a ball through the maze by using your phone sensors. All you have to do is to tilt your phone.
With MIT App Inventor, app building is not just limited to developing simple games. Apart from these simple games, you can also create numerous apps that inform and educate.
You can also create apps to help your classmates with their studies, like building quiz apps to study for a test. Using text-to-speech capabilities in your app, you can even allow your phone to ask the question aloud.
The best thing about this app is that you don't need to be a professional app developer to use it. All you have to do is to design the way your app looks visually. Moreover, you can also use blocks to identify or specify the app's behaviour. The MIT app inventor's team has created blocks for everything you do with an Android phone. Sometimes there are even blocks to services like Twitter.
What type of coding language does MIT App Inventor use?
Generally, if you want to develop an app, you need to learn the intricacies of a traditional text-based coding language. However, when it comes to MIT App Inventor, they have already addressed this barrier to app development. They have simplified the programming process as much as they can to let aspiring programmers focus on the app's goals.
Instead of using a difficult coding language, MIT App Inventor works on the visual block-based programming language. Consequently, it provides a rapid entry point to programming Android applications. So, it is an excellent starting point if you want to design an app without the need for complicated coding.
MIT app inventors block-based programming language is built on Google Blockly as well as taking inspiration from languages like StarLogo TNG and Scratch. Besides, its interface comes in more than a dozen languages. It's interface is user friendly and easy for young students to grasp.
Step by step guide on how to get started with a simple app in MIT app inventor
In order to get started with a simple app in MIT App Inventor, there are four main beginners' tutorials on their website. However, among these, I would recommend using Hello Codi. All four of these tutorials are easily accessible for novice coders. You will need only an hour timeframe to complete the process.
You can find the tutorial link to Hello Codi here.
- Start by opening the tutorial link and open the Hello Codi project directly in the App Inventor.
- Once your project opens, you will see the tutorial in the sidebar. It is the best method and the most recommended one. Remember that you can also use them for Hour of Code events.
- However, if you prefer, you can also click on the video link to follow the tutorial in a video. Keep in mind that this method requires you to have two windows open in the browser. One is to play the video, and the other one is to run App Inventor.
- Lastly, you can also click on each tutorial's pdf files link if you prefer to follow text instructions.
- Once you are done developing starter apps, it will take an hour to extend them with more functionality.
- Now you are ready to build your own apps designs!
Invent an App: Unplugged Coding Worksheets for the Classroom
We have a fun offline coding activity to compliment your work with MIT app inventor. Our unplugged activity will help your students brainstorm ideas for inventing their own app.
Our Invent an App worksheets include an introduction to the basic concepts of coding including algorithms, decomposition and sequencing. Students will use their creativity to design their own app logo and plan out the various steps in their app design.
Included in your worksheet set:
- 6 pages of printable worksheets for ages 7+
- Students will use pencils, coloured pencils, markers or crayons to draw their own app logo
- Writing prompts to encourage students to determine how their app will function and what problems it will solve
- An introduction to the concepts of algorithms, sequencing and decomposition
- Students will design their own 'app sequence' and choose a common algorithm to use in their app
Final Words
MIT App Inventor allows you to develop apps of your own design to find solutions to real-life problems. It doesn't include any complex coding and is only based on visual programming. This program is one of the simplest ways to get started building your own apps!
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Katie is mom of two rambunctious boys and a self-proclaimed super nerd. With a background in neuroscience, she is passionate about sharing her love of all things STEM with her kids. She loves to find creative ways to teach kids computer science and geek out about coding and math. You can find her blogging at Teach Your Kids Code.
How to Design a School App Using Mit App Inventor
Source: https://teachyourkidscode.com/mit-app-inventor-tutorials/
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