UNIT 2: Variables, Design and Forward Thinking

Materials & Resources

Procedure

Before Class

Before the class begins, complete a written pre-event survey. This is a survey provided at the beginning of the program. Sit in a circle and have a structured discussion/ focus group session about what they are expecting from this program, what they want to have accomplished by the end of the program, and what kinds of connections they want to make.

During Class

Introducing the App Lab environment:

App Development Wisdom Community Slides

Design Mode

In Design Mode, users can add components to their app, such as buttons, text boxes, input boxes, and so on. In design mode, you can change colors, images, and the aesthetic of your app.

Code Mode

In code mode, users can code these components to accomplish specific tasks. In code mode, you can use different kinds of code blocks to accomplish specific tasks.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: Colors and Buttons

How do you change the color of the app on your phone? With your teacher's help, walk through the process of changing the background. What color did you choose and why?

What would you do to add a button to your screen? Was this an easy or difficult? Why?

ACTIVITY: Labels and Text

Work with your mentor to add text to your app. What can you do to change the color of the label? Was this easy or difficult? Why?

Variables

Variables can be represented as being stored in a jar. You can always reference variables, and you will never need to refill the variable, unless you want to change it's value. It will always stay that way throughout the program. What can we use variables for? What kinds of variables can we store inside of a variable? Let’s take a look!

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: Coding a label

Go to the code section together, and create a variable called redWords. Set redWords to say “Hello World. Then put redWords inside of the text box, by using the code below.

What do you think you will see? Why?

Try running the emulator by pressing the ▶ Run button. What do you observe?

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY: Variable Experimentation

Try to change the text and the textColor to whatever values you would like. What kinds of challenges do you run into? Why?

BONUS ACTIVITY: Advanced Learners

Can you code your app so that when the button is pressed, the color changes from red to blue? What tools will you need to accomplish this?

ACTIVITY: Journal Entry

Go to the Padlet Webpage, under Unit 2, and answer the following questions in your second journal post:

What is one new thing you have learned?
How would you explain what you have learned to someone new?
What did you have trouble understanding?

Remember the Rules for using a Padlet.

Is it kind?
Is it helpful?
Does it follow this structure: What I like about your project so far is… It might be helpful to include…

MIND MAP Guidelines:

Set up a sheet of poster paper on the table, and begin by writing the general idea for your app on a piece of notepaper.
- - Then expand by creating a set of goals with your mentor using blue sticky notes.
  - Finally, ask your mentor: what will you need to accomplish your goal? In this time, begin by setting aside some time for students to write what they will need on yellow sticky notes, and placing them in between the blue sticky notes and their goal.
After creating their mind maps, students will fill out an exit ticket survey and finish the session.

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