Sessions
Session 3
Learn Magic 8 Ball
Description
Members learn more about the App Inventor interface and develop their second app.
Background
This introductory session will guide members through building a Magic 8 Ball app with
App Inventor 2. They will gain more experience with app making in this fun activity of
creating an app out of a 1950’s novelty toy that was used for fortune-telling or advice
seeking. When activated, member’s 8 Ball will deliver one of its classic predictions,
such as “It is decidedly so” or “Reply hazy, try again”.
Materials
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A real Magic 8 Ball or video of Magic 8 Ball
Magic 8-Ball app directions: http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/ai2/magic-8ball.html
One mobile device per member
One computer per member
Internet access
Whiteboard or marker board
Activity 1: Refining the Challenges
Time: 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to get members thinking about the challenges they outlined last
session. What could they refine or add? What might be removed? Keep brainstorming
and clarifying, this is relevant through the app making process.
Activity 2: Introduction to Magic 8 Ball
Time: 5-10 minutes
Have your members ever seen a Magic 8 Ball? If not, let them try one out, or view a
video of one in action. Try asking it questions. What does it do? Make sure to discuss
the need for Yes/No questions, and what types of answers the Magic 8 Ball can give.
Magic 8 Ball is another really simple app, but it’s fun and a great second app to create!
Introduce the idea to members. Discuss it out loud. What happens when you ask a
Magic 8 Ball a question and then shake it? The Magic 8 Ball gives you one of several
possible answers.
In Magic 8 Ball, members will be introduced to the following:
 Using Layouts in the designer
 Using the accelerometer sensor
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Green Blocks, which can set or change properties of components, (e.g., the
color or text shown) using code
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Using code blocks from the Built-Ins drawer in the Blocks Editor
Light Blue Blocks, which are a ‘built-in’ category and make, organize, and use
lists. You can expand the number of items the list can hold by clicking on the
dark blue square and dragging the ‘item’ block into the ‘list’.
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Pink Blocks, which are ‘built-in’ blocks that handle text
Activity 3: Magic 8 Ball: Step-by-Step
Time: 10-20 minutes
Support members in following the Magic 8 Ball instructions. This could take some time.
Members should load the instructions as a web page if they prefer that to a handout.
The files can be downloaded to their desktop from MIT’s App Inventor’s Magic 8 Ball
tutorial page, or from the links below. Files should be saved as they are, from the web
to each computer’s desktop.
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Instructions link: MIT App Inventor 2 Magic 8 Ball
Magic 8 Ball Image - Blank
Magic 8 Ball Image - Answered
ChaChing Sound
Clinking Teaspoon Sound
Ta-Da Sound
As members are working on the activity, circulate the room. What kinds of questions are
coming up? What are members wondering or having challenges with? Bring repeated
questions or comments to the attention of the whole group.
Activity 4: Hacking Magic 8 Ball
Time: 10 minutes
While members are completing their Magic 8 Ball app, take a pulse of how things are
going. Are your members doing well? Did they struggle? If so, with what? What were
some of the common challenges that members encountered, and what could be done
to overcome them? Be sure to document any common challenges and post them in the
comments section at the bottom of this web page.
Members should take a little time to try to personalize their Magic 8 Ball app. What can
they do or change to surprise their fellow participants?
Keep a few minutes in reserve for transition, give members a little time to hack their
app. This is a great chance for members to come up with their own twist on the Magic 8
Ball. Have them write their own answers, but also push further. Can they change the
location of the text? The sound? Image? Do they want to try something else? When
time is up, ask two or three members to show off what they’ve done with their
application. How did they do it?
Are there opportunities for members to show off an effective code solution they are
proud of that others can follow? Document interesting ideas and successes in the Cool
Code Corner. Write the name of the code solution next to the name of the person who
developed that solution. If other members have a question about how it was done, they
should ask the code’s inventor to explain it. Members can also share their code with
other App Inventor users through the Publish to Gallery button in the My Projects
screen.
Optional: Hacking Magic 8 Ball with TinyDB
Do you have members who finish quickly or need additional challenges? Have them
work on adding a TinyDB to the app!
Activity 5: Save Materials to Desktop or Drive
Time: 5-10 minutes
Members should save their projects before closing App Inventor. Although they can
save directly in App Inventor through their Google account, some members may want to
save backup copies of their work in a location they can access in the future. This could
be:
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A personal folder, if your Club provides personal folders
A shared drive, if your Club provides shared drives
A cloud-based drive, if you allow members to access cloud storage, (e.g.,
DropBox or Google Drive)
Remind members to give their files a clear name and date when saving and uploading
files to their online portfolio, e.g., mole-5-12-2014.img. Help members identify useful
organization methods, such as assigning tags to files and creating folders.
Lights out:
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Members should check devices back in when they are finished
Be absolutely sure that you have received all devices, including mobile devices
and laptops, from members
Plug in devices to ensure an adequate charge for the next use