Digital Innovation Leadership Program

Mentoring Youth to Lead in Digital Innovation.

Turn your IDEAS into iPhone APPS & GAMES

Coding classes for middle school and high school students.

Imagine a world where every young mind has the support to innovate

A world shaped by the next generation of leaders.

Apps and Games Developed by Students

The Digital Innovation Leadership Program opens a new world to middle and high school students, turning their curiosity into coding mastery and their ideas into iOS apps and games that sparkle with creativity.

Game development for middles and high school students
iOS app development for high school students

Program Structure

Digital Innovation Leadership Program is tailored for middle and high school students eager to step into the world of coding and digital creation. No prior experience? No problem! Our step-by-step program is designed to take you from the basics of Swift programming to designing your very own iPhone game or app.

This program runs through school year. It’s divided into four seven-week segments, with each session lasting 90 minutes. After completing the initial three segments, students will work together to develop and publish their own app or game in the App Store.

Program Duration: 40 - 60 hours

Location: Online

Time: contact for availability

Programming Languages: Swift programming

What to Expect:

Part -1 : Get started with Swift Playgrounds and unlock the power of creativity through coding. Dive into the fundamentals of Swift and discover how coding can bring your ideas to life. Explore the art of coding, where even the simplest concept can lead to transformative, impactful results. Connect with the deeper purpose behind coding and unleash your potential to shape the future with your unique creations.

Part -2 : You’re ready to take your coding skills to the next level! You’ve grasped the power of coding, and now it's time to apply those principles to create something even bigger. Embark on the journey of building your own puzzles—transform your ideas into a maze builder program. Remember, innovation comes from how you use what you know, not just how much you know. Pause, reflect, and innovate! Keep learning, keep creating, and let your imagination lead the way to something extraordinary.

Part -3 : Let’s dive into game development with the Astroblaster game! Start by mastering the core principles of game design and bring your creativity to life. Create your own images, add them to Swift Playgrounds, and watch them come alive with animations and interactions. Add physics to your objects, explore collisions, and learn how to score your game. Collaborate with your team, exchange ideas, and transform the game into something uniquely yours. The possibilities are endless—let’s get started!

Part -4 : You’ve come a long way! Now it's time to design your own game with your team. Start by brainstorming and finding inspiration—it’s all around you. Draw from your life experiences to craft something meaningful and exciting. Begin with simple ideas, sketch wireframes, and carefully think through the flow of your game. How will it start? How will it end? What’s the winning strategy? Ask yourself: would you play and enjoy this game if you developed it? Seek feedback from your team, friends, teachers, and family. Dream big, be bold, and most importantly—have fun with it! You are now ready to publish your game in the AppStore!

  • Tools Used: iPad or Mac, Swift Playgrounds, xcode, ChatGPT, GitHub, Figma (AI tools are used in intermediate and Advanced levels, 14 and up students only)

  • Programming Languages: Swift

  • Part One - Swift Foundations: Coding Basics & Simple Apps

    Introducing the fundamentals of Swift programming and basic app creation.

    7 sessions, 90-minutes per session

  • Part Two - Interactive App Creations: Building a Maze Builder

    Advancing to more interactive app development, emphasizing logic and user interaction.

    7 sessions, 90-minutes per session

  • Part Three - Dynamic Game Design: Animating with Astro Blaster

    Delving into animation and game mechanics, enhancing visual and interactive elements.

    7 sessions, 90-minutes per sessio

  • Part Four - Launchpad to Innovation: Crafting Your Own Game

    Culminating in the development of a personal game project, ready for app store submission.

    7 sessions, 90-minutes per session

Key Features

  • Hands-On Learning: Encouraging active participation, this program involves students in creating digital projects, games, and animations.
  • Expert Guidance: Dedicated instructor, with a deep passion for technology and innovation, provides expert mentoring throughout the learning journey.
  • Enjoyable Learning: We believe in the power of enjoyment for effective learning. The fun and collaborative environment enables students to flourish.
  • App Store Opportunities: A program highlight is students' chance to develop and publish their own games on platforms like the App Store.

Benefits

  • Skills for the Future: In a world driven by technology, the student acquires essential, highly relevant skills for today's job market.
  • Confidence Boost: This program enhances self-confidence as students see their creative ideas come to life.
  • Unleash Creativity: We promote out-of-the-box thinking and creative expression, nurturing innovation and problem-solving skills.
  • Teamwork: Collaboration is a crucial skill. Students develop the ability to work within a team, sharing ideas and learning from peers.

Leadership: Teaching others is the best way to learn. Your greatest success comes from empowering fellow students to inspire and innovate. Students who embody these principles are honored with the 'Inspire and Innovate Award', recognizing their commitment to leadership, creativity, and fostering a culture of innovation among their peers.

What Students are saying…

Hansika Ganga, a rising 10th grader, reflects on her journey at Playground as her team developed and published Brubble, a breathing app in the App Store.
“My journey started as an 8 year old, exploring the depths of robotics. I am now going into 10th grade. I had no idea what I was getting into but joining this team was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It all started with Jr FLL but led to Swift programming and creating my own apps. I never knew the power I held of bringing my imagination to life, in the Apple App Store! Through the making of Brubble, a breathing app, we used an online UI design tool, Figma, to plan out the specifics. This helped me discover app design and the possibilities it holds. It taught me the challenges of turning a design into code and the decisions you must make. Sometimes you have to sacrifice aesthetics for practicality or vice versa. To add on, taking part in the process of converting our Swift Playgrounds code to the xcode project and uploading it to the Apple Store was eye opening. As simple as creating an app name, description, and logo may seem, it was an intriguing experience, similar to what professional app developers go through. Strengthening connections with my teammates, overcoming bugs, and celebrating our victories, all melded into a memorable journey I will never forget!”

programming and app development for high school students

Student Project Videos

Every week, students create videos to showcase the knowledge they've gained on their Swift programming journey. Take a look at starter projects. Keep in mind that these students embarked on their Swift programming journey with absolutely no prior experience in Swift programming.

Testimonials

  • My son did FLL and app development classes at playground.4 years of FLL and one year of app development. Mekhala is very professional and she's one of the best coach, very knowledgeable, experienced and explains all concept in details. Teams from playground have won many awards in FLL qualifiers and at North Texas championships. My son was part of the Best Robotics design award at the North Texas Championship. He also developed an student calendar app and uploaded to App store

    -Lakshmi

  • My son is been with Playground since his 3 Grade.He is in 10th Grade now.Currently he is learning app development using SWIFT.He has been to many competitions in Robotics.Apart from programming and logical skills,he has learn to be a good team player.Mekhala has been very patient with all these kids and always encouraged them to be what they are. Highly recommend to all kids looking for extra activities in STEM area.

    -Shanti

  • With the help of Playground, I was able to learn programming concepts in depth and even help develop a few apps on the App Store along the way!

    -Anish

Coding Ping Pong Game on iPad

 Hansika explains how she used the Swift Playgrounds app to create a Ping Pong game program.

Meet the Program Creator

The Digital Innovation Leadership Program is the brainchild of Mekhala Vithala, a passionate software engineer with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Driven by a deep desire to empower young students, she has designed this program with the aim of enabling them to learn, lead and build high-quality, end-to-end digital products. Mekhala's vision for this program extends beyond technical skills, encouraging students to use their talents and commitment to make a positive impact on the world around them.

Contact us

If you have question, you may reach us at - 
  • Text: 469-360-7338
  • Email: info@playgroundengineer.com

FAQs

  • The Digital Innovation Leadership Program consists of four parts, each lasting 7 weeks. In each part, students systematically delve into Swift Programming, with a special focus on game creation in part four. For a comprehensive program structure and a sample curriculum, please watch this video.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJTNw8pSn2o

  • We can broadly categorize the purpose of the program into three key areas

    Early Skill Development and AP Success: The program not only equips students with essential tech skills from a young age but also prepares them for success in advanced placement (AP) computer science courses.

    Real-World Experience: Students gain practical experience in developing actual digital products, providing them a unique insight into collaborative professional software product development.

    Career Exploration: The program introduces students to various roles like designer, product manager, or software engineer helping them identify their strengths and interests for informed future educational and career choices.

  • Students meet once a week for 1.5 hours to work on the project. It’s recommended to spend 30 min to an hour outside of the class to practice and have fun with code.

  • Student needs an iPad or Mac to get started. If student has school provided iPad, they can use it.

  • The program consists of four 7-week segments, each costing $400, totaling $1,600. Students can leave the program at any time with a two-week notice and will receive a refund for any remaining segments. Payments are due in August, October, January, and March, each installment being $400.

  • Classes are conducted In-Person at Coppell Middle School West Campus

    Online: Students may meet online for additional program activities.

  • As we gather more information about the students, we group them based on various factors, including their prior experience, level of participation in the program, and many other considerations. Grade level alone is not the sole determinant for student grouping.

  • Time availability varies, so please refer to the enrollment form for the most up-to-date information on availability.

  • If a student misses a session, they have the option to review a video recording of the concepts covered during that session. It is the student's responsibility to maintain communication with the team and make an effort to catch up on any missed sessions.