Course Content
UNIT 1: Foundations of Innovation & AI
Through the UCC ICT Clubs Innovation & AI Program, you will learn how to design and code your own mobile or web application to solve real problems in your community. ICT Club members of St. John SSS Nandere, Luwero excited about the launch of ICT Club by UCC ICT Club members of St. John SSS Nandere, Luwero excited about the launch of ICT Club by UCC This program prepares you to develop solutions that can compete at the National Council for Communications (NCC) Annual Competitions. You are not just learning to code. You are learning to become an innovator. 💻 What is Code? Code is a special set of instructions that people write to tell a computer what to do. Computers are very powerful machines, but they cannot think on their own. They only do exactly what they are told to do. Code is the way we give those instructions. Think of code like giving directions to someone. If you tell a friend, “Walk straight, turn left, then stop,” they will follow your instructions step by step. In the same way, when a programmer writes code, the computer follows those instructions step by step. Every mobile app you use works because someone wrote code. Every website you visit works because someone wrote code. Even games, ATMs, school systems, online shopping platforms, and social media apps work because of code. Coding (also called programming) simply means writing those instructions in a language that the computer understands. There are different programming languages, just like there are different human languages. For example, people speak English, Luganda, Swahili, and many others. Computers also have languages such as Python, JavaScript, Scratch, and block-based programming tools like App Inventor. Code is everywhere around you. When you send a message on WhatsApp, code is working. When you watch videos on YouTube, code is working. When your school uses a digital report system, code is working. When mobile money calculates your balance, code is working. You use technology built with code many times every day — even if you do not see the code itself. In this course, you will move from being just a user of technology to becoming a creator of technology. You will learn how to write code that solves real problems in your community. 📱 Examples of Things Made with Code Messaging apps like WhatsApp Mobile apps Games like The Sims Online games Animations and videos Banking systems School management systems E-learning platforms 🗣 Stop and Discuss What are some things you enjoy that were created using code? Think about: Social media Music apps School portals Online shopping Transport apps Discuss with your team. 🌍 Using Code to Help People Coding is not only for entertainment. You can use code to solve real-world problems. Here are some examples: 🏥 Healthcare Code helps doctors: Analyze medical scans Store patient records Detect diseases early Track outbreaks ♿ Assistive Devices Technology helps people with disabilities: Text-to-speech systems Smart hearing devices Mobility tools 🤖 Robots Robots are programmed using code to: Assist in hospitals Help in factories Perform dangerous tasks Technology can change lives. And you can build that technology. 🤖 What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Another important topic in this program is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Artificial Intelligence is the ability of machines or computer systems to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. These tasks include: Recognizing faces Understanding speech Making recommendations Detecting patterns Predicting outcomes The human brain is very complex. For many years, scientists worked hard to make computers “think” in intelligent ways. Over the past 50 years, great progress has been made in AI. Today, AI is part of everyday life. 🌐 Examples of AI in Daily Life Self-driving vehicles YouTube video recommendations Face recognition systems Spam email detection Voice assistants Smart farming systems Fraud detection in banks 🗣 Stop and Discuss Can you think of other examples of AI in your daily life? Consider: Google search results TikTok suggestions Weather prediction apps Mobile money fraud alerts Online exam systems Discuss as a team. 🎯 Why Learning AI Matters As a young innovator in Uganda: You should understand how AI works. You should know how it affects your life. You should learn how to use it responsibly. You might integrate AI into your competition project. AI is not just for big companies. It is for students like you. 🗓 Program Timeline & Key Dates Your ICT Club Patron will share: Training timeline Submission deadlines NCC competition dates Internal school presentation dates Stay organized. Work as a team. Start early. 🚀 LET’S GET STARTED! You are about to begin your journey as: A coder A problem solver An innovator A future tech entrepreneur
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Introduction to ICT Club Innovation Program
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Generative AI Tools for Problem Solving
In this lesson, you will learn how to use generative AI tools responsibly to support your innovation project. Generative AI can help you brainstorm ideas, research problems, design your app, write code, create presentations, and even edit videos. However, while AI is useful, it must be used carefully and ethically. You will explore both the benefits and the risks of AI. You will learn that AI can sometimes generate incorrect information, show bias, or raise privacy concerns. Because of this, you must verify information, protect user data, avoid plagiarism, and ensure fairness in your solutions. This lesson will guide you on how to interact with AI as a responsible innovator. You will learn practical strategies for writing effective prompts, refining responses, and understanding the output generated by AI tools. Most importantly, you will create a Responsible AI Use Plan that explains how your team will use AI in a transparent and ethical way during your project. By the end of this lesson, you will understand that AI is not a replacement for your thinking. It is a support tool. You remain the creator. You remain the decision-maker. AI simply helps you build smarter, stronger, and more innovative solutions.
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Generative AI Tools for Problem Solving
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Identifying Community Problems
Lesson Introduction Before you build an app… Before you design a solution… Before you write a single line of code… You must first find the right problem. The strongest innovation projects always begin with a clearly understood community problem. This lesson helps you: Understand what a problem really is Identify communities you belong to Observe real needs in Uganda Categorize problems using the UN Sustainable Development Goals Brainstorm impactful ideas
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Identifying Community Problems
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Solving Problems with Technology
You have identified a real community problem. Now comes the next big question: How can technology help solve it? In this lesson, you will explore how mobile phones, web applications, and Artificial Intelligence can be used to create powerful, practical solutions. Not every problem needs technology. But when technology is used correctly, it can: Scale solutions Save time Improve access Increase accuracy Connect people Your task is to decide how technology fits into your solution.
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Solving Problems with Technology
Exploring Mobile App Builders
IN THIS LESSON YOU WILL: ✔ Learn about different app builders and programming languages ✔ Understand block-based vs text-based coding ✔ Get set up to build your first mobile app ✔ Explore simple tools suitable for ICT Clubs ✔ Learn how AI can help you build apps faster
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Exploring Mobile App Builders
Exploring Web App Builders
IN THIS LESSON YOU WILL: ✔ Understand what a web app is ✔ Differentiate between mobile apps, web apps, and progressive web apps ✔ Learn beginner-friendly web app development options ✔ Install and set up a simple web development environment ✔ Understand how AI can be integrated into web apps
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INTRODUCTION
ALGORITHMS
IN THIS LESSON YOU WILL: ✔ Understand what an algorithm is ✔ See real-life examples of algorithms ✔ Practice writing precise instructions ✔ Connect algorithms to coding and AI ✔ Prepare for app development logic
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WHAT IS AN ALGORITHM?
UNIT 2: Research & AI Foundations
Unit 2 moves students from identifying problems to validating them through research and technology exploration. In this unit, learners begin to think like innovators and researchers. They go beyond observation and start gathering real evidence from their communities. Students learn how to conduct structured research, interview stakeholders, analyze needs, and verify that a problem is real, significant, and worth solving. The unit emphasizes that strong innovation is built on verified data, not assumptions. Students explore how to: Conduct real-world research Engage and partner with community organizations Narrow down and select a meaningful, impactful problem Understand foundational Artificial Intelligence concepts Explore technical tools more deeply through App Inventor and Web App development 🔹 Researching Real-World Problems Students learn structured research methods such as: Surveys Interviews Observation Field visits Data collection They analyze patterns and document evidence to support their chosen problem. This ensures their project is rooted in reality and not guesswork. 🔹 Partnering with Community Organizations Students are encouraged to collaborate with: Schools Health centers NGOs Farmer groups SACCOs Youth organizations Through partnerships, students gain access to: Real challenges Expert insights User feedback Validation opportunities This step strengthens both impact and competition readiness. 🔹 Selecting a Meaningful Problem After research, teams compare potential problems using criteria such as: Relevance Impact Feasibility Technological suitability Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Teams then formally define a clear, specific, measurable problem statement to guide development. 🔹 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Students are introduced to: What AI is How AI works Where AI is used in everyday life When AI is appropriate in a solution They learn that AI is a tool—not a requirement—and must be used ethically and responsibly. 🔹 App Inventor: Closer Look Students deepen their understanding of: Components Events Logic structures Data storage Basic AI extensions They begin thinking about how their researched problem can translate into a functional mobile app. 🔹 Web Apps: Diving Deeper For advanced teams, students explore: Text-based coding Python and Streamlit Web app architecture AI integration in web platforms They evaluate whether a web-based solution better fits their project goals. 🔹 End of Unit Outcome By the end of Unit 2, each team should have: ✔ A validated, researched problem ✔ Evidence from the community ✔ A selected technology pathway (Mobile or Web) ✔ Basic understanding of AI relevance ✔ Clear direction toward solution design
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Researching Problems
Partnering with Community Organizations
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Partnering with Community Organizations
Selecting a Meaningful Problem
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Selecting a Meaningful Problem
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
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All About Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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App Inventor: Closer Look
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Introduction to App Inventor
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Web Apps: Diving Deeper
https://audio.com/moseswa4/audio/turn-python-scripts-into-streamlit-web-apps1
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Introduction to Web Apps
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UNIT 3: Designing Smart Solutions
Identifying Innovative Solutions Responsible Research and Innovation Market Research Basics App Inventor: Coding Conditionals Finding Patterns with AI
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From problem to Solution
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Building apps that help people and do not harm them.
As ICT Club innovators, you are learning to build powerful mobile apps and web apps that can solve real community problems. But creating technology is not only about making it work. It is also about making sure your technology: Helps people Does not harm people Respects privacy Works fairly for everyone This is called Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).
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Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)
(RRI) Assessment
00:05:00
Market Research
Know your users Improve your idea Build correct features Build successful products
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Responsible Research and Innovation
06:22
Market Research and Target Market Quiz
00:04:00
Introduction to Conditional Statements
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Introduction to Conditional Statements
06:17
App Inventor Conditional Statements Decision-Making Quiz
00:05:00
ICT Clubs Startup Development Course

IN THIS LESSON, YOU WILL:

✔ Understand different types of problems
✔ Learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
✔ Identify the communities you belong to
✔ Observe and document community needs
✔ Brainstorm problems worth solving

STEP 1: START WITH THE COMMUNITY

Innovation begins with people.

A community is a group of people who share something in common.

Communities can be based on:

  • Location

  • Interest

  • Identity

  • Religion

  • Occupation

  • Age group

  • School

You may belong to more communities than you think.

Examples of Communities in Uganda

1️⃣ School Community

Example: Students at a secondary school in Jinja.

Possible Problems:

  • Poor internet access

  • Bullying

  • Limited access to career guidance

  • Poor exam revision systems

2️⃣ Local Village Community

Example: A rural village in Kamuli or Bududa.

Possible Problems:

  • Limited clean water

  • Poor waste management

  • Farmers lacking market price information

  • Flood warnings not reaching residents

3️⃣ Youth Sports Community

Example: A football team in Mbale.

Possible Problems:

  • Poor tracking of player performance

  • Lack of injury monitoring

  • No centralized communication system

4️⃣ Religious Community

Example: Youth fellowship groups.

Possible Problems:

  • Difficulty sharing event updates

  • Lack of mentorship resources

  • Poor attendance tracking

ACTIVITY 1: Understanding Your Communities

(15 Minutes)

Write down at least 4 communities you belong to.

Choose 2 and list:

  • Age group

  • Location

  • Activities

  • Common challenges

Then select 1 community to focus on for your project.

STEP 2: OBSERVE BEFORE YOU SOLVE

Do not assume.

Observe.

Many students jump straight to solutions like:

“Let’s build a mental health app.”
“Let’s build a climate app.”

But the real question is:

What is the exact problem?

Example:

❌ Vague: Students are stressed.
✅ Specific: Senior 4 students struggle to organize revision notes and track exam topics.

Specific problems create strong solutions.

Field Observation Example (Uganda Scenario)

Imagine your team visits:

Scenario 1: A Rural Market

Observation:

  • Vendors do not know current district market prices.

  • Farmers accept low prices due to lack of information.

Problem Identified:
Small-scale farmers lack access to updated produce prices.

Possible SDG: SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth)

Scenario 2: Water Collection Point

Observation:

  • Long queues at boreholes.

  • Broken pump not reported quickly.

Problem Identified:
No system to report broken community water sources.

Possible SDG: SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation)

Scenario 3: School Computer Lab

Observation:

  • Only 10 computers for 60 students.

  • Students cannot practice enough coding.

Problem Identified:
Limited digital practice time for learners.

Possible SDG: SDG 4 (Quality Education)

STEP 3: PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Another powerful strategy is partnering with organizations already helping the community.

Possible Partners:

  • Health Centres

  • Agricultural Extension Officers

  • NGOs

  • SACCO groups

  • Youth groups

  • Local councils

Ask them:

  • What challenges do you face daily?

  • What tasks take too long?

  • Where do you struggle with coordination?

You are not replacing them.

You are supporting them with technology.

STEP 4: USING THE UN SDGs

The United Nations created 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address global challenges.

These help you categorize problems.

Main Areas:

1️⃣ Basic Needs (Water, Food, Education)
2️⃣ Environment (Climate, Energy, Sustainability)
3️⃣ Safety & Health
4️⃣ Social Needs
5️⃣ Equality & Justice

Example:

If students lack career guidance → SDG 4 (Quality Education)
If waste is unmanaged in town → SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities)
If farmers lose crops to climate → SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Categorizing helps you:

  • Research better

  • Align with global goals

  • Strengthen your pitch

STEP 5: BRAINSTORMING PROBLEMS

Brainstorming means generating many ideas without judging them immediately.

Rules:

✔ No criticizing
✔ Build on others’ ideas
✔ Capture all ideas
✔ One person speaks at a time
✔ Aim for quantity first

Example Brainstorm Session (Uganda Team)

Community: Secondary School

Ideas:

  • App for tracking homework

  • Anonymous bullying reporting tool

  • School event notification system

  • Mental health chatbot

  • Library book tracking system

After brainstorming, narrow down to the strongest, research-backed problem.

ACTIVITY 4: Brainstorm Problems

(20 Minutes)

Based on:

  • Your field observation

  • SDG categories

  • Community discussions

Generate at least 15 possible problem ideas.

Then:

  • Categorize them

  • Eliminate weak ideas

  • Highlight 3 strong candidates

REFLECTION

Ask yourselves:

  • Did we truly understand our community?

  • Did we observe or assume?

  • Is this problem real and validated?

  • Do people care about this problem?

  • Can technology realistically help?

KEY TERMS

Ideation – Generating ideas
Community – A group sharing something in common
Brainstorming – Rapid idea generation
SDGs – Global goals to solve world challenges

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Do not rush this stage.

The quality of your problem determines the quality of your solution.

Strong Problem → Strong Research → Strong Prototype → Strong Pitch → Strong Competition Performance

 

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