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ISSUE 10 — TERM 3, 2022
technology 4 learning
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Design and build an app that makes transport easy for all!
HEY THERE T4L KIDS!
WRITERS Yvette Poshoglian Joachim Cohen Sandy Phillips EDITORIAL TEAM
Could you change the way we travel? In this special issue, we have a real-world challenge for you in the world of transport. Could you prototype, build and pitch an app that can help users of public transport? How could you make their journeys safer, easier and more accessible? Grab a team and get busy! Send us a pitch with your ideas and you never know – Transport for NSW might be interested in learning more!
Mark Greentree Linda Lazenby Lisa Harmer DESIGN & LAYOUT Anh Ha Aditi Verma For more information, as well as past issues and teacher notes: visit T4L.link/T4Lkids
Mark Greentree Executive Director, Digital Learning P.S. Big thanks go to our friends at Transport for NSW and Bilue for their support with this challenge! All transport images in T4L Kids have been supplied by Transport for NSW.
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ISSUE 10 — TERM 2, 2022
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Teachers – don’t forget to check out our teachers’ notes connected to curriculum for this issue. 2
At the time of publication, all people in NSW over the age of 12 are required to wear a face mask on public transport and in public transport waiting areas.
Take the challenge! How do we make journeys better and easier for all members of our community? Can you design an app for transport users to help them get around? Could you also ensure that their journey is as sustainable as possible? In this challenge, Transport for NSW is your client. They want you to build a fantastic app for travellers. Share your video pitch with T4L Kids outlining your app design. If your idea is what they’re looking for, Transport for NSW might get in touch! In your app design, consider: ·
Different modes – bus, ferry, train
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Travellers with special needs
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Older and younger travellers
· Travellers with a language background other than English (LBOTE) ·
Regional travellers
Design and develop an app
Sustainability
Real-life problem, real-life solution! The challenge is to create an app for a client like Transport for NSW. Watch the client brief video on page 7 to get started. Record your pitch as a video. It must demonstrate how your app will work and how it will help users.
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Plan your app! Follow the train tracks below and make sure you’re on the pathway to app design success.
Identify and define Define the transport problem you want your app to solve Identify the tools you’ll need to build it
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2 Research and plan Investigate what different travellers using your app would need Explore existing transport apps – what is missing and what is needed? Evaluate your app ideas with your team – what will make your app unique and how will it solve the problem?
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Don’t forget to ask for feedback from peers or pote
Test and evaluate Prototype your app design using the tools in this magazine
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Test your prototype on a sample audience Build a pitch with key selling points for your potential user or client
Don’t forget T4L Kids Issue 7 can assist you with the tools you need to create an amazing app!
4 Produce and implement Take your prototype further – could you build in some code for some of the features? Build a pitch outlining the benefits for users to sell to your clients, Transport for NSW
ential users at any point in your app design process!
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Glossary Explore some of the key terms and ideas used in this transport app design issue.
Prototyping
A ‘prototype’ is generally one of the first units manufactured of a product, which is tested so that the design can be changed if necessary, before the product is manufactured commercially (Collins Dictionary online). You can prototype a product like an app in 2D or 3D before you create it.
App designer App designers develop products and often are coders, programming computers to create worlds, characters and scenarios for users to play.
Coding
Accessibility Clients like Transport for NSW require accessible app design. Read the government checklist here to get an idea of what you need to deliver.
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Once designers create a prototype, it’s time to build the app. Programmers code the app to make sure it works the way the prototype suggests.
User vs client In this challenge, you are asked to create an app for your client Transport for NSW. This app will be used by users (travellers) looking to make their journeys on trains, buses, ferries and light rail easier.
Design thinking with Bilue
Learn more about design thinking and app creation with a real-life company, Bilue!
Client brief from Transport for NSW Watch this video and get your brief from Transport for NSW. Start planning your prototype now!
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Who works on apps? The app industry involves creative and technical experts coming together to build a useful, clever product. Explore some of the roles involved in building transport apps below.
Designer Transport app designers create a vision for the app with a focus on how the user will experience the app. They design the overall app look and feel, as well as the work including the prototyping of apps.
UX designer ‘User experience’ or UX designers explore how users will interact with the design of an app and aim to make the journey for the user as enjoyable and efficient as possible.
Programmer Programmers are essential to app creation. They work behind the scenes of a transport app and craft the code that goes into the app, making it work from the ground up.
Developer Transport app developers work on all the ideas from the app designer and build the app so that it is efficient, works well and delivers what the user needs.
Content creator These creators behind the scenes dream up the key words and content used in an app. This could include your app’s brilliant name, as well as key sounds like pings that users might experience while logged into an app.
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Great tips for your transport apps! We’ve met some of the experts behind apps – from those studying app design right through to a rail engineer working trackside using her app for safety on the job!
“Start simple, with just pen and paper. You’re sketching out the rough steps of your prototype – screen by screen.”
Glen Jeffreys Head of Experience Design at Bilue
“An important theme in engineering is first understanding the problem you are trying to solve. It’s easy to get caught up in cool new technology. If we start with the technology first, we may not solve the right problem.”
Sangavi Santhikumar Senior Project Engineer, Sydney Trains, Transport for NSW “We use technology to help our team find their way using augmented reality, which acts as a heads-up display – just like in video games to identify our track and other infrastructure...we think about all possibilities.”
Mary Nguyen Master Program Manager, Sydney Trains, Transport for NSW
“App design is such a creative career. There are so many apps that are being developed to improve the lives of those that most frequently need them.”
Helene Van Der Merwe App designer and uni student
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Does your app work the way you planned?
Design
What are the design features that make your app accessible? Use this checklist.
What colour scheme have you chosen and why?
Explain your logo, colour choice and buttons in your pitch.
Does your design support users with different accessibility needs?
Complete an Inclusive app design activity | Keynote | PDF
Is your information written clearly and concisely?
Development Consider the purpose of your app – does it work the way you’ve planned?
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Is there a home button for your app? Will users find what they are looking for? Learn more.
Will you take your prototype to the next level and code your App? Explore resources on pp. 13-14.
Step 1 Identify and define your app
Step 2 Research and plan how to build your app
Step 3 Test and evaluate your app
How could your app make travel easier for all members of our community?
What prototyping tools will you test? What features will make your app unique?
Prototype your app using the tools below Test your app out on potential users and get their feedback. Could their ideas make your app better?
Create your prototype!
Prototype with Google Slides
Prototype with Powerpoint
Prototype with Keynote
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Step 4
Produce and implement – record your pitch video
Screen recording using an iPad
Screen record your pitch using PowerPoint 12
Easy screen and voice recording on a Mac
Try WeVideo to record your screen for your pitch
Going further – Icon design
Bring your app to life with an icon using Keynote
Learn icon design basics using Adobe Creative Cloud Express
Check out 5 awesome apps made by teenagers!
Get coding with Swift Once you’ve prototyped your app design, take it a step further by coding it in Swift Playgrounds (for Mac/iPad users)!
Get started with app development with a Swift Playgrounds project
Go further with app development in Swift Playgrounds
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Coding across all tools
Check out App Lab intro lessons
Prototype with Adobe XD
Learn more about the power of code and variety of coding languages (ages 13+)
Share this link with your teacher to access Adobe XD
Explore more tools to build your coding skills
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Uncover coding challenges with Google CS First
Build a game with MakeCode Arcade
Code a virtual world in Minecraft: Education Edition
Develop your skills on iPad or Mac with Swift Playgrounds
Try Google Sites! Many new apps are simply mobile websites that employ responsive design. Why not create your app using a tool like Google Sites?
Share your app design with us!
Send us your video We may share the top app designs from across the state with Transport for NSW! Take the challenge and good luck! 15