Empress Kent and her classmates started their sixth grade year at Gifford Park Elementary by creating apps designed to solve real-world problems. They developed teamwork, creativity, critical thinking and innovation through the project. 

"We started by writing down problems in the world," said Kent. "My app, 'Mind Time,' is a motivational app with a journal, questions, games and AI (artificial intelligence) to help work out your feelings."

The project began with a creative problem-solving unit in which students brainstormed problems they wanted to address from around the world, in school or at home. Students interviewed friends and teachers to learn about their target audience and get feedback on what would be helpful to them. Then, using Keynote, a presentation software, students designed and built prototype apps to bring their ideas to life.

"The process for creative problem solving is coming up with solutions, finding the best solution and evaluating which ones would be best for the app," said Jennifer Yannone, Omaha Public Schools Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) facilitator. "It's teaching them how to work through a problem, how they might solve it and how to help others through the process."

Omaha Public Schools sixth graders in the GATE program participated. Each group of students brainstormed solutions to different issues, including mental health and financial literacy.

Sam Tourek, a sixth grader at Gifford Park Elementary, and his partner created Bright Kids, an app that teaches children and teens the value of money, budgeting and saving. Users can earn money, in the form of points, by completing tasks or chores at home.

"Tasks could be cleaning their room, doing the laundry or taking out the trash," said Tourek. "Money equals points. For example, "100 points equals one dollar, 200 points equals two dollars and so on."

For the final piece of the project, students will present their apps to a panel of judges during The App Showcase on Dec. 18 at the Milo Bail Student Center. More than 70 teams will demonstrate their critical thinking, teamwork and innovation skills at the event. Yannone says a big step in the project is for students to learn public speaking skills.

"They have to develop a pitch on what they will say to a group of judges to get them to understand the product and get feedback on how to improve it," said Yannone. "They have to be able to address people and talk in a manner so they can be heard."

Kent is excited to work with her team to present 'Mind Time' to the public and show the judges her favorite features.

"This will help me, especially with my confidence, when it comes to talking in front of many people," said Kent. "My favorite thing about my project is that no matter how many times we get it wrong, there's an undo button, so we can always fix it."