Review and apply the engineering process to the development of an application to collect quantitative data using built-in sensors
Develop project management skills to break projects into individually manageable sub-projects
Create a scientific experiment to quantitatively test and troubleshoot their application
Solicit and utilize user feedback to make improvements to their application
In this module students will use the engineering design process to implement an application to collect data for a physics laboratory experiment. The emphasis of this unit is on the engineering design process and project management principles rather than the app function but the application is a tangible goal and measurable assessment.
This activity positions the physics instructor as the client looking for an application to perform data collection in the physics laboratory. The application's users thusly will be their fellow physics students. So the empathy maps and project definition will be created using input derived from these people.
This unit extends the student's experience using MIT's App Inventor in the 9th grade Introduction to STEM Research course. The additional programming skill needed is the creation of a database to store sensor data and/or user input. Tutorials are provided to the student using video and other resources available on the App Inventor website and YouTube.
These activities are designed using the format that follows the Engineering Design Process Log (edpl.io) introduced during the 9th grade Research course.
Benefits of the Activity
Understanding the role of engineering processes in IT development
Extension of programming concepts learned in previous course to include database management and sensor data access
Cross-curricular collaboration opportunity with Physics instructors for additional app development time, support for physics principles and concepts, and possible implementation into physics laboratory experiments.
Reinforces the importance of data collection in prototype development
Students expand their toolbox for solving engineering problems that may benefit from integrated application development
A primary consideration regarding the programming difficulty is the student's previous experience with App Inventor(Android)/Thunkable(Android/iOS). We realize that in the first year of the Innovation Academy's operation the students in 10th grade will not have the same prior exposure to the software. It is still recommended to include this activity but it will likely impact overall timing of the activity because additional entry level programming research and learning the programming environment will also be necessary. It is block-based programming so the level of difficulty is greatly reduced compared to traditional coding methods.
Useful Downloadable Applications for a Jumping Off Point or Seeding Ideas
Google Science Journal: Android, iOS (Google site for app: teacher/student resources available)
Project Sections
Understand
1. Students are introduced to and research the challenge
Empathize
2. Students define the audience question guide and assign interview responsibilities and develop an empathy map
Define
3. Students frame research insights into an actionable problem statement
Ideate
4. Students brainstorm ideas to cluster them into design concepts
Prototype
5. Students program their application and develop their laboratory method(s)
Test and Refine
6. Students test prototypes and iterate based on user feedback and testing results
Reflect
7. Students document the engineering design process and submit an Engineering Design Process Log using edpl.io
8. Students reflect upon their individual and group learning and performance
Teacher Resources
Student Resources
App Inventor Technical Tutorials (review of 9th grade Research tutorial topics)
Related Resources