Thursday, August 2, 2012

Community College Collaboration Provides Apps for Waikiki Aquarium


The Kapiolani Community College Information Technology Program has a wonderful collaborative relationship with the Waikiki Aquarium, which is part of the University of Hawaii. 

During the Spring 2012 semester, students in Dr. David Nickles ITS 381B Rich Mobile Apps class worked with staff members of the Waikiki Aquarium to create a series of mobile apps for keiki (children) coming to the aquarium. 

Historically, keiki are given single sheet handout games they can complete either while at the aquarium or later at home. The single sheet games range from simple mazes to puzzles, all focused on both entertaining and educating children on local marine life. 

MaryLou Foley, Outreach Director for the aquarium wanted to bring these activities to the 21st Century. She reached out to KapCC CTE Dean Frank Haas and IT Program Coordinator Steven Singer for ideas as to whether there might be some way either IT or NMA (New Media Arts) students could help them out. Dr. Singer worked with one of his adjunct faculty to create a mechanism by which students in his class would work in small groups to create modified electronic versions of these single sheet handouts.

New projects for IT and NMA students to do with the Waikik Aquarium include sub-websites, a new QR coded database of exhibits, new android based games, and a new public relations animation piece by the NMA students.

Games recently created can be found at:

Web Apps Links:


 Android Apps Links:

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