Computing Subject 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 CAS Lead School for Computing GCSE AQA Computer Science Numbers have doubled year on year

KS3 In YEAR 7YEAR 8YEAR 9 E-Safety DiDA Level 2 ScratchWebsite and Logo Radio AdvertisementFlash Advertisement SpreadsheetsDatabase Creation Google Sketch UpGame Maker

KS3 In YEAR 7YEAR 8YEAR 9 E-Safety Technology & SLC Scratch Game CreationDatabase + SQLAlgorithms SpreadsheetsApp Development Hardware (Components)Small BasicPython Software (OS and HCI)Networks & StructuresAuthentication HTML & CSSCryptography Binary (Base 2, 10 & 16) Binary (Base 2 and 10)Binary Additon

KS4 DiDA only qualification in AQA GCSE ICT introduced in Pilot of AQA GCSE Computer Science in 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 DBTINYWEB DB DB stored on deviceDB stored in the cloud Global to the app installedGlobal to any app Can produce list of all keysCannot produce list of all keys Cannot check entries manuallyCan check entries manually Returns custom false valueReturns empty string for false value Does not require setupRequires web service

TinyWeb DB Blocks

App Enhancement You are now going to enhance you app by using a TinyWeb DB. – –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 ?

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