App Design 102
Time N/A

Difficulty Advanced
Prerequisites App Design 101
Departments Human Technologies
Authors Ross Parker
Groupings Individual
Pairs
Threes
Minimum Year Group None

Blurb

You've built an Android app using Thunkable: now it's time to try some pro software, using either Xcode or Android Studio to build iOS or Android apps.

License

This work is shared under the following license: Creative Commons BY-SA-NC

Outline

The Pitch
Why should I bother learning this?
  • So, you can use App Inventor to build an Android app?
  • How about trying pro-level software, Xcode or Android Studio, to create a fully functioning iOS or Android App.
Resources
What is needed to run this unit?
  • Laptop
  • Internet Access
  • Android Studio (for writing Android apps)
  • Xcode (for writing iOS apps)
Interdisciplinary Links
Do not try and force this. What areas of other subjects might this reflect and/discuss language. For IB, links with ToK.
  • ...
Teacher Reflection
What was successful? What needs changing? Alternative Assessments and Lesson Ideas? What other Differentiation Ideas/Plans could be used?
  • ...
Credits
Any CC attribution, thanks, credit, etc.
  • App Design thumbnail by freepik on freepik under Freepik License.
  • Apple Xcode logo used under assumed fair use for education.

This page requires you to be logged in to access it. Please login and try again.
Want To Build A Real App?
The Pitch

  • So, you can use Thunkable to build an Android app?
  • How about trying pro-level software, Xcode or Android Studio, to create a fully functioning iOS or Android App.

Choose A Platform
Platform Love vs Economics
  • Some people love iOS, others love Android.
  • You can choose what platform to build for based on your personal preference, or you can base it upon other factors:
    • iOS users spend more on apps, so it is a better platform to make money.
    • Android has more users worldwide, and so it is a better platform if you want to have a wider audience.
    • The tools (Xcode and Android Studio) used to build apps for each platform are different.
  • Either way, do some research and thinking, and decide which platform you wish to build on.
Get Your Tools
Development Environment
    • Before getting started, making sure you have downloaded and installed the right software:
      • Xcode for building iOS apps.

Android Studio

       for building Android apps.
Learn Your Tools
Getting Ready
  • Take some time to use some online tutorials, documentation and videos to learn how to use your chosen development software.
  • Try to discover what the software can and can't do, before you really start building something.
Choose A Project
Bright Ideas
  • Take some time to decide what app you are going to build.
    • You might try a clone of something that already exists, to test your technical skills.
    • Or, you might try something new and different, to see what you can do.
  • Either way, keep in mind that you might fail, and that there is nothing wrong with that: it is all about learning new things, no matter the outcome.
Build Your Project
Doing It
  • Spend time now to build the project you have decided on.
  • Expect to come across many difficult challenges.
  • Focus on using problem solving, in its many different forms (e.g. trial and error, critical thinking, analysis, seeking help online, discussing with friends, taking a break, etc) to overcome these challenges.
  • If you feel things are too difficult, and you want to abandon the project, speak to your teacher!
Summing Up
Evidence
  • If you succeeded in your project, take a screencast of your app in action, and add a voice over to explain what it is, how it works, and how you built it.
  • If you did not succeed in your project, write a brief explanation of what went wrong, and what you learned.
  • Submit your evidence to Gibbon once it is ready.
There are no records to display.
Powered by Gibbon v27.0.00dev

Founded by Ross Parker at ICHK Secondary | Built by Ross Parker, Sandra Kuipers and the Gibbon community
Copyright © Gibbon Foundation 2010-2024 | Gibbon™ of Gibbon Education Ltd. (Hong Kong)
Created under the GNU GPL | Credits | Translators | Support