Student Working on New App to Access Foxborough HS Info

The following was submitted by Foxborough Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Amy Berdos as part of the Foxborough School Committee's Teaching and Learning Highlight Series.

FOXBOROUGH, MA — A new project that the Foxborough High School iSchool Advocates are developing was featured at the Jan. 23 school committee meeting as the Teaching and Learning Highlight. The iSchool Advocate Program is a way to move technology forward by enlisting and empowering student technology leaders. The iSchool Advocate program is based on the belief that students have the power to change the world at any age through the use of technology. Ms. Julia Greenstine, Foxborough High School Technology Integration Specialist and Dr. Matthew Carroll, FHS History teacher provide guidance and support as the Advisors for the iSchool group.

FHS iSchool Advocates Brady Gardner (junior) and Demetri Davis (freshman) joined Ms. Greenstine to share with the School Committee one of their latest projects that will create a useful application to access the school calendar and schedule, communicate news and announcements from the high school in real time, and receive push notifications in a student-friendly way. Ms. Greenstine explained that since there is no in-house expertise to build “Apps,” the students were happy to find the Massachusetts Institute of Technology App Inventor Software. Their idea for a technology solution became one step closer to reality as they began using the software with a MIT Master Trainer.

Brady and Demetri along with eleven other iSchool Advocates spent a full day with the Master Trainer creating Apps with the help of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) App Inventor software. MIT App Inventor is an innovative beginner's introduction to programming and app creation that transforms the complex language of text-based coding through a simplified drag and drop process. The boys said that their peers have long voiced their interest in finding ways to utilize technology to make a difference in their lives during the school day. Specifically, their focus has centered on ways to enhance communication through a digital means.

The work of the iSchool Advocates will continue over the remainder of the school year. Demetri shared that he has some experience with coding, but the MIT App Inventor software was easier to use than writing code. Brady agreed stating that he did not have experience with coding, but found the software to be easy to use explaining they were able to create three Apps by the end of their day of training! “It is interesting to see how it’s related to things we already are familiar with, that we could do it and it’s not just for professionals,” Brady excitedly shared. At this time, the iSchool Advocate’s App is an Android product that will eventually be finished and placed in the Google store. As for the future, both boys agreed that their hope is to move toward an Apple App so that there is more flexibility and the App will reach a wider audience.

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