App Design - Unplugged
Create a detailed app design to solve a problem
Primary and Secondary
7-9 Sessions
Unplugged activities
No programming required
Course Summary
- Students identify a real life problem they care about
- They research the problem so that they understand fully both the problem and who is affected by it then design a solution to the problem using an app
- Students can work individually or in teams
- Course can be delivered in a standard classroom without access to laptops/computers
- Covers impact of technology, understanding user needs, UX design, use of flowcharts/pseudocode, pitching ideas
Course sessions
Login or sign up now to access all of the sessions
- Session 1: Launch
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Session 2: Team Building (Optional)
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Session 3: Spotting Problems
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Session 4: Selecting Problems
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Session 5: Industry Engagement (Optional)
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Session 6: Understanding your users' needs
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Session 7: UX Design
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Session 8: Planning your build
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Session 9: Pitch your ideas
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Session 10: Follow-on - Click-Through Prototype
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Session 11: Follow-on Build Your App
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Session 12: Follow-on - Test Your App
Core resource
Student workbook
- Printable student A4 workbook containing practical activities
- Guides you and your students through the course
- Fully editable, making it easy for you to adapt to meet your needs
Core resource
Scheme of Work
Get a quick overview of the course structure Review the learning objectives and outcomes for each session
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Session 1
Launch
Learning Objectives
Core
- Understand how problems can be solved using technology
- Be able to set yourself success criteria for a project
Challenge
- Be able to analyse existing apps and understand what problem they solve
Go to session
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Session 2
Team Building (Optional)
Learning Objectives
Core
- Understand the importance of teamwork
- Understand what makes a good team member
Challenge
- Be able to agree common team values
- Be able to negotiate and agree the ground rules for your team
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Session 3
Spotting Problems
Learning Objectives
Core
- Be able to identify the communities you belong to
- Identify everyday problems which could be solved by a mobile app
Challenge
- Understand a range of techniques which can be used to generate new ideas
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Session 4
Selecting Problems
Learning Objectives
Core
- Be able to expand and develop initial ideas to create a better understanding of the problem to be solved
Challenge
- Be able to critically evaluate app ideas and select the strongest to take forward
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Session 5
Industry Engagement (Optional)
Learning objectives
Core
- Be able to convey the key concepts of your app idea in a 30 second pitch to an industry expert
- Be able to obtain constructive feedback on your app ideas
Challenge
- Understand the apps market and be able to identify your main competitors
- Be able to act on constructive feedback to improve your app
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Session 6
Understanding your users' needs
Learning objectives
Core
- Gain a better understanding of the technical requirements of your app
- Be able to draw wireframes and create paper prototypes
Challenge
- Be able to define your minimum viable product
- Be able to adjust your app designs to ensure that they are technically feasible
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Session 7
UX Design
Learning objectives
Core
- Understand potential ways you can fund your app development
- Understand how to present your ideas effectively
Challenge
- Be able to summarise the key points of your app in a short presentation
- Be able to reflect on your progress during the project
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Session 8
Planning your build
Learning objectives
Core
- Understand how to use pseudocode and flowcharts to plan out your app
Challenge
- Create detailed flowcharts and/or pseudocode to plan out the development of your app
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Session 9
Pitch your ideas
Learning objectives
Core
- Understand potential ways you can fund your app development
- Understand how to present your ideas effectively
Challenge
- Be able to summarise the key points of your app in a short presentation
- Be able to reflect on your progress during the project
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Session 10
Follow-on - Click-Through Prototype
Learning objectives
Core
- Understand how to create screen layouts using App Lab
Challenge
- Be able to build a click-through prototype of your app using App Lab
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Session 11
Follow-on Build Your App
Learning objectives
Core
- Understand how to add functionality to your app using App Lab
Challenge
- Be able to build a technical prototype of your app using App Lab
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Session 12
Follow-on - Test Your App
Learning objectives
Core
- Understand the importance of testing in the app development lifecycle
Challenge
- Be able to act on the feedback received to improve the functionality and usability of your technical prototype