This project (2018-1-SE01-KA201-039098) has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Database of Innovative Learning Objects



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TITLE
MIT APP Inventor
WEBSITE OF THE PRODUCT
MIT App Inventor | Explore MIT App Inventor
NAME OF AUTHOR(S)
Google, MIT, Open-Source Development
NAME OF PRODUCER
MIT
DATE OF PRODUCTION
Unknown.
Currently Serves more than 6 million users across 195 different countries.
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Web Site/Portal, Mobile Apps, Downloadable material
SUBJECT TAUGHT
Math, Chemistry, Natural Science, Biology, Physics, Technology
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE
Medium
TARGET GROUP AGE
14 – 16 years old
TUTORIAL SUPPORT
Yes
DESCRIPTION
MIT’s APP Inventor is a Mobile Application Development Environment suitable for developing Mobile Applications for Android and IOS Mobile Devices.

App Inventor was originally developed by Google and was then handed over to the App Inventor Teams at MIT where it is currently hosted and maintained.

App Inventor provides a cloud-based development environment. Students can initially design a front-end application using Graphical interface components such as buttons, labels, and textboxes. As they develop their skills there is a wide range of GUI controls available for use. Figure 1. Below shows the main designer view of the application. This is a simple drag and drop environment to develop the look and feel of the application.
MIT’s APP Inventor is a Mobile Application Development Environment suitable for developing Mobile Applications for Android and IOS Mobile Devices.

App Inventor was originally developed by Google and was then handed over to the App Inventor Teams at MIT where it is currently hosted and maintained.

App Inventor provides a cloud-based development environment. Students can initially design a front-end application using Graphical interface components such as buttons, labels, and textboxes. As they develop their skills there is a wide range of GUI controls available for use. Figure 1. Below shows the main designer view of the application. This is a simple drag and drop environment to develop the look and feel of the application.


Figure 1: Designer View of MIT App Inventor



The Block editor is the component that allows the user to code the application to perform a task. Example Respond to a true or false question etc. Figure 2 below, shows the Blocks Editor. Once again this is a drag and drop block-based development environment.

Figure 2: Blocks Editor View of MIT App Inventor



This Mobile Application Development Environment is an easy to use and provides an easy to access framework suitable for students of any age. A wealth of tutorial support exists on the App Inventor Web Site for use in a wide variety of subject areas including Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Technology and more.

Teachers can begin with an Introduction to the App Inventor Development Environment:

Getting Started with MIT App Inventor

This will allow teachers and students to set up their environment and become familiar with the tools required for both development and deployment of an application.

Students and Teachers will continue by becoming familiar with the designer and blocks editor and in doing so learn to create a basic application.

Designer and Blocks Editor (mit.edu)

App inventor provides a series of beginner tutorials to get students interacting with the development environment and to start developing coded applications.


Beginner Tutorials (mit.edu)

Finally, a detailed description of how to share and deploy applications is provided.

Sharing and Packaging Apps (mit.edu).

These are the base activities which should be completed prior to students attempting to create applications of their own.

A wealth of tutorial exists to encourage students to develop their skills and become confident in creating and developing their own mobile applications.

Tutorials for MIT App Inventor
INNOVATIVE LEARNING OBJECT
MIT App Inventor can be used to achieve two key objectives, Students get to create mobile applications developing their knowledge of information technology and computer science while also being able to contextualise their experience within any subject area.
This tool can be used to create various types of learning resources:
It can be used to create Mobile Games in a variety of disciplines. It can provide a platform for exposure to Game Based Learning and Gamified learning experiences.
App Inventor can be used to explore the wide range of sensors available to students through their Mobile Devices. Sensors such as Accelerometers, Barometers, Pedometers, Light, Location, Proximity and Thermometers can all be explored through App Inventor.
Students can use this application to develop learning objects and indeed assessment objects in multiple disciplines.
Primarily it provides a way for students to create and develop interactive applications using Graphical Interface components, Media components, Social components and indeed a wide range of tools which are easy to manipulate and adjust to their required specifications.
Applications can be developed to support a wide range of topics. Material supports are available in tutorial form both through text-based resources and video resources.
Often App Inventor can be used to support competitions in a particular area of interest or indeed in exposing students to new topics under consideration.
EXPERT'S COMMENT
Points of strength: Students can develop their design skills, creating new and innovative ways to explore and learn various subject matters. Students can work collaboratively and develop unique and engaging applications. This product provides an opportunity for students to explore the area of computer science and programming, while working with subject areas with which they are already familiar. App Inventor is a cloud-based development environment so you can create all your mobile applications easily with only online browser access required. Cloud storage is used to store all the applications created.

Points of weakness: There is an initial learning curve in using and developing a Mobile Application through the MIT Cloud Based Application.

Scientific reliability: Depending on the topic selected reliability is dependent on the application being developed.

Pedagogical value: Ensures and supports an Active learning Approach to learning for any discipline. Students are exposed to a hands-on and tactile approach to development of objects that can reinforce their knowledge and understanding of a particular area.