Overview
This unit is devoted to the design and implementation of Android and iOS mobile applications. Native mobile programming languages will form the basis upon which programming techniques and design patterns will be developed for creating standalone applications. Commonly used mobile tools and frameworks for mobile application development are used. All stages of software development from the initial idea, through to development and testing will be covered. Consideration will be given to the business case from the developers' point of view. Some examination of how to market mobile apps is also undertaken. Research skills will be introduced as a means of keeping up to date with the changing mobile development landscape.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-Req: COIT20268 Responsive Web Design
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from In class
Students have expressed difficulty in meeting group requirements for the Android assignment, particularly when there is limited campus enrolments, making it challenging to find teammates.
It is recommended that the Unit Coordinator form groups at the start of each term, incorporating students from different campuses. This approach will ensure that all students can participate in group activities, thereby enhancing their communication and teamwork skills without facing the challenge of finding local teammates.
- Design and implement native mobile applications
- Describe and be able to develop critical parts of a native mobile system programming interface
- Use an integrated IDE to build, debug and test native mobile applications
- Determine the business impact of a given mobile solution and critically assess the implementation of an app and its likely marketability and profitability
- Critically analyse a research issue in mobile computing.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is adopted by organisations, governments and individuals in many countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles.
ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA 7 (the SFIA code is included):
- Systems Design (DESN)
- System Integration (SINT)
- Program ming/Software Development (PROG)
- Data Analysis (DTAN)
- Database/Repository Design (DBDS)
- Testing (TEST)
- Network Support (NTAS)
- Release and Deployment (RELM)
- Applications Support (ASUP)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 4 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 20% | |||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||||||
| 4 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||||||
Textbooks
Android programming: the Big Nerd Ranch guide
- 5th edition (2022)
- Authors: Phillips, Bill
- Big Nerd Ranch Guides
- ISBN: 9780137645541
- Binding: eBook
iOS 13 Programming with Swift
- Edition: 6th edn (2021)
- Authors: Sahar , Ahmad
- Packt Publishing
- ISBN: 9781801811248
- Binding: eBook
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom.us
- Latest version Android Studio (with Marshmallow API 23) + 1 working AVD (virtual phone)
- MacinCloud Account for MS Windows users (will be provided by CQU)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.elkhodr@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Nov 2024Module/Topic
Introducing Android Application Development
Chapter
Android Programming: Big Nerd Ranch Guide 3rd ed, Chapter 1-4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Nov 2024Module/Topic
Android Activities
Fragments and Fragment Manager
Chapter
Android Programming: Big Nerd Ranch Guide 3rd ed, Chapter 5-7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Nov 2024Module/Topic
Layouts and Widgets
Chapter
Android Programming: Big Nerd Ranch Guide 3rd ed, Chapter 8 & 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Nov 2024Module/Topic
Fragment Args and View Pager
Chapter
Android Programming: Big Nerd Ranch Guide 3rd ed, Chapter 10 & 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 02 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Dialogs, menus and Database
Chapter
Android Programming: Big Nerd Ranch Guide 3rd ed, Chapter 12 - 16
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 09 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Location services and Maps
Submitting to the Google Play Store
Chapter
Android Programming: Big Nerd Ranch Guide 3rd ed, Chapter 33 and 34
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 16 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Introducing Swift programming language
Getting Started with Xcode and Swift
Chapter
iOS 13 & Swift 5 Programming: Chapter 1- 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 23 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 30 Dec 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 06 Jan 2025Module/Topic
Building the first iOS Application:
Displaying Data in a UITableView
Chapter
iOS 13 & Swift 5 Programming: Chapter 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 13 Jan 2025Module/Topic
Data structure: Working with JSON file
Chapter
iOS 13 & Swift 5 Programming: Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 20 Jan 2025Module/Topic
Passing Data from one View Controller to Another
Chapter
iOS 13 & Swift 5 Programming: Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 27 Jan 2025Module/Topic
Persisting Data with Core Data
Chapter
iOS 13 & Swift 5 Programming: Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 03 Feb 2025Module/Topic
Cross platform Mobile Application Development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
iOS Assignment Due: Week 12 Friday (7 Feb 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Feb 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator
Dr Mahmoud Elkhodr
m.elkhodr@cqu.edu.au
1 Portfolio
You are to submit a set of portfolio items for weeks 2 to 11 inclusive. The weekly portfolios will describe your understanding of the topic for the week, with relevant references and resources providing evidence of your understanding.
You are to conduct a search of the internet on the topic for the week. You should review a minimum of 2 items of the items you find and link them to your portfolio. You are not to upload files from the internet, as you do not own copyright, and if you do, this will be plagiarism. You are to use links to your items only. You may include items from YouTube, clips from lectures and/or tutorials, and your own work that you produce in the tutorials. Your portfolio should capture rich ideas, resources and innovative practice around mobile app development within the frame of the weekly topics.
The structure of the weekly portfolio entry is as follows:
- Summary of weekly learning topics, about ¼ page of A4.
- A list of at least 2 resources. Each resource should consist of a Harvard reference or link to online resources, about a ¼ page of A4.
- This should be followed by a brief discussion as to what the resource is, why you chose the item, and why you thought the item chosen was appropriate, about ½ a page of A4.
Week 12 Friday (7 Feb 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Returned after grade certification date.
The weekly marking criteria will include:
- Summary of weekly topic
- Resource descriptions
- Number and justification/quality of resources
- Describe and be able to develop critical parts of a native mobile system programming interface
- Determine the business impact of a given mobile solution and critically assess the implementation of an app and its likely marketability and profitability
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Self-management
2 Practical Assessment
Your application couldn't run successfully. The provided video also lacked a demonstration of the application running in the emulator, and the explanations were quite vague. It was evident that you didn't fully understand the main points and didn't implement the application correctly. I hope you will take this more seriously next time and make an effort to catch up with the class from the first week. Missing tutorials and not attending sessions could be contributing factors to falling behind and not grasping all the concepts as expected.
Week 7 Friday (20 Dec 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Returned approximately two weeks after submission.
The marking criteria will include:
- Activities and Layouts
- Fragments
- Database
- Menus
- Documentation
More details will be available on the Moodle site.
- Design and implement native mobile applications
- Use an integrated IDE to build, debug and test native mobile applications
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Self-management
3 Written Assessment
Creating a mobile app is simply the start of the process to becoming an entrepreneur. To scale an application, you need to approach an investor. For example, $5000 per month would be bottom-line spending on social media and advertising. It does not matter if you have working code and how good it is. There are a set of points an investor will require you to address before they will talk money. To better understand this process, this assessment requires you to consider a new and novel mobile application for a small business. Having researched and identified a problem/need complete the tasks below:
- Describe the problem in a clear and concise manner
- Look for the mobile apps on Google Play store and the Apple's App store and find the best three applications that address this problem (or address some aspect of the problem if that is all you can find). Do not use any large-scale applications such as any social media apps, YouTube, Google Maps, Uber etc.
- Critically review and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each mobile application in respect to features, operation and layout.
- Propose a new app that would present a better solution in terms of its features, and also its design and layout. Include layout diagrams of your app. You may use low fidelity rough sketches (including as photos of sketches in your submission document) or any other drawing
- What are the points of difference (advantages/improvements) for your solution over existing solutions?
- Who is your target market?
- How will you reach/market to your target market? Justify your strategies.
- What ethical concerns would need to be addressed?
Submit a single Word document. Insert any images of hand drawn sketches into the document (be careful of large image sizes).
Reference all sources you used for the problem identification, analysis and solution. Use Harvard referencing style for your referencing.
Week 10 Friday (24 Jan 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Returned approximately two weeks after submission.
The marking criteria will include:
- Problem description
- Research of existing applications
- Strengths and weaknesses of existing solutions
- Quality of proposed improved solution
- Points of difference
- Identification of target market
- Justification for the marketing strategy
- Ethical concerns
More details will be available on the Moodle site.
- Describe and be able to develop critical parts of a native mobile system programming interface
- Critically analyse a research issue in mobile computing.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
4 Practical Assessment
You are assigned the task of creating a tabbed iOS mobile application using Xcode, and Swift programming language. More details will be available on the Moodle site. You should also consult the weekly lecture/tutorials on the Moodle website for help and more information on completing the assignment.
Week 12 Friday (7 Feb 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Returned approximately two weeks after submission.
The marking criteria will include:
- Classes and Functions
- Project Execution
- UI Design
- Fetching Data
- Documentation
More details will be available on the Moodle site.
- Design and implement native mobile applications
- Use an integrated IDE to build, debug and test native mobile applications
- Determine the business impact of a given mobile solution and critically assess the implementation of an app and its likely marketability and profitability
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Self-management
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
