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Lesson 5-1: Explore Apps That Help Others
Objective: Students explore apps that help solve problems and brainstorm topics
Design Project Guidebook Pages: 2 - 8
Engage
Describe your favorite mobile app. What is the purpose of the app? What problem does it solve for the user? What makes it your favorite?
Key Vocabulary
Key Vocabulary
Minimum Viable Project (MVP): An early model (or prototype), of your app which allows a user to understand what it does and how they could use it.
Innovation: The act of developing a new method, idea, or product. Innovators, like you, can create technologies to change the world.
Target Audience/User: The person or group that an app is designed to be used by.
What is the Design Process?
What is the Design Process?
You will go through 4 main steps in the Design Process:
Discover: You will learn about a topic or problem through research and interviewing others.
Ideate: Using the insights you have developed, you will brainstorm ideas to test.
Prototype: You will build a model of your app to test and get feedback on.
Share: You will present your app and reflect on your experience.
The Design Process is a technique used in the professional world for creative problem solving. It can be used to design just about anything- from everyday objects like wallets and chairs, to processes like waking up in the morning or giving gifts, to technology like mobile apps. For most classes, you will design an app that will help others solve a problem or challenge.
Activity #1: Design a Chair Challenge
Activity #1: Design a Chair Challenge
Optional Activity: Everyday Design
Optional Activity: Everyday Design
Analyze the Household Items by answering:
The Purpose of the Item, or the Problem that the Item solves.
How the Item solves the Problem.
What changes would you make to the design?
What is missing?
What would you do differently?
Activity #2: Explore Apps that Help Others
Activity #2: Explore Apps that Help Others
Explore three or more apps that other teenagers have built that solve a problem or help other people. For each app, respond to the questions on Design Project Guide pages 4-7. Use these links to explore apps that help others:
Apps from SFUSD:
Other App Challenges:
Example Student Pages
Example Student Pages
Activity #3: Brainstorm
Activity #3: Brainstorm
What problems, challenges, or needs interest you?
Tips for Effective Brainstorming:
Go for Quantity: Good ideas emerge from lots of ideas
Set a goal- at least 10 ideas
Encourage Wild Ideas
The right idea often flows from what initially seems outlandish
Be Visual: Pictures unlock creativity
Defer Judgement: Think creatively first, critically later
Brainstorm a list of potential topics and write them down on Design Project Guide page 8.
If you finish early: Design Challenges
Design You Own:
Design your own Nike’s http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/nikeid
Design your own Vans http://www.vans.com/custom-shoes.html
Design your own font: http://www.fontifier.com
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