WRITERS
Yvette Poshoglian
Joachim Cohen
Sandy Phillips
EDITORIAL TEAM
Mark Greentree
Linda Lazenby
Heather Thomson
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Aditi Verma
For more information as well as past issues and teacher notes: visit T4L.link/T4Lkids
If you’re interested in the world of digital games, app prototyping and design, then this is the magazine for you! In this issue we’re also celebrating the global movement called Hour of Code, which is all about developing your computer science and computational thinking
skills. Be an official part of it by completing an activity in this magazine with your class – read on for more information on how to get involved and download your own certificate
Mark Greentree Editor-in-Chief
Don’t forget to check out the Teacher’s notes for this edition and the complementary edition of magazine.T4L Issue 18
Q: What does a programmer wear?
A: Whatever the dress code says.
Q: What is an alien’s favourite key on a keyboard?
A: The space bar.
Q: Why are elephants just like computers?
A: They both have lots of memory.
Q: Why are spiders such good computer programmers?
A: They know all about the web.
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5 4
What tool will you use to produce your prototype?
How will you implement the features you want? Think about the design, user experience, content and how you will promote it. 1
Identify what tools you need to build your prototype.
Define your product, content, audience and promotion strategy. 2
How will you improve your prototype? 3
Outline your prototype and test it on a sample audience. Is the feedback positive, negative or a combination of both?
You can get feedback at any time in this process. Think about who you will ask for feedback and what you will do with it. 4
5
Take your prototype further – learn some coding.
Explore the coding resources in this magazine and do an hour of code!
Log your activity, make it official and email us (see back page for more info).
Learn about some of the key terms used in this issue of T4L Kids.
Coding is defined by Collins Dictionary online as ‘the act of writing instructions in a computer programming language’. Coding can help an app perform its function.
This is a global movement that takes place during Computer Science Education Week each year in December.
Coding teaches us computational thinking skills. It involves using strategies for our brains to organise data logically, break down problems into parts, interpret patterns and design and implement algorithms to solve problems – all great skills to have for jobs of the future.
Game designers develop online games and often are coders, programming computers to create worlds, characters and scenarios for users to play.
A ‘prototype’ is usually 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’ is short for ‘application’ - something that can be downloaded to a phone or computer that usually connects to the internet. Snapchat, Twitter and TikTok are all examples of apps.
Have you ever thought about how huge the digital gaming industry is? Not only are there millions of people playing games online, but there’s a whole army of experts involved in designing, developing and marketing the games we play.
In 2016, the video game industry was worth more than the movie industry and music industry combined?
• the global gaming market will reach $256.97 billion by 2025
• more than 2.5 billion people worldwide play games
• 456 million people play eSports
• mobile games will claim 57% of the digital games market in 2021
Source: International Data Corporation www.idc.com
Apps all have different purposes. Sometimes we use them for entertainment – like games, music and watching content. Sometimes we use apps to stay in touch – by connecting to the internet, or with other people online. Some of the jobs in the app industry need technical skills and some require creative skills.
Game developers bring everything together on the games we love. They are project managers, and coordinate the production of an app or game and have an overall vision of how the game will look and work.
Designers set the creative direction for an app or game and consider the look, feel and sometimes the user experience – from what colours are used, to how the buttons look. Designers add ‘pop’ to make an app stand out from the crowd.
Programmers work behind the scenes of an app and craft the code that turns the designers’ dreams into a reality. Many designers and developers also have programming skills as they need to know the power of what code can do.
‘User experience’ or UX designers explore how users will interact with a design of an app and aim to make the journey for the user as enjoyable and efficient as possible.
A game or an app is nothing without a story, a process, imagery, icons and more! Content creators, graphic designers and animators are all integral to the app development process. Writers, sound composers, artists and videographers are also important.
Phoebe Watson is a proud Yarrer Gunditji woman of the Maar Nation and a game designer. Hear how she worked with elders to share her Indigenous culture and presents this as a new approach to learning about Aboriginal history and culture.
Paulina Samy is creative director of DragonBear Studios, an indie game developer based in Melbourne. Hear about some of the jobs a creative director has to tackle –from art direction to music that you hear in games!
Clara Reeves is the CEO of Australian video game company Hipster Whale. Hear about Clara and the intriguing work she has done on games like Crossy Road!
Your team challenge in the classroom is to prototype a design for an app or a game! Before you do, research the titles and features of your group’s favourite apps. Plan it out on paper or in a shared online doc. Outline your app’s purpose – is it to instruct, entertain or inform? You will need to create content for it.
1. Research other apps – you could remix an existing idea, improve on it or create something new!
2. Create an original game or app - Could you create an app you always wished existed?
3. Improve on existing app - Have you used an app and thought you could improve on it?
Remember to do your planning first. Many industries use prototypes to test out their models before they release them into the market.
Here are some examples
cars – it’s important to prototype cars and vehicles for safety requirements devices – every time a new mobile device is created it goes through rigorous testing to make sure the features work
When designing your app, think about its purpose: Use the Question generator to help you create some ideas or consider the questions of your users.
1. Is it instructional?
2. Is it entertaining?
3. Does it help the world?
4. Is it informative?
5. Does it improve on existing app?
In this challenge, work with your group to design and develop a prototype of an app!
1. Watch the how-to videos below to get an idea of how you can prototype using different tools like Google Slides, PowerPoint, Keynote or Adobe XC – which will you choose?
2. Take your prototype one step further by creating a game to link to your app – see Issue 1 of T4L Kids for ideas
Identify and define
Go to your Student Portal >> Google Workspace >> Slides
Share this link with your teacher to access Adobe XD
If you’re using an iPad or Mac, search ‘Keynote’
Prototype with Google Slides
Prototype with Adobe XD
Prototype with Powerpoint
Prototype with Keynote
An essential part of any app or game is the user’s experience (UX) or journey...what happens if they choose or select a button or an icon? You can apply the same thinking to crafting a choose your own adventure story.
Think about how decisions are made on a chart – they look a bit like branches of a tree, for example: IF a user chooses option (a), THEN something happens but IF they choose option (b), THEN there is a different outcome.
Let’s see how a choose-your-own adventure is created using:
Your teachers can sign you up for the CoSpaces EDU Pro tool here or you can use the free version.
There are over four million apps in the Google Play and Apple App Store combined. How are you going to make yours stand out? When designing your prototype:
How will your audience discover and download it?
What features will it have?
Will it be free or will you charge people – what would the price be?
How will you publish it?
How often will you need to update it?
Will you allow ratings and reviews?
Test and evaluate the app with your peers - will you refine it?
Test and evaluate
Google Forms CoSpaces EDUFor apps to go beyond the prototype stage there is another role – the programmer. The programmer codes the apps and tests the code, all the while working with the team to prepare to publish and share in the marketplace.
Programmers use code to make the app work in the way that the creative team behind it wants it to.
Remembering the challenge is to produce the prototype but why not learn some new skills.
This magazine coincides with the Hour of Code 2021! Check out the Hour of Code 2021 Resources with a link to the board of resources.
Looking for more exciting coding activities for Hour of Code (HOC)? Try this sample from the T4L HOC Board of resources
T4L Kids - Issue 1 Learn to create a game!
Code with iRobot Get coding with the online simulator!
Timecraft 2021
Dance Party
Get your boogie on by designing a dance!
Exploring general code and AI (extension resources for Stage 4+)
Go back in time with Minecraft: Education Edition’s new challenge! Learn more about the power of code and variety of coding languages Discover the power of AI and its role in your app (students must be over age 13)
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
Did you participate in Hour of Code? You need a certificate!
Once you’ve completed your activity (or worked on it for an hour), you can officially be a part of Hour of Code!
Get your teacher to register a class activity here
Download your certificate here.
Congratulations! Well done to our winners from last edition!
PRIZE WINNER: Congratulations to Umer from Eastlakes Public School for his top entry!
Honorable mentions go to Lulu, Anika and Cayla from Beresford Road Public School for their incredible creations.