Five Students, Twenty Days, One App
Students at Kempsville are competing for a $5,000 prize and the potential to win an app development to help with math classes.
In a world full of hardships and challenges, five students have a single shot to solve a community or school’s problem through an app. To some, it may seem far-fetched, but through Verizon, it is possible. The Verizon Innovation App Challenge allowed five hopeful students from Kempsville – William Bingham, Ryan Edwards, Brandon Mims, Kobie Smith and Jason Zabel – to create an app concept that will help students with math in Kempsville High School and other high schools throughout the country.
Middle and high school students all across the country can create app concepts that solve a problem in their high school or community. The teams have to create a three-minute video and essay to explain what the app does and how it will help the community.
With the help of Kempsville High School math teachers, the Kempsville’s team has decided on a concept that will convert spoken words into written math expressions by using a speech translator.
“The app will provide the option to speak their thoughts into a microphone, and have the resulting text be close to or exactly what was verbalized. The generated text can then be edited either manually or verbally,” said Ms. Maria Solock, a co-advisor of the app team.
The app is designed to help students who struggle with math expressions or with learning disabilities. Solock discussed how this issue hinders students’ proficiency and success in math.
The team also envisions creating an add-on tool that would be incorporated within desktop programs.The add-on would be able to help teachers by making it easier for them to create worksheets.
“As an add-on tool, it will enhance the usability of the program it is incorporated with, making it easier for both students and teachers to create worksheets. With these features, we could change the way math is experienced,” said Solock.
All together Kempsville’s team worked on the app for 20 days. Solock brought in former students of hers, Brandon Mims, Kobie Smith, and Jason Zabel. She brought in two other students, Billy Bingham and Ryan Edwards, who are in her computer programming class. All the students showed interest in the program and Solock discussed how they all have proven to her to be creative and exceptional students.
“I have learned that I have students who are willing to push forward, to go over and beyond the minimum, who are capable of thinking outside the box,” said Solock. “To be able to deliver that kind of quality of work in less than 20 days is something worth recognizing.”
Junior Jason Zabel discussed what he had learned from the whole experience. Zabel said, “The Verizon App Challenge really helped me appreciate teamwork. Working with people I didn’t know at first taughtme that not everyone thinks the same as me. Overall, it helped me grow as a person.”
Kempsville is just one of many schools competing this year. Out of all the teams Verizon will pick 100 teams, one middle school and one high school team from each state who will each receive a $5,000 grant to enhance their school’s STEM program. Best in State Team winners will then go on to compete for one of the 6 spots available, 3 for high school, 3 for middle school, for their Best in Region Team. There are four regions, making a total of 24 teams. Best in Region Team winners will present their app concept on an online webinar and in front of a panel of judges.
The top middle and high school teams from each region will then become the Best in Nations teams. Each team will be awarded a $15,000 grant to help them to create their app, an in-person helper from Verizon to help the team publish the app, an Android tablet, if the team can publish their App by June 1,2016 they will be able to go to Nashville, Tennessee to present their App at the 2016 National Technology Student Association Conference.
About the Contributor
Annie Clarke, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Annie is a senior and is Ms. Kimball's favorite student. She has worked on the staff since her freshman year, serving as a staff writer and photographer....
