Using App Lab

App Lab is part of code.org, a website with amazing for teaching primary Computing. In this post, we will explore how suitable App Lab is for primary children, and whether a case can be made for App Lab being a space for primary creative coding.

Accessing App Lab

To access App Lab, navigate to code.org. It is possible use App Lab without signing up, however singing up lets teachers set up classes, assign work and keep track of their students' progress. App Lab can then be launched by clicking on the 'New Project' button at the top-right of the screen.

Coding in App Lab

At first, App Lab seems far less accessible than platforms such as Scratch, Kodu, or other block-based coding environments.

The first thing that it is important to notice is option to select from the three areas at the top left: 'Code', 'Design' and 'Data'. It is possible excellent apps using just the 'Code' and 'Design' elements - this is what I would recommend with primary children.

The coding blocks seem much more technical than their equivalents in Scratch - this might put off teachers and some students at first. However, my experience has been that when introduced gradually, one by one, children soon learn to use enough clocks to make their basic apps.

In fact, it is possible to create a working app using just two blocks - 'on event' and 'set screen' (both in the yellow UI controls tab). Using these blocks, children can program their screen to change when screens are pressed, buttons are pressed or images are pressed. As we can see in the example below, this simple program can control an informative app about any topic. Screens can change to show other pictures, text and sounds.

Why use App Lab in primary school?

One reason for using app lab is that the children can learn to use it at their own pace, when the teacher sets them the excellent 'Intro to App Design' course once a class has been set up. This course includes simple activities that gradually introduce the process of building an app, like the one above. Children can watch videos and try activities as many times as they like, giving them control of their own learning. (It is worth stopping the whole class when they get to the task of adding images from the internet to their app, as this usually requires additional teacher demonstration).

The teacher can track the children as they complete the Intro to App Lab course, leading to another useful aspect of App Lab - the ability to quickly view children's work. Code.org is set up as an online classroom, as opposed to platforms, such as Scratch. Teachers can quickly click through the work of a whole class, making assessment much easier and more accurate.

The main drawback of App Lab, compared to platforms such as Scratch, is that structures like variables and conditional are harder to use. Children will likely ask to create variables, to keep track of a user score, number of tries etc, but this will have to be carefully modelled by the teacher. Another 'drawback' is that App Lab does not really allow things to glide around on the screen with the same wase as in Scratch. It is possible to change the 'x' and 'y' position, but children will not be able to make games in the same way that they can in Scratch.

Despite these drawbacks, lessons I have done with children using App Lab, mostly in Year 5 and 6, have seen many of them more highly engaged than when they were using other coding platforms. I believe that this is because they see what they are doing as purposeful - they are creating a mobile app about their interest, or to solve a problem.

App Lab is a great way to combine digital literacy with use of ICT. Children can search for information and images on the internet, which leads to good discussion about reliability and copyright permissions. App Lab is a perfect way to combine Computing with other subjects, as children can make apps about Science, Geography, books they read, or anything else.

Apps for Good

Apps for Good is a national competition where children design and build an app, with the option of submitting it into a showcase for judging. Apps for Good is without doubt, one of the best initiatives I have come across in Computing Education. I have written a separate blog post about it here.

In summary, App Lab is well-worth exploring with primary children. It may not be the best place to introduce them to concepts like loops, variables and conditions, but once they understand these basic concepts, App lab is an inspiring and flexible environment for primary coding, with great class organisational tools.