CEDAR PARK, Texas — A group of students in the incubatoredu program at Vista Ridge High School are working to release an app called Screenwise.
“It’s an app that interrupts the kids while they're doing unproductive activities like watching tv, playing video games and it redirects them to more educational, more productive, curriculum-based content,” said Vincent Dinh, a senior and one of the creators of the app.
He said the class pushed them to think of real world problems they could solve.
“We know that parents always nag about do your homework, do your chores, and stuff like that, get off your phone,” said Dinh. “The thing about our app, if you click on your child’s profile, what you see is a list of factors that show their academic growth on the app.”
Dinh said the app would have a fun aspect for kids because “if the kid doesn’t like it, it’s not going to work.”
The senior explained the team drew some inspiration from one of their mentors, who is also a parent.
“I have a 10-year-old son and I would absolutely love for him when he’s playing his game, something pops up and he has to complete it and then he goes back,” said Sunnie Fox, one of the mentors. “Just so that he can start working on math facts or spelling words or anything to that aspect.”
She explained the app acts like a commercial break for kids.
“As a parent, I’m not going to be able to take away the mobile device. There’s too many things on there that he enjoys to do, and I think that sometimes you need a mental break to do some of the fun stuff, but we need to integrate this in there,” Fox said. “And if we start it at such a young age, I think it can just be habit.”
Fox said the team is looking at developers and hopes to have the app ready to release by the beginning of 2019.
Those at Vista Ridge High School said the INCubatoredu program is looking for more mentors. If you want to volunteer, email incubatoredu.vrhs@leanderisd.org.