OLMC’s 7th grade has entered Verizon’s App Challenge with their app idea “My Locker.” The App Challenge is a nationwide contest in which middle- and high-school-aged students develop concepts for mobile apps that solve a problem in their community. There is no cost to enter and no coding experience necessary. It’s a unique, hands-on learning program that teaches collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as STEM skills and coding. Its aim is to equip students with skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future.
Six of our 7th grade students participated in the Challenge: Marion, Alexis, Natasha, Eunice, Marin, and Thomas – Mrs. Goldberg was the team’s advisor. Here’s a brief outline of what they’re proposing.
“My Locker” Mobile App: Our concept is to have an app that has the components of everything you need for school in an online locker. There are many schools like ours that do not have lockers and students have to lug around heavy books. We need an app where you have all of your notebooks, textbooks, folders, pens and pencils, worksheets, etc. It solves the problem of heavy textbooks because all you are now carrying is a tablet, laptop, or even a phone which is very light compared to several textbooks and notebooks to every single class.
Watch OLMC’s 7th graders’ video on their new App idea!
Best in State winning teams receive a $5,000 grant for their school and each team member receives a mobile tablet. Teams that make it to Best in State have the opportunity to compete for the title of Best in Region and Best in Nation. Best in Nation teams receive an additional $15,000 grant for their school and in-person coding training from MIT experts to help create their app.
Click to view pictures of the students involved The App Challenge.
