Stage 02 of 04 · Builder
App Builders Studio: Block Coding
Real mobile apps, blocks not text.
- Ages
- 12 – 17
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Prereq
- Scratch comfort helps; not required.
What students learn
Mobile app development with block-based code. For older newcomers who never did Scratch, or Scratch graduates who want to ship a real Android app. Students build apps that use sensors, cameras, AI, and the web.
End-to-end app development workflow without text-syntax friction. Event-driven thinking. Confidence shipping to a real device. The transferable habits of UI design, event handling, and data storage that translate directly to any language.
Module-by-module
App Inventor orientation
Designer + blocks editor + companion app. Hello-world button app.
UI components
Labels, buttons, text input, lists. Tip calculator.
Events & logic
when…do blocks, procedures. Quiz app with score tracking.
Sensors
Accelerometer, location, camera. Step counter or shake-to-randomize.
Data & storage
TinyDB and lists. Notes app that survives restart.
Web + AI extensions
Call a web API; use built-in AI. Image classifier app.
Mini-project, part 1
Pick a real use. Working v1 installed on a phone.
Mini-project, part 2
Polish, package APK, share. Demo to family.
What they make
A working Android app installed on the student’s phone and shared with at least 3 people.
Walk away with
End-to-end app development workflow. Event-driven thinking. Confidence shipping to a real device.
Free resources we recommend
MIT App Inventor
The platform itself. Free, no install, runs in browser + companion app.
Block editor + companion mobile app
App Inventor Tutorials
Official video tutorials covering every component.
Video tutorials
Code.org AI App Lab
AI-flavored app projects in a similar block environment.
Browser-based app lab
Honorable mentions
- MIT App Inventor AI extensions docsFor the image-classifier and chatbot modules.
- Snap! (Berkeley)Block-based language with first-class functions; more advanced than Scratch.
Next step
C9 Python for Builders — or directly into an Innovator project that ships as a mobile app.