Computer Science
Grade 8
20 min
Brainstorming App Ideas: Identifying a Problem to Solve
Students will brainstorm app ideas based on problems they want to solve or needs they want to address.
What you'll learn
- Identify at least three real-world problems that could be solved with a mobile app, and describe each problem in 1-2 sentences.
- Explain, in a short paragraph, why a chosen problem is relevant to their own lives or the lives of their peers.
- Apply brainstorming techniques, such as mind mapping or listing, to generate at least five different app ideas related to a chosen problem.
- Evaluate the feasibility of at least two different app ideas based on factors like available technology and potential user base, justifying their evaluation in a sentence or two for each.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Explain why identifying a problem is the first step in app development.
Identify at least three real-world problems that could be solved by a mobile app.
Apply brainstorming techniques to generate multiple app ideas based on identified problems.
Formulate a clear problem statement for a potential app idea.
Recognize the importance of user needs when identifying a problem for an app.
Differentiate between a general idea and a well-defined problem for app development.
Ever wished there was an app that could make your daily life easier, or solve a common frustration? 💡 What if YOU could create it?
Before we jump into coding, the most crucial first step in building a great mobile app is figuring out what problem it will solve. In this lesson, we'll lea...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Problem IdentificationThe process of discovering and clearly understanding an issue, challenge, or need that an app could potentially address.Not being able to easily find out what's for lunch at school is a problem that could be identified.
BrainstormingA creative technique used to generate a large number of ideas or solutions for a specific problem, often in a group, without immediate judgment.Thinking of 20 different ways to organize homework, even silly ones, is part of brainstorming.
User NeedsThe specific requirements, desires, or pain points of the people who will use your app. Understanding these is crucial for creating a useful solution.A user's need might be to quickly see their bus schedule without opening a complex website.
Problem StatementA co...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
The 'Observe & Empathize' Rule
Look for daily frustrations, inefficiencies, or unmet needs in your own life, your friends' lives, or your community.
This rule guides you to actively seek out problems by paying attention to what bothers people or what could be done better. Put yourself in others' shoes to feel their pain points.
The 'Quantity Over Quality' Brainstorming Rule
When brainstorming, generate as many ideas as possible without judging them. Focus on volume first, evaluation later.
This rule encourages free thinking. Don't censor yourself or others. Write down every idea, no matter how wild, to unlock creativity before narrowing down the best options.
The 'Problem Statement' Structure
Clearly define the problem u...
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Challenging
A student interviews a classmate about their morning routine. The classmate says, 'I'm always late for the bus. I can never find a matching pair of socks, and I forget if I packed my lunch. It's so stressful!' Based on this, which is the most effective problem statement for a potential app?
A.Students are stressed in the morning because they are disorganized.
B.My classmate needs an app to find socks and pack a lunch.
C.Students getting ready for school struggle with completing key morning tasks because there's no system to track them, which results in stress and lateness.
D.An app that has a checklist for morning tasks would be a good idea.
Challenging
Consider two problem statements for a gardening app. Statement 1: 'New gardeners struggle to keep their plants alive because they don't know when to water them, leading to dead plants.' Statement 2: 'People need an app for gardening.' Why is Statement 1 vastly superior for app development?
A.It is more specific, identifying a clear user (new gardeners) and a precise problem (watering schedule), which directly suggests a core app feature.
B.It uses more emotional language like 'struggle' and 'dead plants', which is better for marketing.
C.It is shorter and easier to remember than Statement 2.
D.It proves that more people are interested in gardening than other hobbies.
Challenging
A team spends months building a complex social media app for sharing pet photos. They launch it, but very few people use it. They later discover that most pet owners are perfectly happy using existing social media platforms. Which principle from the tutorial did they most critically fail to apply at the beginning of their project?
A.The 'Quantity Over Quality' Brainstorming Rule, because they didn't think of enough features.
B.The 'Problem Statement' Structure, because their description was not written correctly.
C.The 'Observe & Empathize' Rule, because they didn't make the app colorful enough.
D.The concept of Problem Identification, because they solved a non-existent or insignificant problem.
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What grade level is "Brainstorming App Ideas: Identifying a Problem to Solve"?
Brainstorming App Ideas: Identifying a Problem to Solve is a Grade 8 Computer Science lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Brainstorming App Ideas: Identifying a Problem to Solve?
You'll be able to: Identify at least three real-world problems that could be solved with a mobile app, and describe each problem in 1-2 sentences; Explain, in a short paragraph, why a chosen problem is relevant to their own lives or the lives of….
Is "Brainstorming App Ideas: Identifying a Problem to Solve" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Brainstorming App Ideas: Identifying a Problem to Solve?
This lesson includes 27 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.