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There is truly no more authentic approach to learning than having
students take an idea from brainstorming all the way to presenting
it to an audience of 400-million-plus users on iTunes.
Courtney Parto, senior and second-
year member of APPlied Club at
Patapsco, has developed a new appre-
ciation for the apps she uses on a daily
basis. “Throughout APPlied Club, I’ve
realized how much work actually goes
into making an app,” she said. “So
much time and effort go into an app
behind the scenes, and most people
don’t realize that.”
Students learn the value of mak-
ing something to solve a problem
rather than waiting for someone else
to do it for them. Kenneth Bradley,
a sophomore and second-year club
member, has experienced this first-
hand. In addition to APPlied Club,
he has worked with other students
and professionals on projects to
solve problems that students face
day to day. “APPlied Club has made
me think about different problems
and how I can use technology to solve
them,” he said.
The club teaches students not to
fear failure. They’re bound to make
mistakes at some point, but they learn
from them. In the end, students find
out they will be better for experiencing that challenge and will most likely
create a better product. The club allows students total creativity. Whether
they’re designing a new game or having fun while brainstorming trailer
ideas for marketing, they are able to
be themselves and share their own
creative ideas with the group.
Today the club’s model is expanding to other schools in our district and
state and even internationally. We’ve
learned that the process appeals to students with varied interests, such as programming, graphic design, marketing,
writing, sound production, and project
management. The entire creation
process from concept to marketing
focuses on helping students become
producers rather than consumers.
Alison McGuire, a senior at Pa-
tapsco and second-year member of
APPlied Club, discovered that app
development is a lot more than just
thinking of an idea and producing
it. The process is actually a long but
rewarding one. “When I am working
on an app, I’m not only developing
the app, but I’m developing myself
as well,” she said. “I’ve learned more
about myself in APPlied Club than I
have anywhere else.”
No matter who students are or their
background, there is a place for them
in the APPlied Club. Even if a student
does not specialize in any particular
area, the club makes room and pro-
vides the training necessary to be
successful.
For more on APPlied Club, visit the
club’s website at www.appliedclub.
org. To download the apps that students at Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts developed, visit www.
appliedclub.org/phs/our-apps. The
gallery of apps include PHS Connect,
Patriot Dash, and Hall Sweep.
Ryan Imbriale (rimbriale@
bcps.org) is the executive di-
rector of Digital Learning for
the Baltimore County Public
Schools. He is the former prin-
cipal of Patapsco High School
& Center for the Arts and a
former ISTE Board member.
Stephanie Grimes is director
of curriculum for the Digital
Harbor Foundation. She is a
former kindergarten teacher,
owner of and designer for
Campfire Apps, and founder
of the APPlied Club. Follow
her on Twitter @createdbysteph.
