Make it Happen
Inspiring digital learning
Volunteered for Make it Happen with Maria McParland
Make it Happen is a charity that inspires digital learning in children. They run an app design competition for primary schools across Scotland, and I've been part of it for several years.
I've helped realise a number of different apps since I started volunteering on the programme. Apps to battle climate change, help with basic colour theory, educate kids on the coronavirus, learn about space, measure out ingredients for recipes, anything… and all designed by kids.
A couple of volunteers visit a school to chat about tech and engineering. They introduce a high-level workflow of getting an idea into production, and set them the challenge of designing an app. The team take all the app ideas and shortlist them for prizes before choosing one to actually create.
The idea is quickly fleshed out, the journey flow is mapped, the UI designed, assets produced, and the app is then built in Thunkable and launched into the app stores for download. Using Thunkable means that once complete the kids can continue to evolve it on their own as it uses a block-based visual programming language designed for children and early coders.
After months-long client projects, the pace here is genuinely energising.
If you're interested in finding out more about Make it Happen or what apps the team have helped produce on behalf of the schoolkids, you can find it all on the Make it Happen website.