CSC 212 – Mobile Application Development

 

Course Instructor
David Bock
Office: B129b, Parkland College
Office hours: T, Th, 8-9,11:30-1pm

Phone: 353-2688
E-mail: dbock@parkland.edu

Course Information

 

Description

App development for Android mobile devices using Java within the Eclipse integrated development environment. General theory, background, and hands-on experience with principles of mobile software development. Each student develops their own unique single-task mobile app. Prerequisites: CSC 125 or CSC 140.

 

Time/Place

Section W001, online

Information regarding the class including instructor, syllabus, schedules, notes, and project information can be accessed from the class web site using Parkland’s online class system or directly at http://www.csit.parkland.edu/~dbock/Class/csc212.

 

Schedule

All course study material, assignments, and projects are listed in the course schedule. This can also be accessed through Parkland's online class system under the “Schedule” heading or at the class site above. Classes are organized as two sessions per week according to this schedule. Work is assigned and due according to these sessions as listed in the schedule. Assignments must be completed on time or result in a zero, see Grading section below for more information.

 

Textbook
The instructor has designed and written extensive material for this class as webpage links organized by topic within the class schedule. It is expected that students read, study, and practice the examples in the webpage links as a necessary requirement for learning the course material. The webpage links are to be considered the official “textbook” for the class while the book listed below can be used as supplemental reference and additional reading for the course.

Android Wireless Application Development, third edition

Lauren Darcey, Shane Conder

Addison Wesley

ISBN 0321813839

 

Email Correspondence

The instructor is available to assist students having difficulty with the material after they have completed or attempted their assignments (readings, labs, projects). The instructor will be unavailable through email on weekday evenings after 5pm, weekends, and scheduled holidays. For this reason, it is important for students to plan their studies early enough before due dates if they anticipate needing assistance from the instructor. Please use Parkland's online class email system for all correspondence. The instructor will help students debug their code through email only after the student has worked to identify where they believe the problem areas exist. Sending the entire program to the instructor with a message similar to "fix my code" is not sufficient.

 

Expectations (on-line)
Students accept an increased amount of organization and responsibility when enrolling in on-line courses. Students are expected to access the learning resources provided by the instructor and course web-site on their own according to the schedule throughout the semester. Without dedication to such an organized routine, students will have a difficult time succeeding in a course presented in an on-line format. It is expected that students diligently study notes and reading assignments, and complete programming assignments.

 

Development Environment

Programming assignments for this course will be written using a variety of software development tools and packages. These include Java JDK, Android SDK, the Eclipse integrated development environment, and specialized Eclipse plug-ins for Android app development. These components can be downloaded and installed (as described thoroughly in the class notes) on a variety of different host operating systems including Windows, MacOS, and LInux. For on-campus sections, all assignments will be developed on a Windows host operating system. On-campus students will download all of these components (except the Java JDK) on their own USB storage device where they will also store all of their assignments and projects. During on-campus lab time, students will work entirely from their USB devices on the host Windows lab machines. A USB storage device with at least 4GB (or more) should be more than adequate. On-line students can download all of these components on their home machines. All instructor examples and assignment grading will be using these software components under a Windows operating system.

 

 

Grading

 

Projects

50%

Labs

30%

Final Exam

20%

Total

100%

 

90 - 100% will receive A
80 - 89%   will receive B
70 - 79%   will receive C
60 - 69%   will receive D
0   - 59%   will receive F
The instructor reserves the right to lower these criterion, but will never raise them.

 
Projects
A number of large-scale programming projects (typically 4-5) will be assigned throughout the semester. Since a goal of this course is to learn and apply hands-on programming experience, these projects constitute a large majority of the final grade (see above). Due dates are included on the class schedule. Projects will need to be submitted on or before the assigned due date. Project grading will be based upon the program's ability to meet the assigned input and design criteria and correct program operation. Partial credit will be given. If a student has not submitted the project before or on the assigned due date, the project will be considered late and no points will be given. Once a project grade has been recorded by the instructor the grade is considered final and cannot be changed. You are responsible to maintain backups of your work. Storage devices often fail. You need to keep enough copies so that your work is not lost.

 

Labs
A number of lab programming assignments will be graded to test the student's understanding and programming knowledge of the material covered in lectures. All lab assignments must be completed by the assigned date and time. Since unforeseen circumstances may arise preventing a student from completing a lab, 1 lowest lab grade will be dropped from the final grade determination. No make-up labs will be given.

Exam
A comprehensive final will be given to test the student's understanding the material. If a student anticipates missing an exam and thus an exam grade, it is the student's responsibility to notify the instructor beforehand and arrange a convenient time for a make-up exam, otherwise no points will be given.  

 

 

CSIT website
You can find information about the Computer Science and Information Technology Department courses and programs by visiting our website: http://www.parkland.edu/csit.

 

Academic Honesty
Unethical conduct during examinations of in preparation of assignments designated by the instructor will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action. All material handed in with your name on it is to be your work. If it is not you will fail that assignment and will be faced with disciplinary action. The first instance of cheating will result in a 0 for the assignment or exam. The second instance will result in failure for the course. Since this is a programming class, and the programming assignments make up a large portion of the overall grade, it is important to define what is acceptable and unacceptable with respect to projects:

It is legitimate for students to discuss the interpretations of the assignment description. However, once algorithm or program development has begun, all collaboration must cease.  Identical or nearly identical programs will be considered proof of excessive collaboration. Do not sit down and write code or pseudo-code together. Do not give your code to another student! The student who gives out his or her code is just as guilty as the student who copies.

Do not give your code to another student! The student who gives out his or her code is just as guilty as the student who copies. Usually, both students will receive the same penalty.

Be careful about not storing your solution in public spaces where others may find it.

Independently developed solutions really are unique. To you it may seem like there's only one way to write each piece of code. But there really are almost always many ways to write a piece of code, and for a larger program it's not likely that two students will make the same choices every time. Independently developed solutions are as unique as fingerprints.  With this in mind, all material handed in with your name on it is to be your work. Cheating includes:

- turning in code found on the web as yours
- giving your code to someone else
- turning in code someone else wrote.

 


Drops/Withdrawals
It is the student’s responsibility to monitor his/her progress in this course. If after consulting with the instructor, the student feels it becomes necessary to withdraw from this course, it is the responsibility of the student to do so. Please check with the office of admission to find out the final day for withdrawal with “W” grade from courses ending at midterm. If you have questions about the withdrawal procedure, see your Parkland College catalog.

 

(On campus)

Around the tenth day of a full semester class (or its equivalent for a class of shorter duration), I am required to assess your attendance.  If you have not attended to that point, you will be dropped with no refund of tuition and fees.  After this census date, you should not plan on an instructor withdrawal if you want to withdraw from the course.  You are ultimately responsible for your own withdrawal by the withdrawal date.  Non-attendance after the census date will result in an F if you don't withdraw yourself.

 

(Online)

Around the tenth day of a full semester class (or its equivalent for a class of shorter duration), I am required to assess your attendance.  If you have not attended to that point, you will be dropped with no refund of tuition and fees.  Online class attendance is determined by student participation in online learning activities and/or contact with the instructor.  After this census date, you should not plan on an instructor withdrawal if you want to withdraw from the course.  You are ultimately responsible for your own withdrawal by the withdrawal date.  Non-attendance after the census date will result in an F if you don't withdraw yourself.

 

 

Office of Disability Services (ODS)

If you believe you have a disability for which you may need an academic accommodation (e.g. an alternate testing environment, use of assistive technology, or other classroom assistance), please contact:

         Cathy Robinson
         Director, Office Disability Services
         X148, (217) 353-2082, crobinson@parkland.edu

 

 

Center for Academic Success (CAS)
If you find yourself needing assistance of any kind to complete assignments, stay on top of readings, study for tests, or just to stay in school, please contact one of the following staff at the Center for Academic Success:

            Anita Taylor, 353-2005

            Sue Schreiber, 351-2441

            D120

            CenterForAcademicSuccess@parkland.edu