Application Development Curriculum

developed by code in the schools

With special thanks to Stephanie Grimes , Shawn Grimes, and Nick Yates.

This curriculum comprises two semester-long courses, the first teaching the foundations of application development and the second focused on a capstone project.

App Development I

ABOUT THIS COURSE

About this Course

The App Development I Course is designed as a semester-long course, assuming 60-minute sessions, for high school seniors to be completed during the Fall semester. This course will provide students with a strong foundation in app design and development, using the Java language and the Android Studio development environment. This course will also incorporate tools from math, science, technology, engineering, reading, writing, research, and experimentation to aid students in developing their intellectual and computing prowess. It is a project- and lab-based curriculum, in which students learn by doing, and will help to develop skills essential to computer science but which also are useful in all walks of life. This course is intended to be part of the Computer Science pathway.


START HERE | TEACHER’s Guide

UNIT 1 | ANDROID BASICS & User INTERFACE

Unit 1 Plan

1.1 | HelloWorld

1.2 | HelloName

1.3 | GoodDesign

1.4 | Scorekeeper App

1.5 | Android Activity Lifecycle

1.6 | Android Support Libraries

1.7 | Quiz App Begins

1.8 | Activities & Intents

1.9 | Unit Assessment

Unit 1 Resources & Rubrics


UNIT 2 | Java class interaction

Unit 2 Plan

2.1 - Object-Oriented Programming Refresher

2.2 - Next Level Quiz App w/OOP

2.3 - More on Intents

2.4 - Quiz App Challenges

2.5 - Quiz App Alpha Release v0.2

2.6 - Unit Assessment - Restaurant App v0.2

Unit 2 Resources & Rubrics


unit 3 | storing data

Unit 3 Plan

3.1 - Storing Data: Shared Preferences

3.2 - Storing Data: File Storage

3.3 - Storing Data: Database

3.4 - Quiz App w/Data Beta Release (v0.3)

3.5 - Retrieving Data with APIs

3.6 - Quiz App Beta Testing & Public Release

Unit 3 Resources & Rubrics


app dev I general resources

App Dev I & II GitHub Guide

Teacher Tips for Live Coding with Students

App Development II - Capstone Course

ABOUT THIS COURSE

About this Course

The App Development II - Capstone Course is designed as a semester-long (~17 weeks), project-based, service learning course for high school seniors to be completed during the Spring semester. During App Development II, students will collaborate in teams* to complete a capstone project bringing together skills and knowledge from AP Computer Science A and App Development I. The capstone project focuses on the development of an app designed to address a community need with integrated consultation with community members as a key feature of the research and development process. 

This course provides students with a chance to design and program an original app, working through the software development process from start to finish. The course uses the Java programming language and the Android Studio development environment. This course also incorporates tools from math, science, technology, engineering, reading, writing, research, and experimentation to aid students in developing their intellectual and computing prowess. It is a project-based curriculum, in which students learn by doing, and will help to develop skills essential to computer science but which also are useful in all walks of life. This course is a part of the Computer Science pathway.

This course is designed as a mostly self-guided course for students with teacher oversight and guidance. There is very little direct instruction and students will spend the majority of the course self-managing their time and tasks. 

The course culminates in Capstone Presentations at the App Showcase event where students will present their work to a panel of experts, clients, community stakeholders, mentors, higher education faculty in computer science, and computer programmers / software developers for juried response, feedback, and critique of their project.

*It is ideal for students to work in small (3-4 person) teams for this course. However, if enrollment is low or you choose to allow student choice, independent work is optional.

START HERE | TEACHER’s Guide

COURSE TIMELINE

WEEKLY DETAILS

APP DEV II Resources

360 Review, Peer Form

360 Review Self Form

Agile Dev & Team Meeting Guidelines

App Showcase Feedback Reflection

Capstone Project & Presentation Guide

Capstone Project Reflection

Client Preparation Guide

Team Workbook


APP DEV II RUBRICS

Capstone Project

Capstone Project (w/Feedback)

Design Brief

Documentation