Sparked from a request raised by the school counsellors, five Nexus learners found themselves tackling this challenge: How could learners have access to resources and help 24/7, especially in moments when counsellors and support are not readily available? Their solution – Nexwell, a wellbeing app developed by learners, for learners.
Learning By Tackling Real-World Problems
The creation of the Nexwell app was an interdisciplinary collaboration that combined the technological possibilities that Computer Science offered, the Design aspects of creating a user interface and the knowledge of psychological needs and mental health. Ms Hemangi Ahire, the Learning Area Leader of the Computer Science department gathered five learners from Year 10-13, Kazybek, Emmanuel, Keoni, Alec and Khoi, who shared a passion for computer science and coding and guided them along this journey of developing a wellbeing app.
Ms Hemangi shared that this project was certainly a challenging one as the learners were beginners to programming. However, it was a fantastic opportunity to learn many new softwares and skills. The learners went above and beyond by incorporating innovative features that extended beyond wellbeing tracking, which brought on technical challenges of integrating unique features related to wellbeing such as breathing exercises, games and mindfulness resources.
Hear from the team
What did you learn during this process and what was your most valuable takeaway?
Was there a point that you found exceptionally or unexpectedly challenging? How did you overcome it?
How do you feel about the creation of the Nexwell app and what do you hope will come out of this app?
Technological Innovation For Community Betterment
Nexwell is an excellent example of a project that echoes Nexus’ focus on fostering learner agency. It was a unique and exceptional experience that allowed the five learners to work on an extensive project beyond the classroom and produce a beneficial product for the school community. Nexwell also echoes the school’s commitment towards enhancing wellbeing throughout the school.
“The learners’ commitment to enhancing our school community through technology has been amazing,” commented Ms Hemangi, “their contributions have not only made the app functional and user-friendly, but have also added value to the entire school community. Their initiative reflects a deep sense of responsibility and a forward-thinking mindset that is truly commendable.”
What’s Next For Nexwell?
With the first release of the app ready, the learners have already gone to the testing phase and met with different stakeholders in the school to gather feedback. As they continue to make edits and improvements, they aim to upload Nexwell on Google and Apple app stores so that they can be downloaded and used by the general public. The Nexwell team hopes to continue refining the app in the future and possibly work on new exciting projects.
Nexus International School (Singapore)
As a school for learners aged 3 - 18 years old, we love sharing our insights on education, learner wellbeing and learning in general.
