Course Title: Develop mobile applications

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2021

Course Code: COSC7389C

Course Title: Develop mobile applications

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5384 - Diploma of Digital Media Technologies

Course Contact: Nat Bates

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 3326

Course Contact Email: nat.bates@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Suzanne Thomson

suzanne.thomson@rmit.edu.au

ph: 9925 4815  

Jeanie Hague-Smith

jeanie.hague-smith@rmit.edu.au

ph: 9925 4815

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

N/A

Course Description

This course explores the skills and knowledge required to develop, debug, test, and deploy applications for hand-held devices, using development platform environments and work as mobile device application developers. 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ICTPRG409 Develop mobile applications

Element:

1. Define a platform

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Determine the target platform for the hand-held device

1.2 Choose and evaluate a development environment, based on the target platform and hardware

1.3 Prepare and configure the application development environment

Element:

2. Design the user interface for a mobile application

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Create views for different screen orientations and resolutions

2.2 Integrate the appropriate navigation techniques

2.3 Design the page layout and content

2.4 Integrate the appropriate user input techniques

Element:

3. Permit the personalisation of parameters

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Write the code to allow users to configure application settings

3.2 Write the code to allow users to configure application output, such as text size, brightness, and sound effects

Element:

4. Build a user interface for a mobile application

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Itemise the required functionality

4.2 Build a user interface, in the determined development environment to fulfil this functionality

Element:

5. Connect to the data sources

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Bind controls to data sources

5.2 Persist data using extensible markup language (XML) serialisation

5.3 Access remote data using XML web services

Element:

6. Test and debug a mobile device application

Performance Criteria:

6.1 Test the application for overall functionality, according to the requirements

6.2 Iterate the application design, or build, until the test results meet the requirements

Element:

7. Deploy a mobile device application

Performance Criteria:

7.1 Create an application packaging for deployment

7.2 Deploy an application to target devices


Learning Outcomes


On completion of this course you will have the ability to:

  • identify the relevant mobile platform
  • determine, prepare and configure a development environment
  • design and build an application for the platform
  • test and debug the application, to ensure that it meets requirements
  • describe the considerations of mobile device hardware and networking, when programming
  • summarise the principles of object-oriented programming
  • describe user-interface design principles
  • describe extensible markup language (XML) programming and web services
  • explain the language integration for web design including:
  • hypertext markup language (HTML)
  • JavaScript
  • cascading style sheet (CSS)
  • Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX)
  • identify and describe contemporary mobile platforms including:
  • mobile phones
  • pocket and tablet personal computers
  • digital assistants.


Details of Learning Activities

This course consists of 2 Units of Competency that are clustered together for delivery and assessment. The other unit of competency in this clustered course is: ICTICT406 Build a graphical user interface.

In class learning activities may include, but are not limited to:

• lectures and/or lab work
• teacher directed group activities and projects
• concept development of group and individual projects
• group discussions and class presentations
• peer and teacher feedback
• WIP (work in progress) reviews
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection

Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:

• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data to your RMIT Google Drive account
• accessing online tutorial resources
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT


Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.

Semester #1  2021WeekDateTopic Assessment / Learning activities

Week 1 

8/2/21

Graphic User Interface (GUI), exploring the history and evolution of GUI. Looking at standards, what makes good and bad GUI experience. 

Topic Covered:

  • Short History of GUI
  • Good and Bad GUI
  • Digital Device platforms
  • How to create a GUI Kit

Learning Activities:

  •  Good and Bad GUI
  • Creating your own GUI Kit
Week 2 15/2/21

Interaction design standards and how they impact on GUI design. Exploring the role of XML and web services. 

Topics Covered:

  •  Copyright, IP and Code of Practice
  • XML and Web Services
  • Creating a fast application concept using a GUI Kit

Learning Activities:

  • Copyright, IP and Code of Practice
  • XML 
  • Design Sprint: Application Design
Week 3 22/2/21

 API and their role in application data flow. Locating and plugging in a weather API to a HTML page using online services. 

Topic Covered:

  •  API  and web services
  • HTML, jQuery, JSON
  • Calling data and displaying data

Learning Activities:

  • Weather application API  
Week 4 1/3/21

 Object orientated programming language an introduction, discover the basic principles and syntax of C#

Topics Covered:

  • OOP
  • Variables
  • Functions
  • Methods
  • If statements
  • Syntax {} 

Learning Activities:

  •  C# activity

AT1 Due

Week 5 8/3/21

Unity Engine, an introduction to the software, environment and using UI elements.

Topics Covered:

  • Unity basics
  • Scenes, layout and UI elements
  • Scripts

Learning Activities

  •  Unity Basic Application 
Week 6 15/3/21

 Unity programming, passing variables from scene to scene, allowing user input and customisation control. 

Topics Covered:

  •  Scene Management
  • Passing variables

Learning Activities:

  •  Unity Exercise
Week 7 22/3/21

Unity Mini Project: Using what has been discovered all ready, students will create a fast application in Unity to help solidify they skills.  

Topics Covered:

  •  Planning for mini project
  • Best way to approach coding

Learning Activities:

  • Unity Mini Project 
Week 8 22/3/21

 Augmented Reality and application design, discovering the use of AR in application design for a variety of purposes. 

Topics Covered:

  •  Augmented Reality - short history
  • Vuforia and Unity
  • Possible purposes for AR

Learning Activities:

  • AR Discovery and Research 

AT2 Due

Week 9  12/4/21

 Determining GUI Specifications, taking a look at a client brief and and determining the back-end interface, functionality, suitable development language, timeline for project and the documentation required. 

Topics Covered:

  • Client specifications
  • Functionality requirements
  • Timeline Management
  • Concept ideation

 

Learning Activities: 

  • Project Specification and Requirements
  • Timeline for project
  • Concept ideation 
Week 10 19/4/21

Ideation and pre-production, exploring wireframe development, concept development through collaboration with peers. 

Topics covered:

  •  Wireframes in multiple screen views
  • Icon development
  • Annotations
  • Finalising GUI specifications
  • Colour selection 

Learning Activities: 

  • Finalising GUI specifications
Week 11 26/4/21

 Pre-production documentation, exploring the requirements of documentation

Topics covered:

  •  Documentation specifications

Learning Activities: 

  •  Documentation specifications

 

Week 12 3/5/21

App Prototype development, using Unity create a functional application that follow the project specifications. 

Topics Covered

  •  Platform selection
  • Creating and AR target
  • Tracking and loading an AR image 

 

Learning Activities: 

  •  Platform set up
  • AR Set Up

 

AT3 Due

 

 

Week 13 10/5/21

Application test and review, explore ways to test the application on users for both technical and functional analysis.

Topics Covered

  • Conducting user tests
  • Testing documentation 

Learning Activities: 

  •  User testing

 

Week 14 17/5/21

 Application development, working on deploying your application to the target device for review and process. 

Topics Covered

  • Build in iOS
  • Review of process
  • Finalising design

Learning Activities: 

  •  Build in iOs
  • Review process
Week 15 24/5/21

Application development, working on deploying your application to the target device for review and process. 

 
Week 16 31/5/21

 Application development, working on deploying your application to the target device for review and process. 

AT4 Due

Week 17 7/6/21

Time permitting, we will review your submission and over the topic of the course covered. 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment for this course is competency based. To show competency, you must complete all assessments to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

Late assessment submissions, or submissions that do not reach the required standard may be assessed as Not Satisfactory (NS). You will receive feedback on your assessment through Canvas and resubmission instructions via email. You must resubmit within two weeks of this notification. You may re-submit an assessment task only once. Please refer to the assessment brief or rubric for full assessment criteria. All assessment documents are available on the course Canvas page through MyRMIT.

AT1 - Knowledge Questions
In order for students to gain an understanding of GUI, API, XML, UI and standards related to these, student will answer set questions.

Due week 4

AT2 - Development Logbook
Students will participate in a set in class exercises which will show them basic of scripting syntax and interaction in Unity. Students will compile answers in a subject logbook.

Due week 8

AT3 - Design and AR App for iOS
In this assessment students will participate in ideation of an Application concept resulting in them developing a pre-production document that will outline design and technical features of the application.

Due week 12

AT4 - Build an AR App for iOS
In this assessment students will develop, build, test and deploy their application to a set device. 

Due week 16

Assessment in this course uses the following grades:

CA - Competency Achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix for this course demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the unit of competency. It can be found on the Canvas course page through myRmit, or from your teacher.

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.

Attendance:
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. You are strongly advised to attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

Assessment Feedback:
You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work. Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Academic Progress:Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy designed to assist you in achieving your learning potential.

Adjustments to Assessment
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview