App Development Camp Inspires Students to Make a Difference
Lincoln 8th grader Da’Nareya Hunter plays basketball and dance. She hopes to pursue them in college – but said figuring out which colleges offer them can feel overwhelming.She could speak with a school counselor, or do research, or course – but instead, Da’Nareya decided to take matters into her own hands.
Thanks to the MAD Learn spring break camp, sponsored by GEAR UP, more than a dozen 8th graders – and one ambitious fifth grader – learned to develop their own apps.
Students made apps to support mental health, providing support to students who may have suicidal thoughts; to connect LGBTQIA youth through information on events, social networking, and support; to provide information on different hair products and styles, and more.
Da’Nareya’s app focused on creating a database of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), filterable by sports offered.
“It’s usually a confusing process, but I hope my app will help make it easier for kids to find the right fit for them,” she explained. “It’s complicated to build an app… I’ve never done it before. But the MAD Learn platform makes it easier. I might use this platform in the future to make another app, but for now, the best part of this program for me has been meeting new people!”
SCSD NYGEAR UP Facilitator Brandi Williams said that’s the ultimate goal of the GEAR UP programs: to provide students with a sense of connection.
“We’re always trying to provide a safe and productive space for our students over school breaks,” Ms. Williams explained. “Through these programs, we hope we can get them to think more about post-secondary options, or help them build their practical skills. This winter, we focused on getting them college ready by bringing them on college visits. This spring, we’re focusing on the tangible skills, like branding, public speaking, and more.”
Over the three-day program, held at Le Moyne College, students came together to brainstorm and identify problems within their
communities. Then, they discussed how apps could be used to help solve these problems. Students were left to their own imaginations, developing their own ideas for apps that could either provide information or serve as a resource.Huntington 8th grader Quenton Brewer hopes to become an engineer one day.
“I’d like to become a mechanical engineer, but I’m open to other things,” he shared. “I like to fix things!”
In fact, fixing things was at the heart of the app he developed.
“I created an app for people in need so they can get clothes they may be in need of,” Quenton explained. “They might need to search for a winter coat, or interview clothes so they can get a job. They can use my app to select the type of item you’re looking for, and it will show them where they can go to get it – for free. I thought it would be nice to do something to help the homeless or people who are in need in our community.”
While Quenton said the app development has been interesting – and said he may build an app in the future if it helps his business plans, he said the best skill he’s taking away from the camp is project management.
“The coolest thing I’ve learned is how to plan everything out – the process of putting everything together to make my idea come to life.”
To wrap up the camp, students presented their apps in Shark Tank style presentations to a panel of Le Moyne College business advertising, and marketing students. Thank you to all who supported our students through this creative spring break learning opportunity!
