+ The Mobile Innovation Network
building local capacity for youth workforce development,
entrepreneurship and citizenship in the mobile world
a project of the Center for Mobile Learning at the MIT Media Lab
+Background As portable devices become more ubiquitous, youth must
have opportunities to create, not just consume mobile apps.
There are efforts, but in limited context or duration and often in isolation.
+The Mobile Innovation Network
Our mission is to empower young people worldwide to create personally meaningful and socially-relevant
mobile applications.
+What does a Mobile Innovation Club do?
Develop culture of young people learning, working and tinkering with mobile apps;
Inspire youth created mobile solutions to locally meaningful challenges;
Provide a meaningful context for youth skill acquisition;
Raise awareness of relevant career opportunities;
Foster connections with inspiring individuals and representatives from local companies and organizations.
+MIT App Inventor: A Tool for Innovation
+MIT App Inventor: A Tool for Innovation
+
http://notes.hfoss.org/index.php/TreeCalc:Main_Page
Science Apps in the Field
+
https://sites.google.com/a/wellesley.edu/bunnybolt/home
Apps for healthy lifestyles and fun
+Apps for humanitarian and social goodWith support from external agents, Haiti relief workers developed an app to facilitate monitor food and water distribution.
How can we help others build apps to improve the quality of life in their own communities?
+
+Why a Mobile Innovation Network?
Facilitate curriculum development;
Organize events to foster interactions among clubs;
Establish a mutually-supportive community, including a virtual network;
Lead and support evaluation;
Provide feedback and make App Inventor and other software tools more relevant to and appropriate for youth projects.
+Who are current MIN members?
MIT Center for Mobile Learning: technical expertise, partnerships
MIT Global Startup Lab: mobile technology development and entrepreneurship in Africa and Southeast Asia
CSEV Foundation: online community and mobile entrepreneurial ecosystem for Latin America
Global Minimum: innovation camps in Sierra Leone and Kenya
Humanitarian FOSS: student mentorship, technical know-how
Intel Computer Clubhouse Network: teens, media infrastructure in 20 countries
Iridescent: science and technology with girls worldwide
+How to make the MIN real?
Phase I Develop modular guide activities Create online hub Start clubs Evaluation plan & implementation
Phase II Refine & expand activity set Improve App Inventor components Develop sustainability plan Implement evaluation findings
Phase III Expand network Implement sustainability plan
+What does the MIN need?
Funding
Additional Partnerships with Local Organizations/Companies Who Can Provide: Space Mentors Internships
Equipment – phones and/or tablets with data plans
Volunteers
+Contacts
Leo Burd, Research [email protected]
Josh Sheldon, Program [email protected]
http://appinventor.mit.edu
+Additional slides
+
We should provide local entrepreneurs and grassroots non-profits with tools – and where appropriate and requested, expertise – for them to create their own projects that make a difference...
[...] we shouldn’t develop solutions to problems we don’t understand, we shouldn’t take ownership of a problem that isn’t ours and we certainly shouldn’t build things thousands of miles away and then jump on a plane in search of a home for them.
- Ken Banks, fromhttp://www.kiwanja.net/blog/2012/12/an-inconvenient-truth/
+Research questions
What are the key technical, educational and infrastructural elements of successful Mobile Innovation Clubs?
In what ways can App Inventor and the other technologies used be improved to better support young people in the implementation of their projects?
How to foster scalability and guarantee the sustainability of the Mobile Innovation Network over time?
+Curriculum goals
Technical skills (which will change over time)
Longer-lasting skills Computational thinking So-called 21st Century Skills:
Flexibility and ability to adapt to new technologies and situations Self-esteem Self-initiative Collaboration Presentation skills Ability and willingness to learning from mistakes
Curriculum writing College application, etc. Business plan writing
+Monitoring and evaluationOne of the expected outcomes of the Mobile Innovation Network is to define a set of indicators and assessment instruments to guide the evolution of the project at the individual, club and network levels.
At the individual level Acquisition of basic skills, concepts and attitudes (for the mobile world; Common challenges inherent to the participation in the initiative.
At the Club level Challenges inherent to the implementation and sustainability of the MIN
projects; Best practices; Suggestions to improve App Inventor; How to recruit, support and keep mentors engaged?
At the Network level Total number of clubs, participants and projects; Level of participation and lessons learned regarding inter-club initiatives
such as design competitions, webinars, etc.; Overall impact in the community.
+Monitoring and evaluation
+Technovation challenge
+
+MIT Global Startup Labs
+Innovate Salone 2013