Catalan students participate in the first camp specialised in app development

• At the first mSchools TechCamp the students will expand their knowledge of programming, apps and the business world through a methodology encouraging teamwork
• Teachers and professionals from companies will build upon the knowledge the youths have acquired through the “App Education” course
• The campers will be the members of the winning teams from the second edition of the mSchools App Awards, issued on June 5

July 16, 2015

The mSchools TechCamp is the first event specialising in mobile technologies, backed by Mobile World Capital Barcelona, in conjunction with the mSchools programme. The camp opens its doors in Castellnou de Bages next Saturday, 18 July, slated to see participation by 23 of the young winners of the second edition of the mSchools App Awards, held annually at the end of the academic year in connection with the “App Education” course.

The nine-day stay, from 18 to 26 July, features a theoretical/practical programme including 30 class hours exposing students to the professional technological sector. It will include a range of elements, from the resolution of mobile app development challenges to workshops by expert professionals. Working methodologies, the programming of basic solutions for apps, graphic design, product viability, development costs, working with clients, adapting to the requirements set by companies, online marketing and Web positioning are just some of the topics the camp will address.

The mSchools TechCamp will employ a participative methodology and foment work in groups in an effort to simulate realistic business settings. This training in teams will be complemented by outdoor activities and sports, like mountain biking, zip lines, archery and quad rides.

Innovation outside the classroom

The mSchools TechCamp will apply wide-ranging and multidisciplinary training, expanding mSchools’ values outside the scholastic setting. The camp builds on the knowledge acquired in the “App Education” class, a computer science elective that focuses on the conceptualisation, design and development of mobile application prototypes.

The campers will be the members of the winning teams from the mSchools App Awards, bestowed on 5 June in recognition of the top application projects developed for the “App Education” course. All of them, 4th-year ESO, senior school and vocational training students, developed apps falling within the competition’s categories: leisure and personal management, community and citizen services, and educational applications. The awards also included a final category whose winner was determined by a popular vote. (See annex with the winners).

mSchools: two years in classrooms

mSchools is a pioneering educational programme promoting work in the classroom with mobile technology through the creation and use of mobile solutions. Supported by Mobile World Capital Barcelona in collaboration with the Regional Government of Catalonia, the City of Barcelona and GSMA, the initiative aims to strengthen students’ digital skills and promote learning through technology.

During the 2014-2015 academic year more than 300 schools offered the “App Education” class, and nearly 12,000 secondary school students -mainly 4th-year ESO students- participated in the programme. After two academic years in Catalonian classrooms, over 18,000 secondary school students have already taken the “App Education” course. As of today, 25% of Catalonian students are participating in an initiative backed by the mSchools programme.

Changing Education: mschools.mobileworldcapital.com

Media Open House

On Tuesday, 21 July mSchools invites you to visit the mSchools TechCamp

During the day visitors will be able to experience this technological immersion alongside the students. During their visits they will learn about the routines at the mSchools TechCamp and how the young students progress through the different phases involved in the creation of an application: from its programming, to its design, to the drafting of a business plan to market it.