girl at computer with woman looking over shoulder

Debugging your Code

WHAT IS DEBUGGING?

A bug in your code means a problem or error. To debug means to get rid of the error. 
 
The term debugging came from Admiral Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computing. She was working on the Mark II computer at Harvard University in the 1940s and a moth got stuck in the computer and stopped it from working.
 
Getting rid of the moth, she said they were “debugging” the system. Programmers use the term now to mean “fixing errors in my code”. 
Grace Hopper

It’s not always easy to figure out why your code is not working.

dog looking at computer

The video below gives you some tips for how to help see what might be going on in your App Inventor project, so you can successfully debug your app so it works perfectly!

In the video below, learn some tips to help you debug your Scratch code.

team at pitch event

Preparing to Pitch

This lesson is for Beginner teams who are attending a Regional Pitch Event, and who will be pitching.

LIVE PITCHING

If you will participate in a regional pitch event or celebration event, your team will pitch live to a panel of judges.  

The goal of a live pitch is to get investors (or judges, in this case) interested enough to want another meeting for more information (or invite you to the next round, in this case).

Your pitch is like a movie trailer that highlights the main parts of your project and inspires people to go see the full movie. 

Your live pitch can be up to four minutes long and then will be followed by a question and answer section with judges. 

team at pitch event

Your pitch should make judges very interested in your Technovation project.

“First and foremost, you will need to work on standing out”

THE PITCH DECK

A pitch deck is a brief and engaging visual presentation that gives an overview of your project. It’s often created with Google slides, PowerPoint, Prezi, or other presentation tools. 

The 10/20/30 Rule, originated by Venture Capitalist Guy Kawasaki suggests:  

  • no more than 10 slides
  • last no longer than 20 minutes (for you, 4 minutes!), 
  • no smaller than 30 pt. font so people can easily read the slides

Use your pitch deck as a guide for what you will say. Don’t put everything you will say into the slides. Focus on only the essential information.

Here are suggested topics for a 8 slide deck. 

Title Slide
Include:
Project logo or picture
Team Name
Team Members
Problem
Use your hook.
Describe the problem.
An image showing the problem could be helpful.
Solution
Explain your solution to the problem.
Technology
Describe the technology used.
Show images or a demo of your app or Scratch project.
Users
Share who your users are and how they tested your app or Scratch project.
Explain how they gave your feedback on your project.
Competitors
Provide an overview of competitors and how your solution is different and better.
Future Plans
Explain how you intend to keep improving your app or Scratch project.
Wrapup
Restate how your solution successfully solves the problem.
Previous slide
Next slide

Here is a good way to make your presentation slides.

  1. Draft on paper first.
    1. Write down the main points you want to make.
    2. Write down points for each slide.
    3. Ask your mentor or parents for feedback.
  2. Make your slides.
    1. Make your slides based on your outline.
    2. Try to use more than just text.  Images, charts, and quotes can all help you tell your story.
    3. Ask for feedback from your mentor or parents.
    4. Update your slides based on feedback until you are satisfied.

ACTIVITY 1: MAKE YOUR SLIDE DECK

Follow the steps above to make a presentation for your Regional Pitch Event.

REHEARSING

“For preparing for the live pitch, I think it’s most important to practice a lot to build confidence. It’s also important to describe the app and all of its functions clearly so that the judges can really understand why it is new/special/exciting.”

Below are some tips for answering questions during the pitch.

Remember, your team is in control!  

  • Decide before the event who on the team will answer certain questions, for example questions about coding or about how the project works.
  • Slow down, take a deep breath and pause before answering to show confidence.
  • Keep your responses to 30 seconds or less.
  • Listen closely to make sure you hear the question correctly.
  • If you are unsure about the question, you can always repeat it back to make sure you have it right.
  • Don’t interrupt the person asking the question, even if you have heard it many times before.  

 

  • Show judges respect when you listen to their questions.
  • Even if the judge asks you something you already covered in your pitch, respond politely without becoming defensive.  

If a judge asks a confusing question, don’t be afraid to ask them to explain what they mean. You can also ask them to repeat the question, or ask them for more detail.

First, look to your team mates to see if anyone else can answer the question.

If not, it’s okay to say you don’t know the answer to a question, but try to say what you do know. For example:

  • I don’t know the answer to that; but, what I can tell you is…
  • I don’t know the answer to that. Here is the main idea…

You can also simply say, I don’t know the answer to that right now, but I can find that out for you.

Prepare by making  a list of all the questions you think you might get asked. Write down your answers to those questions.

Here are some steps you can take to rehearse your pitch.

  • Start by pitching to your mentor or a parent.
  • Then, find different people and larger groups to rehearse in front to.
  • Make sure to time yourself each rehearsal to stay within the 3 minute time limit!
  • When rehearsing, remember to:
    • Stand up straight, relax your shoulders and jaw, and take a deep breath.
    • Look at your audience. You may use notes, but try not to read them word for word.
    • Hold your hands in front of you naturally. Use your hands for emphasis when needed, pointing to visual aids or raising and lowering them slightly in time with main points.
  • Have your audience ask you questions so you can practice for the question and answer section.
  • Ask for feedback each time, and think about this before you practice your pitch to another audience.
  • Try recording your rehearsal, then watch it and discuss with your team to improve.

ACTIVITY 2: REHEARSE YOUR PITCH

Follow the steps above to make sure you are prepared for the Regional Pitch Event.
girls jumping on hill

Submitting your Project

IT’S TIME TO SUBMIT!

We’ll go through all the parts of the submission but it’s a good idea to start by uploading your videos.

You should get some help from your parent or mentor with this step!
 
You can upload your videos to:

Make sure you set your videos as “unlisted” or “public” so judges can judge them!

Now that you have your videos uploaded, let’s walk through all the parts of your submission!

You’ll need to log into your Technovation Girls account and submit there.

For a detailed description of each of the submission parts, see this document.

Here’s a checklist to get organized!

 

Click on each item below to learn more about that part of the submission.

Project name and problem/ project description

Think back to the problem statement you did in unit 3. What was your solution to the problem? Why did you choose that solution? Must be in English.

Pitch Video

Link the pitch video you uploaded on either YouTube or Vimeo. Make sure you set your videos as "unlisted" or "public" so judges can judge them

Technical Video

Link the technical video you uploaded on either YouTube or Vimeo. Make sure you set your videos as "unlisted" or "public" so judges can judge them

Technical Additions

Depending on your coding language and platform, you will either submit a project page link or upload a file.

Your Learning Journey

Maximum 200 words about your learning journey, must be in English. 2-6 pictures that describe your journey.

Team Photo and Summary

Let us know who you are and what your team looks like!

CHECK OUT THIS EXAMPLE SUBMISSION!

REVIEW AND SUBMIT BUTTON

Once your team has uploaded all the parts of your submission, click the “Review and submit” button.

You’ll have until the deadline to edit your submission.

Then, when you are ready, click the final “Submit now” button!

You will see a screen that says,
“Your project has been successfully submitted.”

submission confirmation

And that’s it! You did it!

Congratulations on completing the Technovation Girls season!

Learning Journey

Wow! You’ve worked very hard for many weeks!
Your project is almost complete!

Now it’s time to look back on what you have learned and what you have accomplished over the past few months.
You will be amazed at how much you have grown!

girl with computer

Think:

  • What new things have you learned?
  • Did you face any challenges?
  • How did you overcome them?

Pictures to help tell the story:

  • Of the team working on the project
  • Of any research you did (survey results, datasets)
  • Of your project
    • Screenshot of the app or project
    • Picture of people using it

Part of your project submission is writing about your learning journey.

This will be a maximum of 200 words in length.

Remember to include 2-6 pictures to help tell the story.

ACTIVITY: YOUR LEARNING JOURNEY

Fill out the worksheet to get you started writing your learning journey.

Editing your Videos

Now that you have recorded footage for your pitch and technical videos, it’s time to put the clips together and polish them into final versions.

Let’s start with a little inspiration from team ELIST.

Think about the ELIST video and answer these questions:

  • What makes their video editing stand out?
  • What effects did they use to help pass on information?
  • How did they use titles and text?
  • Would you change anything to improve their video?

NEED MORE INSPIRATION?

Check out the Technovation App Gallery for more pitch video examples.

girl jumping in the air

STEP 1: VIEW YOUR RECORDINGS

phone recording
  • Start with the pitch video.
  • Go through all the video clips you have recorded.
  • Make sure you’ve got all your answers covered!
  • Select the video clips you will include in your pitch video.

STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR VIDEO EDITOR

There are many free video editing software programs available:

STEP 3: EDIT YOUR VIDEOS

ACTIVITY: EDIT YOUR VIDEOS

Using video editing software, edit your pitch and technical videos.

MORE TIPS AND RESOURCES

If you need more help getting started with editing your videos:

phone recording

Recording your Videos

lights camera action

READY TO RECORD?

  • Focus on gathering all of the footage that you want in your video.
  • Use your storyboards and scripts to determine WHERE you will record and WHAT you will say in the videos.

Remember to answer these questions in your videos!

PITCH VIDEO

  • What is the problem and why is it important?
  • How did you solve the problem?
  • What technology did you use? Why?
  • Is it similar to other solutions? How is yours different?

TECHNICAL VIDEO

  • What did you build?
  • How does it work?
  • How did you build it?
  • Who tested it?
  • What feedback did you get?
  • What doesn’t work yet?
  • What will you add in the future?

TIPS FOR RECORDING

Make sure everyone is loud and clear!

Good audio is important so viewers can understand your video.

Avoid background noise.

girl talking in megaphone to 2 men
girl making eye contact

Make eye contact with the camera!

Talk to your audience directly! Use cue cards to help you say your words.

Voiceovers, animations, and visuals can help tell your story!

These might be added when you get to editing your video!

girl speaking into microphone

Record more than one take!

Try different angles and lighting.

More recordings will make editing your video easier.

Use lots of light!

Try to record in daylight, or in a room with lots of natural light!

If recording outside, make sure it doesn’t affect the sound of your recording.

Don’t have light behind your subject, or they will appear dark in the video.

window with light shining through
smartphone on a tripod

Use landscape mode!

Don’t record vertically with your camera or phone.

Try to use a tripod or flat surface to keep your camera stable.

Protect privacy!

Don’t show names, numbers, or accounts.

If others appear in your videos, get a release form for their permission. Here is a sample.

privacy on keyboard

SPECIAL TIPS FOR TECHNICAL VIDEO

If you are recording your mobile app or Scratch project running on a computer, try using screen recording software.

Here are some free suggestions:

REQUIREMENTS

  • Everyone is involved!
    • All members of the team should be shown and speak during the video.
  • Videos can be 2-3 minutes long.
  • English and/or English subtitles must be included.
  • You need to have the consent of everyone you show in your videos.
  • Give credit for all images and information you use in the videos.
    • Ask for consent or give acknowledgment to the person who created it.
    • You can learn more about copyright, fair use, and public domain here.

ACTIVITY: RECORD YOUR VIDEOS

Using your storyboards and scripts, record footage for your pitch and technical videos.

Planning your Videos

Your final project should include 2 different videos.
 
We’ll go over what they are, and what each of them should cover in this lesson.

There can be a lot to think about when planning your videos! So many ideas can fly around so it’s best to organize and write down your thoughts

 
Let’s start with the Pitch Video by breaking it down into six main parts:
  1. The Hook
  2. The Problem
  3. The Solution
  4. The Technology
  5. The Competition
  6. The End

THE PITCH VIDEO

crochet hooks

THE HOOK 

10 seconds

Grab your audience’s attention! 

You have 10 seconds to convince the viewer to watch your video.

Start with a fun fact, a surprise, or just immediately state your problem and solution!

girls in front of poster

THE PROBLEM 

60 seconds

Talk about the problem you are solving.

Set the scene with background on the problem you are solving.

Explain why it’s important to solve.

THE SOLUTION 

40 seconds

Show your solution!

Showcase some key features of your app or project.

Explain why your solution solves the problem.

THE TECHNOLOGY 

30 seconds

Why this solution?

Convince the viewer that this solution is the best way to solve this problem.

different paper airplanes

THE COMPETITION 

30 seconds

Prove that this solution stands out.

Talk about what solutions already exist and explain why yours is better.

woman hiking on trail

THE END 

10 seconds

End with strong inspiration!

Remind the viewer about the main reason for your project and tell them what to do next.

For example, they should use your app when it’s complete!

This video below is an example of a Technovation Pitch Video!

The most important thing in the pitch video is to show why you care about what you’ve done!
 
You and your team have worked so hard on your project, so show the world!
 

THE TECHNICAL VIDEO

Your Technical Video has a different purpose and should follow a different structure:

  1. Introduce your project
  2. Explain how it works
  3. Talk about users and feedback
  4. Explain how you coded it
  5. Look to the future
girl holding finger up

INTRODUCTION 

15 seconds

Restate your problem and solution.

Explain briefly the problem you are solving and what your solution is.

app demo

HOW IT WORKS

60 seconds

Demonstration time!

Show off your app or project! 

Give a demonstration of your app or project in action, so viewers know exactly how each feature works

girls at table with woman using a phone

USERS AND FEEDBACK

30 seconds

It’s important to show you stayed connected to users.

Explain who you asked for feedback and who has tested out your app or project.

Talk about feedback you got and how it affected your project.

App Inventor blocks editor

THE CODE

45 seconds

Show off your technical knowledge.

Choose one or two important parts of your app or project, show the code, and explain how it works. 

If you made an AI model, you can talk about how you built it

THE FUTURE

30 seconds

Explain what you can do better. It’s okay if not everything works yet!

You can really get viewers interested by showing that you have plans to make your project even better!

This video below is an example of a Technovation Technical Video!

The most important thing in the technical video is to show what you made, and how it works!

Even if not everything is done, tell the viewer what your future plans are.

THE OUTLINE

The outline is where you make a list of everything you want to cover in your video.  

This first two activities will help you organize your videos and make sure you answer all the questions in the judging rubric.

ACTIVITY 1: OUTLINE YOUR PITCH VIDEO

Download the file and fill out the worksheet

ACTIVITY 2: OUTLINE YOUR TECHNICAL VIDEO

Download the file and fill out the worksheet

STORYBOARDS

Once you have your big ideas down, you can now start your storyboard.

A storyboard is a set of drawings that show what your video will look like. Kind of like a cartoon or comic strip.

In a storyboard,
you draw out what
you imagine your video will look like.

A storyboard does not need to have fancy drawings or even be in color. It’s just a way for you to visually plan out your video. 

You are telling a story about your project.
 
Here is an example.
storyboard

Phone is on the table

It starts to ring

Jane reads the message

A storyboard can be as simple as this!

Even if this storyboard is simple, we all have a clear idea of what the video will look like now.

In each box, you draw what is happening. You should also write down what’s happening under each box. The box to the right should show what happens next.

TRY IT OUT!

Coco lost one of her shoes!

She looked under the sofa but found a penny instead.

Coco asked her mother but her mother said she hadn’t seen it.

Read the short story above. Imagine what the story would look like and draw it out on a storyboard.

stick figure

Stick figures are ok! The pictures are for you and your team to decide the story you will tell. 

You will turn it into a brilliant video soon!

Now you will make a storyboard for your pitch and technical videos!

ACTIVITY 3: STORYBOARDS

Create 2 storyboards - one for your pitch video and one for your techical video.

Use your PItch and Technical Video outlines to make sure you answer all the outline questions in your storyboards.

SCRIPTS

Once you have your storyboard completed, you can now work on the details of your video with your script.

A script is the written words of your video.
 
Take your storyboard and write down what will be said in your video. Turn the pictures into words.

In a script,
you write down
everything that
happens in your videos.

Here are some parts to include in your script.

park bench
stick figure in crayon
speech bubble with crumpled paper inside

Setting

Where will you record your video? Deciding where your video takes place helps you imagine what your video will look like. You can have more than one setting in your video!

People

Who is talking and what are they doing? Especially if you’re working with a lot of people, you can note down exactly who is present and their actions.

What is said

What exactly are you going to say? By writing it down, you can make sure that you’ll remember all the important points.

TRY IT OUT!

Look at the picture above and try writing a small script! Where are they? Who are these people? What are they saying? 

As you write the scripts for your videos, have your outlines and storyboards by your side and check off each answer as you add it to the script!

You don’t have to follow the order of the questions but make sure you answer them all in your videos.

Your scripts can be used later as the subtitles for your videos!

THE VALUES SANDWICH

The Values Sandwich is a way to help others care about the same things you care about.

sandwich
1

Say why the thing matters in a way that’s easy to understand

2

Then say what the thing is

3

Then explain again in different words why it matters

Here is an example.

1

Everyone deserves to enjoy nature and should learn about protecting the world we live in.

2

Our app, EcoFriend, connects people who care about the environment so that we can work together to solve problems.

3

By working together, we can achieve more to help make our Earth cleaner for years to come.

TRY INCLUDING YOUR VALUES SANDWICH IN YOUR SCRIPT!

girl reading from book

Once you’ve written your script. Try practicing it!

Practicing your script helps you listen to your words, see how they sound when said out loud, and gives you an idea of how long your video will be.

ACTIVITY 4: SCRIPTS

Create 2 scripts - one for your pitch video and one for your technical video.

Use your PItch and Technical Video outlines and storyboards to guide you.

GETTING FEEDBACK

Now that you have your outlinescript, and storyboard, this is a great time to get some feedback on what you’ve done!

feedback bubbles

Feedback is important because it’s useful to know that your materials make sense from an outsider’s point of view.

Find a helper (or two!) to give your materials to.

Let them read through your materials without explaining anything to them.
 

Then ask these questions:

  1. What problem am I trying to solve and why is it important?
  2. How did I solve my problem?
  3. How is my solution unique?

And then ask:

  1. Did everything make sense?
  2. Do the parts flow together?
  3. Do you understand how my app or project works?

Once you’ve gotten your feedback, go back to your materials and update them with the advice in mind. Then ask for feedback again!

girls using hardware around a laptop

Using your AI Model in an App or Project

It’s time to put your trained model to work!

Dataset

Model
finds
patterns

Model
makes
predictions

Correct actions or decisions!

Which platform did you choose?

Click on the platform you trained your model with to learn more about how to add code to make your project take action! 

Tip: Choose one path and follow it. Do not do them all!

Teachable Machine just allows you to train an AI Model. There are many platforms that will allow you to use that model to make something.

  • If you are planning on making a Scratch project, we suggest RAISE AI Playground, from MIT, a version of Scratch, because it’s easy to add a Teachable Machine model .
  • If you are planning on making a mobile app, MIT App Inventor has an extension you can use to use the model in your app.

The first video shows how to use a Teachable Machine model for snap, clap, whistle sounds (Unit 5) in a Scratch project.

The next video shows you how to use a Teachable Machine image model to make a rock, paper, scissors game in App Inventor. If you need help making the model in Teachable Machine using images, this video will walk you through it. 

With models made with Machine Learning for Kids, you can make a
  • Scratch project
  • Python project
  • Or a mobile app with App Inventor

In this video, you’ll learn to take the Iris identification AI model from Unit 7, and use it in a Scratch project to display the correct iris picture based on sepal and petal measurements.

Models created with the App Inventor Personal Image Classifier or the Personal Audio Classifier can be integrated into a mobile app using MIT App Inventor. 

In this video, learn how to take your citrus identifier AI model from Unit 7, and add the model to an App Inventor project.

Now code the app so it identifies images of citrus to tell whether it’s healthy or diseased.

ACTIVITY: ADD MODEL TO YOUR PROJECT

  • Plan what actions you want your app or Scratch project to take.
  • Have your AI model ready.
  • Import it into the platform of your choice.
  • Code!
girls at table with multiple laptops

Exploring Different Types of Mobile Apps

By now you should have a list of features for your mobile app.

And you should have drawn out what you want it to look like with your paper prototype.

Below are some different tutorials for you to follow, depending on the type of app you are building.

ACTIVITY: TRY A TUTORIAL

Look through the tutorials listed below and follow the ones that use some of the same features or components you plan to use in your app. While they might not be exactly like the app you want to make, it will give you an example to get you started.

Don't just watch the tutorial - make the app too! 

If you don’t see a tutorial below that has some of the same features you want to add to your app, there are many other ways to find help!

  1. Google “App Inventor” and whatever feature you want.  For example, you might Google “App Inventor quiz” if you wanted to make an app that tests users on a topic.
  2. Visit http://appinventor.mit.edu/tutorials and look for other tutorials that might be helpful.
  3. Visit https://community.appinventor.mit.edu, the community forum for App Inventor users, and post a question there. Many other App Inventors visit that site and assist others that need help. 
In this tutorial, learn to add a login feature to your app. Users have to enter an username and password to register and use the app!
 
The CloudDB component is used to store the user information.
In this tutorial, learn to make an app that uses a map for users to locate places and find out more information.
 
This app uses the Map component to let users find volunteer opportunities in their area. It also uses the PhoneCall component so the users can call the organization from the app to volunteer, and the WebViewer component to display webpages in the app.
 
Part 1 shows you how to make the map and markers part of the app.

Part 2 shows you how to add a second screen to display the phone number and website, and allows the user to place a phone call to the organization.

In this tutorial, learn how to use CloudDB to create an app where users can message each other. This could be the start of an user forum feature in an app, and show you the basics of sharing information between users of an app.
 
Click on the picture below to go to the tutorial!

In these tutorials, learn how to use TinyDB to create an app where users can track their green activities from day to day. Their tracked information is stored on the mobile device so it can be updated each day.

Green Tracker tutorials

3 Videos
girls coding

Train your AI Model

Remember:
Healthy predictions need healthy data
!

Healthy
dataset

Finds
correct
patterns

Healthy
prediction!

Correct actions or decisions!

Do you remember what makes a healthy dataset?

  • Lots of data
  • Accurate
  • Matches your problem and solution
  • Different examples of data
  • The right kind of data
  • You have permission to use it

IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO START TRAINING YOUR DATA!

alarm clock
You should have gathered your data by now… or at least started!

WHETHER IT’S…

Your own training data from your community

and/or

Data gathered from sensors or user input

and/or

strings of numbers

Data collected from public datasets

Click on a platform name below to learn more and try out some tutorials.

teachablemachine.withgoogle.com
  • Train images, sounds or poses
  • teachable machine screenshotAttach devices to capture sensor data
Google’s Teachable Machine lets you easily train AI models that can be used with other platforms. In this video, learn a little about Teachable Machine and training an AI model that you can later used to make a Scratch project, or an app with MIT App Inventor.

Here are three tutorials to try out Teachable Machine using different data types.

machine learning for kids logo
  • Train images, sounds, text, or numbers
With your trained dataset  you can:
  • Make a Scratch or Python project
  • Or a mobile app with App Inventor
This video is an example of a Technovation team who created SkinClin, a Scratch project to detect skin diseases using Machine Learning for Kids.

This video is an example of a Technovation team using Machine Learning for Kids to make a mobile app to sort biomedical waste.

TRY IT YOURSELF!

In this video, see how to take the Iris public dataset from Unit 6 and train it using Machine Learning for Kids. 

Then in the next unit, you can use it in a Scratch project!

appinventor.mit.edu

  • app inventor bee logoTrain images, sounds, or poses
  • With your trained dataset you can make a mobile app that uses AI.

WANT TO TRY IT?

In this video, see how you can use the App Inventor image classifier to train an image dataset. This dataset classifies healthy fruit vs diseased fruit.

Then in the next unit, see how to use your model in a mobile app!

ACTIVITY: TRAIN YOUR MODEL

  • Choose the AI tool you want to use for your Technovation Project.
  • Add your examples.
  • Train and test your AI model.

Best practices: Training models is hard! Even Google gets it wrong. Their AI was trained but still started outputting wrong results! Don’t give up!

Guiding Questions to ask students: How accurate do you want your AI model to be? If it can not be 100% accurate, what is an acceptable answer? 80% of the time? Does that depend on the risk of what you are using the model for? For example self driving cars have to be pretty accurate otherwise they might hurt someone but google search results apparently have a much lower bar. 

Mentor tips are provided by support from AmeriCorps.

stylized A, AmeriCorps logo in navy