computing subject knowledge enhancement app development
TRANSCRIPT
ComputingSubject Knowledge Enhancement
App Development
SESSION OUTLINE
• Audit of your current position• KS3 and KS4 • Practical Investigation Of Components• App Creation• App Inventor 2 Setup• Q&A
Audit
Please complete the following audit
Audit
About Us
• Teaching 7 Years• Degree in Computing• Head of Department For 2 Years• Embedded Computing into KS3 in 2010-11• CAS Lead School for Computing• GCSE AQA Computer Science• Numbers have doubled year on year
KS3 In 2009-10
YEAR 7 YEAR 8 YEAR 9
E-Safety E-Safety DiDA Level 2
Scratch Website and Logo
Radio Advertisement Flash Advertisement
Spreadsheets Database Creation
Google Sketch Up Game Maker
KS3 In 2014-15
YEAR 7 YEAR 8 YEAR 9
E-Safety E-Safety Technology & SLC
Scratch Game Creation Database + SQL Algorithms
Spreadsheets App Development App Development
Hardware (Components) Small Basic Python
Software (OS and HCI) Networks & Structures Authentication
Authentication HTML & CSS Cryptography
Cryptography Binary (Base 2, 10 & 16)
Binary (Base 2 and 10) Binary Additon
KS4
• DiDA only qualification in 2009-10• AQA GCSE ICT introduced in 2010-11• Pilot of AQA GCSE Computer Science in 2011-
12• 48 learners in current year 10• Core Computer Science in Year 10 (1.5 terms)
Why AQA Computer Science
• Depth of problem to be solved• Choice of 2 out of 4 scenarios
– Mobile– Traditional– Game– Web Based
• Clear mark scheme and good support
Link To App Development
The mobile scenario allows you to develop an app. We tackle this problem in year 10 because;
– Experienced gained in KS3– Summer holiday mini project for option learners– Engages learners– Simplest of the 4 to complete (my opinion only)
Component Investigation
The first task we are going to attempt is to investigate the components that are available in App Inventor 2;
– State what the component does– Describe the events and actions the component
can perform
Reference Guide
List Pickers
List pickers are also known as drop down menus or lookups if you use Access databases. They;
– Are a visible component– Can be populated within the designer of blocks– Can be connected to any other data structure– Can be repopulated before or after a user has
selected an option
List Pickers Blocks
List
Unlike a list picker, a list is a data structure that can be created using blocks. Lists are;
– 1D arrays e.g. list inside of Python– Make use of index positions but starts at position
1– Can be made to 2D arrays using list within list
List Blocks
Name Selector App
We are now going to create an app that can;– Display a list of 5 names
• John, Linz, Kev, Molly and Kirsty– When you select an option from the list produce a
popup to show the value selected
Variables
There are a few rules that are important to know about variables in App Inventor;
– Variables can be local and global in App Inventor 2• Local means only accessible within a single event block
e.g. When button clicked• Global means accessible by any component within the
screen is was declared• Variables cannot be accessed by any other screen
Tiny DB
A little about Tiny DBs in App Inventor– Non-visible component– You can only use 1 per App– Accessible by all screens– Use key and value pairs
• Key is the unique identifier (primary key)• Value can be whatever you want storing
Tiny DB Blocks
Note App
We are now going to produce an app that will;– Allow a user to enter a date (key)– Allow a user to enter a note for that day (value)– Press a button and save this to a Tiny DB
IF Blocks
Selection statements (If) are fundamental to any computer program;
– Selection is the process of using conditional statements to determine the next instruction to execute
– Condition is a question e.g. Was button A pressed– True and false paths can be taken
IF Blocks
If blocks come under the Control section of App Inventor
Notifier
The notifier component is a popup in App Inventor. You can either show;
– Show a simple alert– Show a dialogue box with options– Show a prompt which can accept text
Notifier Blocks
Notifier Examples
Possible Enhancement
Tiny DB Vs TinyWeb DB
TINY DB TINYWEB DB
DB stored on device DB stored in the cloud
Global to the app installed Global to any app
Can produce list of all keys Cannot produce list of all keys
Cannot check entries manually Can check entries manually
Returns custom false value Returns empty string for false value
Does not require setup Requires web service
TinyWeb DB Blocks
App Enhancement
You are now going to enhance you app by using a TinyWeb DB.
– http://appdevske.appspot.com/– First open the URL to see what is within the DB– Update your app to use a TinyWeb DB– Check the database to see if your value has been
stored
App Inventor 2 Setup
Lets compare App Inventor version;– Does not require Java (Security Issue)– Still requires Emulator (Local Disk Permissions)– Improved performance– Additional Components– AI Starter and Companion App
Problems
Every time the Companion app is updated;– Learners need to update the app on their machine– If they use a different machine they will need to
do the same again– Takes around 2-3 minutes to update– Firewall issue connecting to TinyWebDB and URL
Q&A
?
Thank You
Email: [email protected]: 01204 333 000Twitter: @TheRealMrPearce