Seeking Solomon #3: "Go Heritage!" Not just a cheer anymore!
In March of last year, we launched the Go Heritage mobile app, a first for the school and the only mobile app available in the district. Its development was something I had considered from the moment I started working in the tech office, but it wasn't until a student asked me for help with a class project that I was properly motivated to act.
Becca and her classmate had this crazy idea for a student government class project. The task was simple enough: Innovate a solution to an issue affecting the student body. Their solution was a mobile app that allowed for more frequent and timely communication to the student body about all the different Heritage events, like concerts, sporting events, dances, etc. This is a very busy place and the schedule is jammed with great stuff to attend. Going online to the school event calendar and searching for an event could be time consuming, if not a little overwhelming. Making an app available on a device a lot of kids keep in their pockets seemed logical.
When I was approached about the app, I jumped at the chance to put a proposal together. I researched app development companies, app DIY programs and classes on app coding. With no programming background, the CLEAR solution was in finding a company that we could afford to hire to develop and build our app.
In discussing ideas with the student and various staff members, it grew more important to find a way to develop a stable and successful app for our users, whereas I had originally hoped to develop a coding class that would design, build, and manage the app and its content. For various reasons, it didn't work out (though I still think it could), and we went forward with a company that builds apps specifically for schools (SchoolInfoApp.com).
The app itself is easy to maintain and I enjoy developing exclusive content and interesting ways to market the app to various elements of our community. It has something for everyone, but I am particularly fond of these features:
Push notifications: Whether announcing a game cancellation due to a storm or announcing the latest successful fund raising event for MAD Week, news hits our users'
pockets instantly and they'll see it as soon as they activate the screen. Best. Feature. Ever.
Interactive Homework Planner: Allows kids to add assignments for each class with an alert that reminds them when each assignment is due. Additions down the road could include the option of a customized class schedule with teacher communication built into the app.
Event calendars organized by audience: The events are organized into 5
groups: Clubs, Sports (separated further by season), Student Activities, Fine Arts, and Parent Activities. Events can be viewed as an agenda view or in a calendar and events can be synced to your personal calendar with a simple tap of he screen.
Social Media Access: Integrated access to Heritage Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. One more reason for kids to connect: it is likely that they are already connected to at least one of these. this just makes it easier to keep their school stuff in one place.
Customizable QuickLinks: For access to the school's PTO website, the band web site, school lunch menu, latest scores, and all things Heritage, QuickLinks provide a great way to add features that only YOUR users will find valuable.
Currently, our app has more than 1300 downloads. After a survey we conducted, most of them are to student and parent devices. I am pleased that our community is open to the use of mobile technology as a way to stay current on school events and news. It has been a very positive experience with great support from the school leadership in getting this project off the ground. And all because a student was interested in a real-life problem for an in-class project.
