Notes from Educator Pre-training Briefing 1 - Summary of AfG-toolset 2012-13

1 Educator Briefing - AFG Toolset Summary ‘12/13

Contents

Scope .......................................................................................................................................... 1

What is App Inventor? .................................................................................................................. 2

Why we use it ........................................................................................................................... 2

How to get App Inventor set up .................................................................................................. 2

How to get involved with the AI community ................................................................................. 3

Balsamiq Mockups ........................................................................................................................ 3

What is Balsamiq Mockups? ....................................................................................................... 3

Why we like it ........................................................................................................................... 3

How to get set up ..................................................................................................................... 3

Alternatives--PhoneGap (not currently supported) ........................................................................... 4

What is PhoneGap? ................................................................................................................... 4

Why we say it’s not for most in the AfG community, ..................................................................... 4

How it could be used in the context of Apps for Good ................................................................... 4

Educator Task - to be completed by 31/05/12 ............................................................................ 4

Scope

Notes from the ‘AfG Educator Pre-training 2012/13 Briefing1’

This is an introduction to what the Apps for Good toolset looks like for the next academic year and our

rationale for using them. How we use the tools will be the subject of a live training session.

To get the most out of the live training sessions in a few weeks, it’s important that you become familiar

with these tools and complete the necessary installations before May 31st . If you show up at the

training without doing them, you may find it challenging to keep up.

App Inventor Book

App Inventor: Create your own Android Apps, Wolber Abelson, Hard copy from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/App-Inventor-Create-Your-Android/dp/1449397484

Ebook format:

http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920016632.do


What is App Inventor?

“App Inventor is a visual, drag-and-drop tool for building mobile apps on the Android platform.

You design the user interface (the visual appearance) of an app using a web-based graphical

user interface (GUI) builder, then you specify the app’s behavior by

piecing together “blocks” as if you were working on a puzzle” - Wolber & Abelson

Why we use it

● First thing to say is that AFG is not primarily an app implementation course, but rather is more

about problem-solving and developing entrepreneurial skills. That said, envisioning a tech

product is the goal for a vast majority of students, and App Inventor can complement the

pursuit of that goal.

○ Play - App Inventor promotes exploration and discovery; helps young people explore

the functions of a smartphone kinaesthetically (Internal Sensors, touchscreen etc);

allows students to get immediate feedback as they work.

○ Prototyping - easier than line coding to get some aspect of an idea functioning OR fully

complete ideas working.

○ Personalisation and customisation - allows students to personalise interaction and take

great ownership.

○ Great teaching and learning tool:

■ Stimuli for ideas and problems students care about.

■ Introduction to basic app mechanics - event handling.

■ Additionally it’s a great way of learning programming constructs.

How to get App Inventor set up

○ To setup you need

■ A web browser (we strongly recommend Chrome; don’t use IE).

■ Java on your machine.

■ Downloaded installer file for app inventor.

○ For full details of installation go to

http://beta.appinventor.mit.edu/learn/setup/index.html


How to get involved with the AI community

○ We recommend you use a secondary email address (not your main one) and/or set up

filters for emails from the community so your inbox isn’t flooded

○ 5 Forum boards on there, we recommend you sign-up for:

■ App Inventor Announcements - stay tuned to service announcements.

■ Getting Setup and Connecting your phone to App Inventor - for troubleshooting

common issues.

■ Programming with App Inventor.

If you need troubleshooting advice: http://www.tair.info/faqs-and-how-tos/troubleshooting/

Balsamiq Mockups

What is Balsamiq Mockups?

“A rapid prototyping online tool that reproduces the experience of sketching; improves focus,

communication and speed between stakeholders” - Balsamiq website

Why we like it

○ Students find it very intuitive, lots of ready-made widgets.

○ Balsamiq have kindly given CDI Europe free access for partners.

○ To get students and their stakeholders to think about how the solution will be navigated

and experienced by the user

How to get set up

○ Request access and receive an invitation

○ https://appsforgood.onconfluence.com/display/redesign/Balsamiq


Alternatives--PhoneGap (not currently supported)

What is PhoneGap?

“PhoneGap is an HTML5 app platform that allows you to author native applications with web

technologies and get access to APIs and app stores. PhoneGap leverages web technologies developers

already know best... HTML and JavaScript. Write once deploy to many platforms “ - PhoneGap website

Not currently supported by AfG--meaning we won’t provide training and learning support for this

platform; but if you AND your students have experience with web technology and you want a more

advanced/challenging tool, you are welcome to try PhoneGap.

Why we say it’s not for most in the AfG community,

○ Many barriers for those new to HTML, JavaScript and CSS

○ HTML + CSS + JS required to create codebase

○ Eclispe IDE and managing Android SDK required

○ Lots of moving parts here, probably not a good fit for most

○ Can be useful powerful for v.gifted/v.advanced students who are already familiar with

HTML, JavaScript and CSS

○ Very slow emulator

How it could be used in the context of Apps for Good

○ An app inventor substitute

■ Has the advantage of leveraging HTML, CSS and JS knowledge

■ Access to powerful APIs.

■ Ability to port to various platforms (Android, iOS, Blackberry etc.).

Educator Task - to be completed by 31/05/12 Complete installation of App Inventor and the tutorial below by 31st May 2012

Your First App Video tutorial

http://youtu.be/bsuJFPYXBO8

Assets for tutorial

https://appsforgood.onconfluence.com/pages/viewpageattachments.action?pageId=852258&metadata

Link=true

Notes from Educator Pre-training Briefing 1 - Summary of AfG-toolset 2012-13

Education

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