Course Outline

ICT311 Mobile App Development

Course Coordinator:Jayan Kurian (jkurian@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

There are more mobile devices on the planet than people. Mobile app development helps to unleash the full power of mobile devices, and push their usage into every corner of modern society. This course introduces students to important concepts and aspects in mobile application development on Java based Android phones, including UI design, data persistence, multimedia support, sensor management, multithreading, debug and test, and application publishing. Although the course is centred on Android, general principles of mobile app development discussed here can also be applied to other contexts.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Online – Pre-recorded concept videos and associated activity 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – In-class tutorial 2hrs Week 2 11 times
Online
Online – Pre-recorded concept videos and associated activity 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Interactive zoom tutorial 2hrs Week 2 11 times

Course Topics

1 Course Overview 
2 First Android App 
3 Activity lifecycle
4 UI Fragment & Layout
5 UI Recycler View 
6 Dialogs and Toolbar 
7 Storage 
8 Intents 
9 Locations and Maps 
10 Multiple Threading 
11 Services, Notifications, and Broadcasts.
12 Assignment review 
13 Course Summary 

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
1 Assess different techniques in mobile app development. Knowledgeable
PC3
2 Design the UI and databases for mobile apps regarding a given case description. Creative and critical thinker
PC3
3 Develop mobile apps with the best industry practice for given requirements. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
PC6

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
PC3 Creative and Critical Thinking
PC6 Career-ready

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

ICT221 or SGD213

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

CSC202

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

The first few weeks of computer workshops will include practical Android programming tasks that give instant feedback.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Technical and Scientific Individual 15%
4 weeks
Week 4 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece Individual 35%
2 hours
Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece Individual 50%
5 weeks
Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Android coding
Goal:
To demonstrate your knowledge of working with mobile application development principles.
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific
Authorship Statement:
Format:
This is an individual assessment.
You need to develop an app following the instructions and textbook.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrate knowledge of working with mobile application development principles.
3
Generic Skills:
Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 2:Mid-semester test
Goal:
To demonstrate your knowledge of mobile application development.
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
This is an individual assessment. Answer a set of questions about big data analysis theory and practice.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Assessment of various techniques in mobile app development.
1
Generic Skills:
Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Mobile app development
Goal:
To develop a mobile application and advance your application creation skill set.
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
This is an individual assessment. You will be given a case study and will develop a mobile application to suit the case study’s functionality needs.
An individual project incorporating the design, documentation and programming of Android
code
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Correct design of databases for the app
2
2
Appropriate design of UI for the app
2
3
Development of the app to support all required functionalities
1
4
Comprehensive and accurate explanation to the implementation and output
3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Applying technologies

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Bill Phillips,Chris Stewart and Kristin Marsicano 2017 Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide 3rd ed Big Nerd Ranch

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

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