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MILWAUKEE —Students from one Milwaukee school could be designing the next hot smartphone app.
Washington High School’s Information and Technology curriculum has been named part of the National Academy Foundation’s app development program.
The school will receive support from technology firm Lenovo and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to help students learn how to design, develop and market an app.
“This is very exciting,” senior Makyle McIntyre said. “It’s a great opportunity.”
“I think the kids are more ready than we are,” said Principal Tonya Adair. “They talked about gaming. They came up with virtual libraries. It’s exciting.”
Students have a wide range of ideas from an academic app for students to virtual school buildings.
“They could go in and chat with their school members without having to be in person,” said 10th grader Alexis Stone.
Heaven Winters, also a sophomore, would like to make an app that helps students check on test and quiz scores.
“Just like Facebook,” she said. “It just pops up their quizzes and tests. How they’re doing and things they need to work on.”
Frederick Holmes, a junior, would like to develop a social media etiquette app.
“Tell them some of the do’s and dont’s of what not to like on the Internet,” he said. “Like don’t always put your status in all caps because it means that you’re yelling.”
Dana Goodman helped to work on the Milwaukee Public School District’s website, and hopes the app experience helps more students discover the joys of technology.
“That is an amazing feeling, knowing that you’re being known for something you created,” she said. “It’s right there, and everyone’s looking at it. It’s worldwide and that’s amazing.”
The class will receive support from developers at MIT, and Lenovo is providing tablets for the students to work on.
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