Have you ever wondered how all of those great ‘apps’ you download and use everyday are created? Does the idea of ‘making’ an app sound fun or perhaps difficult? Well, you are in luck! You are about to embark on an interactive learning journey where you will learn that it’s not so difficult to make your own mobile apps and you will understand the core functions that go into programming an application.
You will learn how to develop apps without writing any code as well as basic programming concepts in this short but powerful course using a program called AppInventor2. You will follow text and video lessons to walk you through making simple computer apps. This is a visual and hands-on approach to computer programming. These invaluable skills will help ensure that you are ready not only for more advanced programming, but also for learning great strategies to problem-solve and share some real-world solutions with others.
A Cautionary Note to Parents and Students: Please be aware that some lesson content in this course requires that students
- Have or can obtain a Google account. This can be a shared account with a parent.
- Install or use web-based programs.
- Use the recommended technology listed for VLACS as well as AppInventor’s online and installed applications to create, test, and run apps for Android devices such as smart phones and tablets.
- For students with an Android device, the course directs students to install the App Inventor Companion App software to test and run apps.
- For students without an Android device, the course directs students to install the APP Inventor Emulator software. While this is very helpful in simulating an app, it is not able to provide some typical app functionality like screen touching/tapping; and so some apps in the course assignments cannot be fully experienced.
- Get more information about App Inventor setup details here.