Home learning workshop with Walsall Studio School and The LEGO Group

Feb 19, 2021
Our Work
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With the support of the The Careers & Enterprise Company we’re helping young people at schools in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK develop the skills they need to thrive and connect with industry professionals from some of the world’s leading companies. We’ve adapted our approach to reach young people regardless of where their learning takes place.

This is what we did

On 9 February 2021, Apps for Good facilitators delivered an App Design workshop to 18 students aged 16 and 17 from Walsall Studio School, all learning from home.

Across the half-day workshop, students got to grips with the fundamentals of app development and learned the tech design process, scoping the first stages of their own app product. Young people practised key skills including ideation, problem solving and communication.

Volunteers from LEGO joined at points during the session, giving students feedback on their products and sharing their career journeys. Students used Apps for Good’s online Expert Feedback Tool to receive further input on their ideas from industry professionals and continue their learning beyond the session.

Walsall Studio School in Walsall, West Midlands, is a specialist studio school with a bespoke curriculum and pedagogy designed to engage, enable and extend students to catch up (where required), step up and then reach for greatness within a 4-year transformational journey from school student to young creative professional.

This is why

"I'm hoping to develop my skills with technology in general in a world that depends largely on technology." Walsall Studio School student

Students need these opportunities more than ever. The Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted young people, particularly those from disadvantaged communities. Young people are missing out on learning, skill development and access to opportunities.

We are determined to make a difference to young people regardless of where their learning takes place, helping them to unlock their own potential and see the difference they can make.

"(I’m hoping to learn) how it all works as we usually just see the finished product." Walsall Studio School Student

The impact it had

"Thank you for giving us this opportunity! This was very interesting." Walsall Studio School Student

  • Student projects from the session included apps to:
  • Simplify charity donations
  • Make healthcare more accessible
  • Help people to locate suitable and affordable venues
  • Connect homeowners with local tradespeople
  • Support young entrepreneurs to create their own adverts

Here’s one of the projects, a social network for data-savvy young people, in more detail:

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One of our industry volunteers had this feedback for the student via our online Expert Feedback Tool:

This is a great idea - and super topical! Reading through your idea I had two main areas I would think about developing: Firstly, you’ve got some great ideas on how to reduce dangers coming from sign up. What more do you think you can or should do to reduce dangers related to how people behave on the platform once they’ve registered? Social media platforms rely a lot on having huge amounts of content which is then highly tailored to individual users’ profiles. How would you make your public entertainment content from chosen creators relevant and engaging to your app users? And where could you source that content from?

How you can help

You can help us to reach more young people so they can learn the skills they need to thrive by donating to Apps for Good.