Fifth and sixth grade students are currently undertaking a challenge to design an app that could help solve many of the problems our community faces. Some of the issues they want to address include: mental health, pet care, recording reading logs, organizing for life and homework, littering, pollution, test preparation, and solving conflicts. 

 

They began their app design by noting ideas in a journal and thinking through the impact the app could have in helping solve the challenges in our community. In the next weeks, they will spend time learning about app's features and thinking about what their app could offer. If apps to address problems already exist, students will be encouraged to think of how the app they design can be better. 

 

The idea is that our upper-grade students will learn by doing! Great app prototypes have great plans behind them. Students will spend time story boarding their app prototype. They will also develop their collaborative skills as they work with teams of 3 to 4 students to complete their prototypes and prepare their sales pitches to explain: how their app works, the intended targeted audience, and how their design work is connected to what they are learning about in coding. 

 

Prototypes will be shared at Santee's Exhibition Night, which will be held in late May. A community app showcase for outstanding apps will be held on May 23rd in Room 23, where community judges will provide feedback to our student developers.