marketing & coding careers essential question: is coding ... l10.pdf · lesson overview the...

IT: Marketing & Coding Careers Pathways to Prosperity Network

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MARKETING & CODING CAREERS

Essential Question: Is Coding the Career for Me?

Learning Targets:

Students will:

Collaborate with team members to finalize and present design goals.

Effectively engage in collaborative discussions.

Explore different career options in coding.

Apply the principles of writing code.

Build an app for mobile devices.

Consider making market-driven decisions about the app design.

Lesson Overview

The entrepreneurship aspect of information technology is introduced in this lesson. The YPs will

finalize building their apps and then present them to the class in the form of an Ignite

presentation. The YPs will reflect on the marketability of their apps following their presentations

and consider what changes to its features might make it more marketable. The YPs will end the

unit with an exploration of careers in the field of programming.


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Lesson Agenda Opening

App Building (20 min)

Work Time Ignite- Marketing Presentations (40 min)

Is Coding the Career for Me? (20 min)

Closure Career Line-up (5 min)

Materials

Young Professional student packet

App Optimization form: per student, enough copies for each presentation

Projector and speakers

MIT App Inventor

Presentation Feedback (for teacher)

“Day in the Life of” videos

FACILITATION NOTES

App Building. During the opening activity, the YPs will have some time to finalize their final

products. The opener suggests providing more time to continue programming their app’s feature

on App Inventor, but this time can be used for refining any aspect of the final project: App

Descriptions, Wire frames, Coding Flowcharts, the Digital Prototypes of the App’s Feature, or

their Ignite Presentations.

Ignite Presentations. The YPs will present their final products as an Ignite presentation: 20

slides accompanied by 15 seconds of text or verbal description (5 minutes total). This format

may have been modified in the previous lesson to fit the class’s needs. Determine the

presentation order in advance, and be sure time is provided at the end of each presentation for

questions and feedback from the audience (provided on the App Optimization Form). This may

need to be spread over two class periods.

Coding Careers: Interactive Experience. If possible, arrange for mentors who are industry

professionals to come in as guest speakers and listen to the YPs’ Ignite presentations, either in-

person or through a virtual format. Be sure to schedule them ahead of time.

IN ADVANCE

Bookmark the MIT App Inventor blocks editor page for the YPs to use during the

opening activity.


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Post the presentation order for the YPs to see.

Preview the “Day in the Life of” videos:

o Video Game Designer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0o6BPYKBiA

o Flash Animator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRNhPP62EZo

o Graphic Designer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmBK0_vbYnY

o Software Engineer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt79JcPfZQA

Vocabulary

Content Tier II

flowchart, optimization, marketability redesign, revise, refine, industry

Opening (20 min)

App Building

In our final class, each design team will have the opportunity to present their final products

to the class and receive feedback on their app’s marketability, or the likelihood the App will

be bought and/or used. First, you will have some work time dedicated to making any last-

minute revisions to your apps or final presentations. App Inventor has been bookmarked on

each of your computers, but you may use this time to refine any component of your final

projects.

1. Invite teams to complete programming their app’s feature within App Inventor.

Design teams should refer to their revised coding flowcharts and wire frames from the

design consultations in the previous lesson.

2. Circulate and assist teams as needed.

3. Ensure all teams are working and using this time productively.

If the YPs have

finished all

components of

their final

projects, invite

them to use this

time to practice

their Ignite

presentations

and determine

the specific

parts each team

member is

responsible for

presenting.

Encourage team

members to

present on the

aspects they

worked on most

or were most

interested in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0o6BPYKBiA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRNhPP62EZo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmBK0_vbYnY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt79JcPfZQA


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Work Time

Ignite Presentations (40 min)

Now that you have had some time to refine your final projects, you will share your apps with

your peers through your Ignite presentations.

Each team will have 5 minutes to present their final products. Following each presentation, there

will be 3 minutes to ask any clarifying questions and then share feedback on the app’s

marketability.

1. Post the <Presentation Order> sheet for the YPs to see.

2. Explain that as each team presents, the audience should remain silent and

respectful.

3. Audience members should take notes on their questions and feedback on the <App

Optimization Form>. They will have an opportunity to ask questions and share their

feedback with presenters at the end of the 5-minute presentation.

4. Ask the first team to set up their presentation. When they are ready to begin, signal

quiet from the audience.

5. Following the first presentation, lead a 3-minute discussion on feedback and

questions from the audience.

o Does anyone have clarifying questions for the presenters about their

app?

o Who wants to be the first to share their feedback on the app’s

marketability? Be sure any feedback shared is respectful and

constructive.

o What can improve the app’s usability and/or marketability?

6. Collect the <App Optimization Form> from the YPs to share with the design team

at the end of presentations.

7. Repeat this process for the remaining presentations.

Is Coding the Career for Me? (20 min)

As we have heard, computer programming is a growing career field, but why should you

consider it? We may find ourselves more focused on other career opportunities, or we have a

notion that programming is lonely or a solo activity. Maybe we are interested in other endeavors

Emphasize a

growth mindset

as the YPs

share and

receive

feedback. It

takes

professional

programmers

many iterations

to get the

product right,

and it involves

rounds of testing

and market

research. This

class has

touched base on

only a small

portion of this

process, so

there is still

much to learn

and improve

upon!


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that seem more creative. Let’s learn more from those who are actually in the field on a daily

basis.

1. Direct the YPs to the <“Day in the Life of” Note-catcher>.

2. Explain that as each video is projected, students should add to the note-catcher,

matching the correct career with its definition.

3. Project the <“Day in the Life of”> videos:

o Video Game Designer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0o6BPYKBiA.

o Flash Animator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRNhPP62EZo

o Graphic Designer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmBK0_vbYnY

o Software Engineer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt79JcPfZQA

4. After each video, provide time for the YPs to add to their note-catcher and ask clarifying

questions. (Note: Answer questions based on what you know from the videos or what

you’ve learned from the field—this is a great opportunity to bring in guest speakers from

the field, or encourage students who are interested to do more research on the career if

the knowledge is not readily available to you.)

Debrief

5. Debrief with the YPs. Use equity sticks to solicit responses.

6. Ask:

o Which of the four careers presented today was most interesting to you?

o What interested you about the career?

o Could you picture yourself in any of these careers?

o What skills do you think you need to enter the career?

Closure (5 min)

Career Line-up

We have spent this unit building our apps, gaining feedback on their marketability, and learning

more about different careers that programmers can have. Based on the knowledge we have

gained, let’s figure out if coding is the career for us.

A) After each statement is read, you will line up on a continuum based on how important the

statement is to you. B) One end of the room is very important, the other not important—think of

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0o6BPYKBiA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRNhPP62EZo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmBK0_vbYnY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt79JcPfZQA


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it as a 0-100 space where you can fill in all of the quantities in between. C) As each statement is

read, reflect on how important each idea is to you and line up accordingly—fill in all along the

line to reflect gradations of importance.

Read the following statements aloud:

o After the first sentence, pause and allow students to reflect and select their

stance.

o Once they have settled on the line, share how the statement connects to the

career of coding (second sentence).

SELF

o I enjoy problem solving and thinking through challenges. Programmers encounter

bugs and barriers in their daily code that they must debug using their problem solving

skills.

o I like to use my creativity to come up with new ideas and solutions. Programmers

must use their creativity while designing unique and marketable apps and digital

products.

SECURITY

o I am interested in joining a growing field that has many open positions and

possibilities. Approximately only 400,000 students will graduate college with the

knowledge and experience that will qualify them for a job in programming, while

approximately 1,400,000 programming jobs will be available, leaving about 1,000,000

programming jobs unfilled.

o A median salary of $74,280 would provide me the lifestyle I want in the future. Computer

programmers earn a median salary of $74,280, with great potential for growth and

specialization.

SOCIETY

o I am interested in developing technological solutions for problems and needs that exist

today. Computer programmers serve an important role in developing solutions that fit

the needs of a technological society while addressing society’s problems and needs.

o I like to keep up with the latest trends in technology and computer science. In order to

best serve a technological society, computer programmers must adapt to communities’

needs by researching trends in usable technology.

The value of

this activity is

for students to

begin to

understand

their own

values around

careers. By

explicitly

connecting

the activities

of this unit to

future careers

and

opportunities,

students are

encouraged to

think with an

exploratory

mindset and

in a future-

ready way.


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Name:

Date:

MARKETING & CODING CAREERS: Is Coding the Career for Me?

Today’s Learning Objectives:

I can:

Collaborate with team members to finalize and present design goals.

Effectively engage in collaborative discussions.

Explore different career options in coding.

Apply the principles of writing code.

Build an app for mobile devices.

Consider making market-driven decisions about the app design.

The entrepreneurship aspect of information technology is introduced in this lesson. My team will

finalize building our app and then present it to the class in the form of an Ignite presentation. We

will reflect on the marketability of our app following our presentation and consider what changes

to its features might make it more marketable. I will end the unit with an exploration of careers in

the field of programming.

Today’s Activities:

App Building

Ignite Presentations

Is Coding the Career for Me?

Career Line-up


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App Optimization Form

Directions. As each design team presents, place a check mark on the following items that

seem true throughout the presentation. If you did not place a check mark on the item, provide

constructive feedback by adding a suggestion for improvement.

Checklist:

___ The first three images of the presentation made me want to learn more about the app!

Note:

___ The presentation clearly stated what the app does.

Note:

___ The presentation included the main features of the app.

Note:

___ Information was provided on what need or problem the app helped to solve.

Note:

___ The presentation was convincing and made me want to buy and/or use the app.

Note:

___ The presenters explained why users should want to download the app.

Note:

What clarifying questions do you have for the presenters? ______________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________


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“Day in the Life of” Note-Catcher

Directions. Match the correct career with its description, and fill in the following note-catcher as

you watch the “Day in the Life of” videos.

A. Video Game Designer ___A person who builds and/or designs graphic art.

B. Flash Animator ___A person who builds and/or designs software.

C. Graphic Designer ___A person who builds and/or designs video games.

D. Software Engineer ___A person who creates computer generated animations.

Share 3 things you learned about each career below:

Video Game Designer:

1.

2.

3.

Flash Animator:

1.

2.

3.

Graphic Designer:

1.

2.

3.


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Software Engineer:

1.

2.

3.


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Facilitator Documents:

Presentation Schedule

Time Design Team Name Title of App/Presentation


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“Day in the Life of” Note-Catcher- Answer Key

Directions. Fill in the following note-catcher as you watch the “Day in the Life of” videos.

A. Video Game Designer C A person who builds and/or designs graphic art.

B. Flash Animator D A person who builds and/or designs software.

C. Graphic Designer A A person who builds and/or designs video games.

D. Software Engineer B A person who creates computer generated animations.