Hey Angelica and AnnaLise,
Thanks for your willingness to listen to suggestions.
Happy to kick of a Setting-Up Logistics List! Feel free to edit, add or correct all. My initial thoughts...
1. The girls will need to commit to four hours a week together January through half of April: two hours learning time going through course materials with the mentors and two hour working on their apps and other deliverables with the teachers. Make sure this time commitment is clear in your recruiting of mentors, teachers and students. [according to the curriculum, somewhere I read the opposite -- teachers go through the material and mentors work during the work time. I'm sure someone will point out which is correct!].
2. You'll need a room that has enough computers systems for each girl with an Internet connection, web browser, audio capabilities, Java and MIT App Inventor installed. Local universities and colleges are anxious to recruit young women into STEM programs, ask one if you can use their computer lab if you don't have access otherwise. The girls can double up, make sure they trade places so each gets a hands on experience. The room will also need a projection system. Recommended that you do an installation and test at least one day in advance of Hack Day and test each system by starting a tutorial to insure proper installation of App Inventor and Java.
3. Have healthy snacks available if possible, especially if working with underserved families. It's a long class!
4. The girls will need a Google account to get into App Inventor. Have them create one in advance of Hack Day and bring along their User ID & Password if it's new and memory fails. If they don't have one with the first class they need access to their email accounts to create one. If their email account isn't web based, they will not be able to do this in class. Consider setting up a few dummy accounts in advance with a free service like Hotmail or Yahoo! for the girls who don't to expedite this in class.
5. Set up a Wiki on a free service to help your local team of mentors and teachers consolidate materials and communication.
6. Create two email distribution lists and send a note to all. One for teachers and mentors only, one for the girls and adults.
7. Make sure there is a system administrator or other capable trouble shooter available during class if you are using someone else's lab or computer system.
8. Having at least two teachers and mentors per class is ideal. One to lead and one to keep on eye on the girl's progress during the learning modules, and both are needed for work time.
Recommendations: bring healthy snacks or make sure the girls do. It's a long class.
9. Technovation asks but doesn't require the girls write an essay to join, it's up to the local lead. It's meant as a way to make sure the girls are motivated.
10. Mentors and teachers should meet as soon as the curriculum is released so everyone can determine which modules they're most interested in leading. Make sure each module has at least two people with two more for backup.
11. Leaders will need to become acquainted with the materials for each class they lead and ensure they have the appropriate print outs, links, downloads, images, sound files and other elements readily available in advance. It's good to have your own anecdotes or ideas how to explain a concept as well as be ready edit out extraneous information if time runs short.
