Builders Club · 2027 Studios
Course Description & Syllabus
Course description
Students learn a professional, human-centered product process: notice a real problem, research the people it affects, sketch and test ideas, then build and iterate on a working app. Each student pursues their own project within an age-appropriate scaffold.
| Course | BC-101 Design & Build Your First App |
|---|---|
| Audience | Grades 4–8, mixed-age, six students maximum |
| Length | 9 weeks, live virtual |
| Schedule | Classes begin the week of January 5, 2027. Exact weekday and time TBC — late afternoon / early evening ET. |
| Weekly time | One live group class, shared office hours (sign up for a slot), ~30–60 minutes independent work |
| 1:1 support | Available as an optional add-on: private 30-minute 1:1 sessions, opt-in only (pricing TBD) |
| Instructor | Nadia Elinbabi — see nadiasbrain.com |
| Tuition | $280 ($29 deposit credited; $251 remaining) |
Prerequisites
Comfortable reading and typing independently. No coding experience required.
Learning outcomes
- Identify a real problem and describe who it affects
- Plan and run simple, respectful interviews
- Generate and compare multiple ideas before choosing one
- Map a user flow and build a paper prototype
- Build a working digital prototype with instructor-guided tools
- Run a usability test and use evidence to improve a design
- Apply basic accessibility (contrast, readable text, clear labels)
- Present work clearly and reflect on the process
Weekly syllabus
Week 1: Notice a problem worth solving
Builders learn to look at everyday life like a designer — spotting friction, asking questions, and choosing something they care about.
- In class: Studio kickoff & norms; Problem-spotting walk (at home); Pick a project direction
- Independent: 30–45 min: observation journal
- Artifact: Problem statement card
Week 2: Talk to real people
Intro to simple user research: interviewing family or friends and turning what they hear into insights.
- In class: Practice interview in pairs; Writing good questions; Insight sorting
- Independent: 45 min: two short interviews
- Artifact: Interview notes + 3 insights
Week 3: Sketch many ideas
Divergent thinking: quick sketches, crazy-eights, and choosing an idea with evidence, not just vibes.
- In class: Crazy-eights sketching; Idea pitching; Choosing criteria
- Independent: 30 min: refine top sketch
- Artifact: Idea sketches & pick rationale
Week 4: Paper prototypes & user flows
Mapping how someone moves through an app and building a clickable-on-paper version to test.
- In class: User flow mapping; Paper prototype build; First test
- Independent: 45 min: test with one person
- Artifact: Paper prototype + flow map
Week 5: Build it for real — part 1
Using age-appropriate, instructor-guided building tools to turn the prototype into a working first screen.
- In class: Guided build session; Layout & hierarchy basics; Debugging buddy time
- Independent: 45–60 min: continue build (see platform eligibility)
- Artifact: Working first screen
Week 6: Build it for real — part 2
Adding the core interaction. Builders work at their own scaffold level — younger builders get more structure, older builders more open choice.
- In class: Core feature build; Accessible color & text; Peer review
- Independent: 45–60 min: core feature
- Artifact: Core feature working
Week 7: Test, learn, iterate
Usability testing with a script, measuring what's confusing, and deciding what to change.
- In class: Usability test script; Live test swap; Prioritizing fixes
- Independent: 45 min: test + fix list
- Artifact: Test findings + changes made
Week 8: Polish & tell the story
Finishing touches, plus writing and rehearsing a short story about the problem, the process, and what changed.
- In class: Polish checklist; Story structure; Rehearsal
- Independent: 45 min: rehearse demo
- Artifact: Demo script & final build
Week 9: Demo Day
Builders present their projects to families and guests, answer questions, and reflect on what they'd build next.
- In class: Live demos; Q&A; Reflection & next steps
- Independent: Optional: share with family
- Artifact: Demo + reflection
builders.nadiasbrain.com · Not accredited; does not award academic credit. Details subject to change before enrollment closes.