Key Question

How do individuals generate ideas for apps?

P

roblem

The term “app” is short for “application,” a special type of software program that allows a user to

do something on their smart television, smart watch, smartphone, computer, or tablet. The number

of apps available to users is expanding at a rapid rate, and app technology often pushes the limits

of current technology. Consumers spent more than $100 billion in app downloads in 2018 and are

predicted to spend in excess of $150 billion by the year 2022 (Statista, 2020). This has led companies

that host platforms where users can download apps to establish strict guidelines in order to maintain

integrity of both their platform and community environment. App designers often use these guidelines

to guide their work when developing an app.

sheet designed to explain and fully develop the idea including the app’s purpose, intended audience, and

process for all entrepreneurs, regardless of their age or experience.

In recent years, software programs have become available for creating apps that do not require

developers to know programming languages. In fact, there are even companies that will create the app

This challenge focuses on idea generation rather than app creation.

D

esign Challenge Task

proposal to solve a problem that many high school students face when understanding or accessing

content in the science or career and technical education (CTE) classroom.

C

riteria and Constraints Key

After analyzing the

Design Challenge Card

, students should identify the following criteria and

constraints. Use the facilitation questions in the Teacher Guide to help support students as necessary.

Criteria

1. Teams must identify and propose an app.

3. Teams must communicate the intended customer interface.

4. Teams must communicate their design for the user experience.

Constraints

1. The app must be based on a problem students encounter in a science or CTE classroom.

2. The app must be related to content in the science or CTE classroom.

Challenge 4:

There Is an App for Class

Design Challenge Overview